April 21, 2006

Final Stats

From Gettysburg Reports

GETTYSBURG, PA - Brian Spicer (Haddonfield, NJ/Haddonfield) threw a complete-game shutout and tied a Gettysburg single-game record with 17 strikeouts in a 4-0 win over No. 12 Johns Hopkins in Centennial Conference (CC) action on Friday.

Gettysburg (13-20, 5-9 CC) broke a nine-game losing streak to the Blue Jays (23-6-2, 11-2-1 CC) dating back to the 2001 season and shutout Johns Hopkins for the first time since a 4-0 blanking in 1999.

Spicer, who struck out the side in third, sixth, and eighth innings, tied the Gettysburg single-game strikeout record which was set by Ted Koerner on Apr. 11, 1963 and tied a year later by Bill Forester. Spicer's mark is the third-highest in CC history and falls two strikeouts shy of the record 19 set by Dave Skoczlas of McDaniel in 2002. Scattering six hits and only walking three, Spicer ran his record to 5-1 and improved his team-best ERA to 2.60.

In the bottom of the first inning, Dave Olson (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) led off with a double down the left field line. Joe Bonyai (Torrington, CT/Hotchkiss School) singled through the left side to score Olson and give the Bullets' a 1-0 advantage.

Gettysburg increased its lead to 3-0 with a two-run single by Ben Carey (Colchester, CT/St. Bernard) in the second inning. Carey plated Sean McGee (Mamaroneck, NY/Mamaroneck) and Mark Campo (Arendtsville, PA/Biglerville) who reached on an error and a single, respectively.

Spicer struck out the side in the third inning to retire his ninth consecutive batter to start the game. Johns Hopkins' first base runner was Jonas Fester who singled in the fourth. The Blue Jays would have a base runner in each of the next five innings, but Spicer would not allow a run.

Johns Hopkins rallied to load the bases in the top of the seventh. Gary Rosenberg and Ian Christie singled, and a walk was issued to Rob Sanzillo. With two outs, Spicer got pinch hitter Todd Emr to ground out to the shortstop to end the threat.

Having thwarted the rally, Gettysburg tacked on another run in the bottom of the frame. Bonyai doubled to right center to lead off the inning. Brian Pernice (Smithtown, NY/Smithtown) grounded to the shortstop, but a throwing error allowed Bonyai to cross the plate.

Spicer once again struck out the side in the eighth, but Johns Hopkins would make him earn the shutout in the ninth. Corey Gleason led of the frame with a single into left field and Tim Sliker followed with a single up the middle. Spicer fanned his 16th and 17th batters of the day before he walked the bases loaded. With two outs and two on, he got pinch hitter Matt Benchener to ground out to the first baseman for the 4-0 shutout.

Bonyai finished the game 3-for-4 while both Carey and Brendan McDonald (Bennington, VT/Mt. Anthony Union) went 2-for-4 on the day.