Halbe Gets Big Two-Run Double;Jefferson Gets Second Complete Game Win

(Gary, IN) All season long, head coach Dan Soria has said that these young Hawks can battle with anyone. They proved that and then some as they earned a home split with Goshen College taking the first game 5-3 while dropping the second game 11-3.

In game one, the home team got started early as Ryan Halbe led off the bottom of the first with a single. After Chris Samano struck out, Alex Ramirez roped a double to score the speedster Halbe from first and give the Hawks a 1-0 lead.

In the top of the third, Goshen struck back as they put the first four batters on base starting with a leadoff walk to Zac Millerand tied the game on a run-scoring single by Sean Sears. It looked like the Maple Leafs were going to blow the game open, but RedHawks ace Chris Jefferson buckled down and induced a fielder's choice, a fly out, and a strike out to end the inning and leave the bases loaded.

The RedHawks came back in the bottom of the third with a two-out rally that started with a single by Alex Ramirez. Jeremy Ratajczyk then laced a double to score Ramirez from first and give the Hawks a 2-1 lead.

However, it was the fourth inning that proved to be the difference. While the Goshen Maple Leafs went out in order, the RedHawks went back to work. After a strikeout of Demetrios Pitsas to begin the frame, Jimmy Flores and Nick More both walked. Then came one of the biggest hits of the season as Ryan Halbe poked a double down the right field line scoring Flores and Moore increasing the Hawks lead to 4-1. Chris Samano added some insurance with an RBI groundout making the score 5-1.

Goshen got a run in the fifth on an RBI groundout by Zach Reed and an RBI double by Brett Hunter to make the score 5-3 but that would be the final score. The Maple Leafs left runners on base in six of seven innings.

For the game, Ryan Halbe collected two hits and two runs batted in. Jamar Averyhart, and Alex Ramirez each collected two hits while Ramirez, Jeremy Ratajczyk, and Chris Samano each drove in a run. Chris Jefferson picked up the win scattering nine hits, three runs (two earned) four walks and four strikeouts in a complete game effort. Ben Diedring took the loss for the Leafs in a complete game effort as well while Sean Sears went 3-for-4 in the game with a run batted in and Garrett Cannizzo picked up two hits.

In game two, Spencer Oversen got the win in a masterful performance for the Maple Leafs as he went six innings with six strikeouts and allowing one earned run. Kraig Miller got the Leafs offense going when he rocked a two-run home run to left center field. The Hawks responded in the third with an RBI single by Jeremy Ratajczyk leaving the score at 2-1.

However, the Maple Leaf bats came to life with nine runs from the fifth through seventh innings highlighted by a two-run double by Kraig Miller, a two-run double by Garrett Cannizzo, a run-scoring double by Andy Swisher, and a two-run double by Sean Sears to complete their scoring. The Hawks responded with two runs in the bottom of the seventh when Jamar Averyhart cracked his first home run of the year and Chris Samano dropped a single to score Ryan Halbe and complete the scoring.

Jimmy Flores took the loss for the RedHawks in a complete game effort.

The Hawks are back at it on Monday as they travel to Grace College to take on the Lancers in a doubleheader.

Story by:

Brain Snow