April 23, 2011
Box
Score
PETERSBURG, VA -The # 3 Winston-Salem State Rams (30-19) worked
themselves all the way back from a first-round defeat to win the
Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) Baseball
Championship, completing a remarkable comeback and improbable
season for the first-year program. The Rams defeated No. 2 Saint
Augustine's College Falcons (36-18), 7-6 and 3-0, Saturday
afternoon at Whaley-Colbert Field on the Virginia State University
campus in the double-elimination tournament. With the win,
Winston-Salem State earns the CIAA's automatic qualifier spot to
the Atlantic Region Tournament.
"It's been our goal from day one to come out here and be winners
in our first year," WSSU junior catcher Michael
Robbins said. "It's all about hard work. Everybody was working
their butts off. Every time somebody was called on they did their
jobs and now we're champions."
With the win, the Rams completed a very unlikely feat as the
team won its first CIAA baseball championship in its first season
back from a 37-year hiatus. "Being a first year program, even
though I knew we had the talent, a lot of people didn't gives us a
chance to win," WSSU interim head baseball coach Kevin
Ritsche said following the championship. "I'm really excited
about the way that the way these guys played and came together and
really gelled as a team."
The Rams had a tough challenge to overcome as the team defeated
the Falcons twice after falling to them five times this season.
"Facing a team like that really questioned whether our team had
heart or not and I think the scoreboard speaks for itself," Ritsche
added. "These guys really wanted it bad. I think they wanted games
during the season, but I've never seen them dig that deep before.
It's fun to be a part of."
WSSU sophomore pitcher John
Markley was named the tournament's MVP for his sensational
pitching in both of Saturday's contests. He registered the save in
the first game by recording the last two outs and then threw seven
shutout innings for the game-two victory. Rams freshman infielder
Andrew
Miller was a combined 5-for-9 with two RBI which came across on
what turned out to be the tournament-deciding hit. He also scored a
run.
Saint Augustine's (36-18) had defeated WSSU, 3-2, in the
tournament's opening game on Thursday and had won its semifinal
game on Friday over top-seeded Chowan to arrive to Championship
Saturday unscathed. The Rams, meanwhile, needed to knock off No. 4
Virginia State on Thursday and Chowan on Friday to earn the right
for a chance to knock off the Falcons twice.
In the first championship game, the Rams had banged out 15 hits
and had what appeared to be a comfortable 7-2 edge entering the
bottom of the ninth. After recording the first out, the Falcons
recorded the first of five-straight singles.
After plating four runners, Markley struck out Kevin White with
the tying run on third and the winning run on second to force a
second and deciding championship game. Miller was 3-for-5 leading
five Rams with multiple hits. WSSU junior second baseman Jordan
Graham had a game-high three RBI including a two-run single in
the second inning for the game's first runs. Tyler
Hickernell pitched 8 1/3 innings, allowing six runs on 12 hits.
He struck out four and walked three for the win.
In the second game, Miller delivered a two RBI single in the
first to give the Rams a lead they would not relinquish. Miller was
3-for-4 in the game. Markley, after earning the save in the first
game, pitched seven scoreless innings and allowed just three hits.
Brice
Rivenbark closed out the game's final innings and gave up just
one hit for the save.
With the win, the Rams claim the first CIAA Baseball
Championship in school history. For more information on Rams
baseball, contact the WSSU Office of Athletic Media Relations at
(336) 750-2143 or log on to www.WSSURams.com.
Tournament MVP- John
Markley, Winston-Salem State University
John
Markley, Winston-Salem State, Pitcher
Tyler
Hickernell , Winston-Salem State, Utility
Brandon Stewart, St. Augustine's Pitcher
Adam Capps, Chowan, Designated Hitter
Rashad Ingram, St. Augustine's, Shortstop
Jordan
Graham , Winston-Salem State, Second Base
Joe Pierce, St. Augustine's, Outfield
Wayne Lewis, St. Augustine's, Outfield
Brice
Rivenbark, Winston-Salem State, Outfield
Justin Bagby, Chowan , First Base
Andrew
Miller, Winston-Salem State, First Base
Josh Bishop, St. Augustine's, Catcher
