BURLINGTON, VT. ? Joe Hough's infield single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 11th lifted the second-seeded University of Maine to a 6-5 victory over third-seeded University of Vermont in the title game of the 2005 America East Baseball Championship at Centennial Field on the UVM campus. The Black Bears earn the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, while the Catamounts season comes to a close with a final 29-19 record.
With the game knotted at 5-5, Maine’s Curt Smith, batting in the six-hole, led off the bottom of the 11th by reaching base on an error by UVM shortstop Raymond Montanez. Right-fielder Matt McGraw followed up with a single to left field to put runners on first and second. Mike Ferriggi reached on a fielder’s choice as Smith fielded Ferriggi’s grounder to take out Smith for the innings first out. Ray Vallee then recorded an infield single to load the bases with just one out. Defensive specialist Mark Ostrander was summoned to pinch run for McGraw on third, while Ferriggi was on second and Vallee on first, and the scene was set for Hough’s heroics.
The championship’s Most Outstanding Player, Hough chopped a grounder in front of the plate that only went about eight feet before it died in the infield grass. Vermont catcher Matt Naimoli and pitcher Chris Blazek both went for the ball, leaving home plate unoccupied, while Ostrander managed to sneak in the backdoor for the game-winning run.
Joining Hough on the All-Championship Team are teammates Ferriggi, Izaryk, Greg Creek, Greg Norton and Ryan Quintal as well as Vermont’s Jason Carey, Miguel Magrass, Derek Miller, Bryan Rembisz and Frank Rossi.
The selection show for the 2005 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship will air live Monday, May 30 at 11:30 a.m. (EST) on ESPN.
2005 America East Conference
Vermont at Maine
May 28, 2005 at Burlington, Vt. (Centennial Field)
Vermont 5 (29-19)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Frank Rossi dh........... 6 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 Jason Carey lf........... 3 1 1 2 1 0 2 0 2 Miguel Magrass 3b........ 5 1 1 1 0 1 2 3 2 Kyle Brault rf........... 5 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 Jim Chapman 2b........... 4 0 1 1 0 0 2 1 0 Jay Iannoni 1b........... 4 0 1 0 1 0 10 0 0 Kyle Massie cf........... 5 0 1 1 0 1 6 0 1 Matt Naimoli c........... 5 1 2 0 0 1 5 1 2 Raymond Montanez ss...... 4 1 2 0 1 0 2 2 1 John Boyle p............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Eric Thompson p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Chris Marsh p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Chris Blazek p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bryan Rembisz p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Totals................... 41 5 13 5 3 5 31 9 8
Maine 6 (34-17)
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB ------------------------------------------------------ Joe Hough cf............. 6 1 2 1 1 0 3 0 0 Greg Creek dh............ 6 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 3 Joel Barrett 1b.......... 4 1 2 0 2 0 12 0 0 Ryan Quintal lf.......... 5 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 2 Aaron Izaryk c........... 5 2 2 0 1 1 5 1 2 Curt Smith 3b............ 5 0 2 3 1 0 0 4 0 Matt McGraw rf........... 5 0 1 0 0 0 3 0 5 Mark Ostrander pr....... 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Mike Ferriggi 2b......... 5 0 2 1 0 1 5 6 2 Ray Vallee ss............ 6 0 2 0 0 2 2 3 1 Jason Weymouth p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 Steve Richard p......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Totals................... 47 6 15 6 5 6 33 16 18
Score by Innings R H E ---------------------------------------------- Vermont............. 310 000 001 00 - 5 13 3 Maine............... 300 000 101 01 - 6 15 0 ----------------------------------------------
Note: 1 out, 3 runners LOB when the game ended.
E - Brault; Montanez 2. DP - Maine 2. LOB - Vermont 8; Maine 18. 2B - Montanez(6); Creek 2(14); Izaryk(15). 3B - Smith 2(3). HBP - McGraw; Ferriggi. SH - Quintal. SF - Carey; Chapman. SB - Magrass(17). CS - Rossi.
Vermont IP H R ER BB SO AB BF ----------------------------------------------- John Boyle.......... 3.2 5 3 3 2 1 16 19 Eric Thompson....... 3.0 4 1 1 1 1 12 14 Chris Marsh......... 1.0 1 0 0 1 1 4 6 Chris Blazek........ 1.1 2 1 1 1 1 7 8 Bryan Rembisz....... 1.1 3 1 0 0 2 8 8
Maine IP H R ER BB SO AB BF ----------------------------------------------- Jason Weymouth...... 8.1 11 5 5 3 2 31 36 Steve Richard....... 2.2 2 0 0 0 3 10 10
Win - Richard (8-1). Loss - Rembisz (1-2). Save - None. WP - Rembisz. HBP - by Boyle (Ferriggi); by Marsh (McGraw). Umpires - HP: Craig Alden 1B: Joe Cacciatore 2B: Lou Petrucci 3B: Steve Ricciarini Start: 4:45pm Time: 3:31 Attendance: 732 Game: AE07
Play-by-Play
2005 America East Conference
Vermont at Maine - Play-by-Play
May 28, 2005 at Burlington, Vt. (Centennial Field)
Score by Innings R H E ---------------------------------------------- Vermont............. 310 000 001 00 - 5 13 3 Maine............... 300 000 101 01 - 6 15 0 ----------------------------------------------
Vermont starters: 16/dh Rossi; 7/lf Carey; 32/3b Magrass; 23/rf Brault; 3/2b Chapman; 6/1b Iannoni; 5/cf Massie; 25/c Naimoli; 1/ss Montanez; 15/p Boyle;
Maine starters: 10/cf Hough; 13/dh Creek; 26/1b Barrett; 11/lf Quintal; 7/c Izaryk; 9/3b Smith; 25/rf McGraw; 4/2b Ferriggi; 19/ss Vallee; 12/p Weymouth;
Vermont - inning 1
Rossi singled to left field. Carey walked; Rossi advanced to second. Magrass singled up the middle, RBI; Carey advanced to second; Rossi scored. Brault flied out to rf; Carey advanced to third. Chapman flied out to lf, SF, RBI; Carey scored. Magrass stole second. Iannoni walked. Massie singled through the left side, RBI; Iannoni advanced to second; Magrass scored. Naimoli flied out to rf. 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Maine - inning 1
Hough singled through the left side. Creek doubled to left center, RBI; Hough scored. Barrett grounded out to ss. Quintal popped up to ss. Izaryk walked. Smith tripled to center field, 2 RBI; Izaryk scored; Creek scored. McGraw grounded out to 3b. 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Vermont - inning 2
Montanez doubled down the lf line. Rossi singled through the left side; Montanez advanced to third. Carey flied out to cf, SF, RBI; Montanez scored. Rossi out at second c to 2b, caught stealing. Magrass struck out. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Maine - inning 2
Ferriggi hit by pitch. Vallee struck out looking. Hough popped up to 2b. Creek grounded out to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Vermont - inning 3
Brault grounded out to 2b. Chapman grounded out to 3b. Iannoni grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Maine - inning 3
Barrett singled to second base. Quintal flied out to cf. Izaryk flied out to cf. Smith walked; Barrett advanced to second. McGraw flied out to rf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Vermont - inning 4
Massie grounded out to ss. Naimoli grounded out to 2b. Montanez singled up the middle. Rossi singled down the lf line, advanced to second on the throw; Montanez advanced to third. Carey flied out to lf. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Maine - inning 4
Ferriggi singled to center field. Vallee flied out to rf. Hough grounded out to 3b; Ferriggi advanced to second. Thompson to p for Boyle. Creek grounded out to 2b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Vermont - inning 5
Magrass popped up to ss. Brault grounded out to 3b. Chapman grounded out to p. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Maine - inning 5
Barrett singled to third base. Quintal struck out looking. Izaryk singled down the rf line; Barrett advanced to third. Smith fouled out to 1b. McGraw lined out to 2b. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Vermont - inning 6
Iannoni flied out to cf. Massie popped up to 2b. Naimoli singled through the right side. Montanez flied out to lf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Maine - inning 6
Ferriggi flied out to cf. Vallee singled to right field. Hough grounded out to 1b unassisted; Vallee advanced to second. Creek flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Vermont - inning 7
Rossi singled to right field. Carey reached on a fielder's choice; Rossi out at second ss to 2b. Magrass grounded into double play p to 2b to 1b; Carey out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Maine - inning 7
Barrett walked. Quintal grounded out to 3b, SAC, bunt; Barrett advanced to second. Izaryk grounded out to ss; Barrett advanced to third. Smith tripled to right center, RBI; Barrett scored. Marsh to p for Thompson. McGraw hit by pitch. Ferriggi struck out. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Vermont - inning 8
Brault struck out. Chapman singled up the middle. Iannoni grounded into double play 2b to 1b; Chapman out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Maine - inning 8
Vallee flied out to cf. Hough flied out to cf. Creek doubled to left center. Barrett intentionally walked. Blazek to p for Marsh. Quintal flied out to lf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Vermont - inning 9
Massie grounded out to 3b. Naimoli singled to shortstop. Montanez walked; Naimoli advanced to second. Richard to p for Weymouth. Rossi reached on a fielder's choice; Montanez out at second 2b to ss; Naimoli advanced to third. Carey singled to left field, RBI; Rossi advanced to second; Naimoli scored. Magrass grounded out to ss. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Maine - inning 9
Izaryk doubled to left center. Smith fouled out to lf. McGraw fouled out to 3b. Ferriggi singled through the right side, advanced to third on a throwing error by rf, RBI; Izaryk scored. Vallee struck out. 1 run, 2 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.
Vermont - inning 10
Brault struck out. Chapman grounded out to 2b. Iannoni singled to right field. Massie struck out looking. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Maine - inning 10
Hough walked. Creek reached on a fielder's choice; Hough advanced to second on a fielding error by ss. Rembisz to p for Blazek. Barrett reached on a fielder's choice, bunt; Creek advanced to second; Hough out at third p to 3b. Quintal struck out; Creek advanced to third on a wild pitch. Izaryk struck out, out at first c to 1b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Vermont - inning 11
Naimoli struck out looking. Montanez lined out to cf. Rossi flied out to rf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Maine - inning 11
Smith reached on a fielding error by ss. McGraw singled to left field; Smith advanced to second. Ferriggi reached on a fielder's choice; McGraw advanced to second; Smith out at second ss unassisted. Vallee singled to shortstop; Ferriggi advanced to second; McGraw advanced to third. Ostrander pinch ran for McGraw. Hough singled to catcher, RBI; Vallee advanced to second; Ferriggi advanced to third; Ostrander scored, unearned. 1 run, 3 hits, 1 error, 3 LOB.