Mounties rough up Bulldogs, 19-3
By Tom Haley Herald Staff
May 24, 2008
MANCHESTER — Ordinarily, there wouldn’t be a memorable moment in a lopsided baseball game where the losing team makes six pitching changes and those pitchers surrender 14 walks.
But one Mount St. Joseph Academy player had a moment he will remember for a lifetime in his team’s 19-3 victory over Burr and Burton Academy on Friday, a game that was abbreviated to six innings by the mercy rule.
Shane Lee, an exchange student from Korea, had never played organized baseball until arriving in the United States this year. But he drilled a serve from pitcher Jayme Ayotte up the middle for a clean hit when inserted into the game in the fifth inning.
Following the game, Lee’s teammates put him on their shoulders and carried him off the field.
Burr and Burton coach Adam Provost presented Lee with the game ball.
“I wanted to play baseball because my cousin plays (professionally) in Korea,” Lee said after the game. “I was so happy.”
“He had never played baseball before and he has worked so hard. We’re so proud of him,” MSJ coach Glenn Carter said. “He will never forget this and we’re glad we could be a part of it.
“He hit the ball hard and he really loves being a part of something.”
When Lee thanked Provost for the ball, the BBA coach replied, “That was cool. I am so happy for you.”
MSJ left-hander Will Hadeka had a 4-0 lead before he had to throw a pitch. The Mounties scored the four first-inning runs with just two hits as left-hander Alex Miskovsky, who usually has good control, walked three in the inning. Colin McCormick, Ryan Gilbert, Bill Shouldice and Hadeka scored in the frame. Glenn Carter struck the big blow, a two-run double.
“That allows you to have a whole different approach,” Hadeka said of the early four-run cushion. “It was a tight strike zone, but I just tried to get the ball across the plate.”
Hadeka worked four innings to get the win. Ryan Gilbert pitched two scoreless innings in relief.
The Mounties put this one away by scoring seven more in the second to build the lead to 11-0. Miskovsky never could gain his control and left with seven walks in just 1.1 innings.
A parade of pitchers followed him to the mound as Provost was cognizant of pitch counts with a game today against Mount Anthony. Joseph Hoffman, Dan Favreau, Justin Dillmon, Ayotte and Ethan Hom all pitched for the 4-8 Bulldogs, with Hom making two separate appearances.
Leading MSJ’s 11-hit attack was Shouldice (two hits with a double) and Carter (a double and three runs scored). John Bizon came off the bench to contribute an RBI double, Nolan Rhodes had a two-run single, Eric Ladabouche had a single, double and three RBI, and Ben Sexton had two hits and four RBI off the bench as coach Carter got to use all his players.
“We beat them 5-2 on Monday. This was a fluke,” coach Carter said.
T.J. Oliver led the Bulldogs’ six-hit attack with two singles. Favreau had a single and scored a run.
The Mounties hike their record to 9-5, but coach Carter believes the odds are against his team for securing a home game in the Division I playoffs. They have a game Tuesday at Otter Valley.
The Bulldogs play in the A Division of the Marble Valley League, but will be in the Division II state tournament.
Shouldice made the defensive play of the game at first base, going high to corral a tough hop and take a hit away from Miskovsky in the second inning.
Lee was going home to call his cousin in Korea. His cousin is a professional baseball player, but this day belonged to Shane Lee.
Contact Tom Haley at tom.haley@rutlandherald.com.
