2012 Season Update – July 24

Grays split doubleheader–lose to Nats, beat Aces

July 24, 2012 – In a rare double-header against two different teams, the DC Grays kept themselves in the playoff hunt with a split of two games. The Grays’ record now stands at 17-19–still just a half-game behind in the chase for the sixth and final playoff spot in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League.

Both games were played at Frank Mann Field in Alexandria, even though only one of the games involved the Alexandria Aces. In the opener, the Southern Maryland Nationals were technically the home team, since that game was a rescheduled game from a rain-out in Waldorf on July 14. The Nationals took advantage of some sloppy Grays defense (DC made five errors) to notch a 4-3 win. The Grays wasted a fine pitching performance from starter Rob Rizzitelli (Pace), who allowed just one run on three hits through seven innings before tiring in the eighth. Rizzitelli leads the Ripken League with a 2.10 ERA. Grays LF John Beaubien (Seton Hall) and 3B Mike Genovese (Seton Hall) had two hits apiece for the Grays, and Beaubien knocked in two runs. Click here for stats and the boxscore.

In the nightcap, the Grays scored two runs in the top of the ninth to defeat the Aces 7-6. Genovese had the key hit in the late rally, driving in two runs with a single with one out. He had three RBIs in the game, as did Beaubien who raised his team-leading batting average to .367 with three more hits. The rally made a winner out of Grays reliever Steven Paladino (Felician), who struck out four in one and one-third innings of shutout relief. Click here for stats and the boxscore.

The Grays return home to Hoy Field on Wednesday to face the Aces again. First pitch is at 5:00pm.