6/29/04 – Daily News Record

Turks Take First Place By AARON GRAY Daily News-Record WOODSTOCK – Turks pitcher Pat Caldwell made his first start of the season Tuesday but there was nothing to fear because the Harrisonburg hitting clinic was still in session. Caldwell pitched seven scoreless innings and the Turks poured on 13 hits to dismantle the Woodstock River Bandits 10-1 in front of 415 fans at Central High School. It was the fourth straight win for Harrisonburg, which took over first place in the Southern Division from Woodstock. "When you play baseball, you got to have the right attitude," Turks manager Bob Wease said. "You have to be a little cocky, you have to be a little arrogant … you got to have that little swagger. "Right now, we are starting to accumulate that." Caldwell (Yavapai Community College) set the tempo early by striking out four of the first six batters he faced. The left-hander, who has never started in college, finished with nine strikeouts and gave up only four hits. "I just wanted to go out and do my best," said Caldwell, who threw 89 pitches. "When your team gives you 10 runs, it makes it a little easier." Woodstock pitcher Alexander Gonzalez – fresh off his Southern Division Pitcher of the Week honor – was shelled early by the Turks (12-8). Of the five early hits he surrendered, four were for were for extra bases and gave Harrisonburg a 4-0 lead after four innings. First baseman Joe Kemp (Indiana) led off the second with a stand-up triple to left-center field. Third baseman Corby Heckman (Indiana) and second baseman Cameron Clarke (Oklahoma City) each had RBI-doubles and catcher Matt Sluder (James Madison) led off the fourth with a double to left-center. Kemp went 4-for-5 with three RBIs to lead the Turks. Gonzalez was pulled after 3 2/3 innings but reliever William Dudley couldn’t stop the bleeding. In the fifth inning, Dudley appeared to have escaped a bases-loaded, one out jam, getting Heckman to foul-tip a third strike into the catcher’s glove. The home base umpire called Heckman, the potential third out of the inning, out. But after discussing with the field umpire, it was ruled that Edmundson dropped the ball and the players were called back on the field. "My catcher caught it for strike three," said Woodstock manager Ricky Ware, who was ejected from the game when he argued the call. "Then that just opened the flood gates." Heckman was called back to the plate and on the next pitch hit a blooper into shallow right field that scored two runs. Kemp followed with a two-run double to left field that gave the Turks a 9-0 lead and put the game out of reach. Woodstock shortstop Alejandro Castellon (Hillsborough Community College) went 2-for-4 to lead the River Bandits (11-9). NOTES: Clarke, who has hit two home runs in his last three games, left the game in the fifth inning when he rolled his ankle stepping on third base. Clarke will be reevaluated and won’t play in today’s game. Harrisonburg 021 150 001 – 10 13 1 Woodstock 000 000 001 – 1 6 3 Caldwell, Norrick (8), Weber (9) and Sluder. Gonzalez, Dudley (4), Mallory (6), Neal (8) and Albernaz. W – Caldwell (1-0); L- Gonzalez (NA).