Grays knocked out of playoffs

GAME RECAP   7-26-2015

By: Anna Dunlavey; @annadunlaveyy

​The DC Grays’ hopes of a deep playoff run were dashed by the homestanding Vienna Riverdogs last night. The Riverdogs beat the Grays 8-6 in a tight game in the first round of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball Leauge Playoffs to eliminate the Grays from their first-ever postseason.

​The Grays were off to an early lead, scoring runs in the second and third innings. However, they allowed the Riverdogs to score six runs in the bottom of the third to make the score 6-2. The Grays were quick to make up the runs they’d lost. They scored twice in the fourth inning, and a two-run home run from Colton Shaver (Brigham Young) in the fifth evened up the score. The game was tied through the sixth and seventh innings, but the Riverdogs scored twice in the eighth and sent the Grays down in order in the top of the ninth.

The Grays offense, which had been quiet for much of the season, was productive last night. Several Grays had multiple hits, including RF Harrison Bruce (San Francisco) CF Tony Holton (Jackson State), LF Lamar Briggs (Jackson State), 2B Mike Caputo (Seton Hall) and Carpenter.

Starting pitcher Maverik Buffo (Brigham Young) lasted five innings. He gave up six runs, all in the third inning, as well as nine hits. Aside from the third inning, Buffo was solid, walking one batter and striking out three.
​ The loss went to Quinn Carpenter (Texas Tech), who pitched 2.1 innings, moving to the pitcher’s mound after hitting a triple as the designated hitter. He walked three batters, two of them intentionally, and struck out six, including two Houdini acts to get out of bases loaded jams in the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth inning, the Riverdogs had the bases loaded with one out, but Carpenter kept them off the scoreboard. In the seventh inning, the bases were loaded with nobody out, but Carpenter then struck out the side. In the eighth, however, he gave up two runs, which turned out to be the game winner.

​Reid Frazier (Penn State) came on in relief of Carpenter. He gave up no runs, hits, or walks, and struck out one batter.

That concludes the DC Grays’ 2015 season. Thank you for following us, and see you next year!