Fast Start Sends White Team To First Win

Oct. 15, 2010

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Facing a 3-0 deficit in the Orange-White World Series, the White team used a five-run first inning to notch its first victory of the fall season, a 6-3 triumph, at Lindsey Nelson Stadium Friday evening.

Senior Josh Liles helped the White squad avoid a series sweep, registerering a double and a triple to drive in three runs. Juniors Zach Osborne and Zeth Stone each added singles.

For the Orange team, senior Khayyan Norfork was 3-of-5 including a double, while adding a pair of stolen bases. Freshman Ethan Bennett also recorded a trio of hits that included a double and was responsible for an RBI in the seventh inning.

"From an offensive standpoint, I thought Josh Liles had a good game," head coach Todd Raleigh said. "I thought that Khayann Norfork did a great job stealing bases and putting pressure on people. The catching was good tonight. Nothing is getting by us so we're starting to do some good things there."

Despite a combined seven runs in the first two innings, the pitching effort overall became stronger as the game went on. Nine pitchers saw action between the two squads. Junior Steven Gruver struck out three batters and senior Rob Catapano allowed just two hits while retiring a batter for the victorious White team. A combination of junior Josh Allman, sophomore Hunter Daniel and freshmen Carter Watson and Nick Williams pitched the final five innings and only allowed the White squad to manage one hit.

"We didn't start out pitching very well but we finished strong," Raleigh said. "I thought our pitching tonight was good. Steven Gruver, Carter Watson, Nick Williams, Josh Allman, Hunter Daniel and Rob Catapano all pitched great. That might have been that best I've ever seen Rob pitch so he seems to be coming back from his injury better so I was encouraged by that."

Norfork led off the first inning with a single and a stolen base for team Orange. After a fly out to centerfield advanced Norfolk, senior Matt Duffy tallied one of his two RBIs to put the Orange squad on the board first.

The White team, however, responded with its strongest inning of the Orange-White World Series, scoring five runs and setting the tone for the rest of the game. Following an Osborne single and a Liles walk, a sac bunt placed both runners in scoring position. A costly error allowed Osborne to tie the contest at one. Junior Chris Pierce stole second base and after junior Wes Walker walked, the bases were loaded for team White. Another walk gave the White squad a 2-1 advantage and a Liles triple one batter later provided the White team with a 5-1 lead after the first inning.

Walker walked again to start the bottom of the second inning and following a bunt from Stone, he found himself in scoring position. Liles continued his strong performance with a double along the third baseline to extend the White lead to 6-1.

The third inning saw each squad place two runners on base but neither were able to take advantage of the opportunity.

In the fourth stanza, Norfork led off the inning with his second single. Sophomore Chris Fritts sent the ball to right field, allowing Norfork to make it to third base. Duffy provided his second RBI on the next play despite grounding out, cutting the deficit to 6-2.

Neither team managed to place a runner on base until the top of the sixth inning, when Bennett doubled to center field for the Orange squad.

The Orange team threatened to make things interesting in the seventh inning, starting the frame off with a single from senior Tyler Horne followed by a Norfork double. Gruver struck out two consecutive batters, however, for the White team and limited the Orange squad to just one run following a Bennett single to bring home Horne.

Nine consecutive outs led the game into the ninth inning, where another Bennett single was the final hit for the Orange team.

The Orange and White World Series will continue at Lindsey Nelson Stadium with game six Tuesday, Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. The final game seven will be played Friday, Oct. 22, at 5 p.m. Admission is free for both contests and fans are encouraged to attend. Parking is available in the C1 lot behind right field or in C6 on top of the parking garage off of Lake Loudoun Blvd.

2010 Tennessee BaseballOrange vs. WhiteOct. 15, 2010 at Knoxville, Tenn.(Lindsey Nelson Stadium)

Score by Innings                          R  H  E----------------------------------------------------Orange....................100  100  100 - 3  9  2White.....................510  000  000 - 6  4  0----------------------------------------------------

White                     IP   H  R  ER  BB  SO-------------------------------------------------Levi Dean.........(W,1-1)5.0   4  2   2   2   0Steven Gruver............3.0   4  1   1   0   3Rob Catapano.............2.0   1  1   0   0   1

2B - Liles 1(1)3B - Liles 1(1)HR - NoneRBI - Liles 3(3); Stone 1(3)SB - Pierce 1(2); Stone 1(1)CS - Osborne 1(2)

Orange                    IP   H  R  ER  BB  SO-------------------------------------------------T.J. Thornton.....(L,0-1)1.0   2  5   0   3   0Zach Godley..............3.0   1  1   1   3   1Carter Watson............2.0   0  0   0   2   3Josh Allman..............1.0   0  0   0   0   0Nick Williams............1.0   0  0   0   0   1Hunter Daniel............1.0   1  0   0   0   0

2B - Bennett 1(1); Norfork 1(4)3B - NoneHR - NoneRBI - Duffy 2(6); Bennett 1(6)SB - Norfork 2(5)CS - Duffy 1(1);Pierce 1(1)

University of Tennessee Athletics

Players Mentioned

Josh Allman

Josh Allman

Rob Catapano

Hunter Daniel

Hunter Daniel

Matt Duffy

Chris Fritts

Steven Gruver

Steven Gruver

Tyler Horne

Josh Liles

Khayyan Norfork

Zach Osborne

Zeth Stone

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