Broadside Sports

Shawn Griffith was called up to Single-A Short Season with the Auburn Doubledays yesterday and pitched 2-2/3 scoreless innings against the Jamestown Jammers. Griffith came on in the eighth inning and gave up a leadoff double in the 10th, but escaped without any damage done.

Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star reports that the Kansas City Royals have reached a tentative agreement with General Manager and Mason alum Dayton Moore on an extension through 2014. Moore has made a number of questionable moves, signing right fielder Jose Guillen in 2007 and locking shortstop/right fielder Willie Bloomquist and relief pitcher Kyle Farnsworth to multi-year contracts last year, but he was widely criticized after trading for shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt, who holds a major league-worst -17.3 ultimate zone rating. Although Betancourt has kept himself from swinging at pitches out of the strike zone, he has not helped Moore prove his case in acquiring his “huge upgrade.”

In 2008, outfielder Scott Krieger became the first Mason player to have two three-home run games after creating his own launching pad in the CAA Tournament. No matter where Krieger is, whether it is in Fairfax or Helena, he continues feasting on opposing pitchers. On Sunday, Krieger belted three home runs against the Missoula Osprey as the Helena Brewers won 15-10. Krieger has been on a torrid streak, recording a hit in each of his first six games as a minor league ballplayer. His four home runs and 11 RBIs lead the team and he is also batting .321. Krieger is a crucial part to the team, batting third in the lineup. Most of the damage he has done thus far have occurred with runners on base. The Brewers are currently 4-3 to start off their season, but it has been in large part due to Krieger.

Four George Mason University baseball players were selected by the American Baseball Coaches Association to the All-East Region first team this week. Catcher Chris Henderson, first baseman Justin Bour, outfielder Scott Krieger, and pitcher Mike Modica earned first team honors after being selected in last week’s Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. While Mason had four players place on the first team, no other school had more than two representatives. Krieger, Mason’s all-time leader in several categories, will start out at rookie level with the Helena Brewers. Modica takes the mound for the Single-A Tri-City Valley Cats as they approach their season opener. Bour plans to begin with the Arizona League Cubs. Last week, Henderson stated that he is leaning towards turning pro even though it may require a position change. On a side note, pitcher Jordan Flasher signed with the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday and will report to rookie ball with the Gulf Coast Red Sox.

Six George Mason University baseball players were selected in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft with five of them going in the second day of the three-day event. Outfielder Scott Krieger, Mason’s all-time leader in hits, runs, home runs, and total bases, went in the 19th round to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Los Angeles Dodgers selected catcher Chris Henderson, the other Co-Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, in the 21st round the Boston Red Sox chose pitcher Jordan Flasher in the 22nd round. Flasher opted to not sign after being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 39th round last year. The other player to be selected in last year’s draft was pitcher Mike Modica, who went in the 46th round to the Houston Astros in 2008. This time around, the Astros drafted the 11-game winner in the 24th round. While Henderson earned first team All-America honors and Krieger qualified for the second team, Modica represented Mason with second team All-America honors on the pitching side. The Chicago Cubs went with first baseman Justin Bour in the 25th round to add onto their collection of sluggers. On the third day, the Blue Jays selected pitcher Shawn Griffith in the 37th round. The 2009 season was a record-breaking season for Mason on a number of occasions, even Griffith set the single-season school record with 29 appearances. Currently, there is only one Mason alum to pitch in the major leagues. Pitcher Shawn Camp, who was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 16th round in 1997, is in his sixth season after playing for the Kansas City Royals, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, and now the Toronto Blue Jays. Mason baseball players are ready to mark their territory in the major leagues.

The George Mason University Patriots (42-14, 19-5) packed their bags alright, but their bags are not headed to Omaha, Neb. Instead, Mason will be coming home after a terrific season despite dropping to the Binghamton University Bearcats 11-6 in the elimination game of the NCAA Tournament regionals.

Every time Mason rallied to cut into their opponent’s lead, the Bearcats came clawing back for more runs. Mason stranded 16 runners on base after getting a man on in every inning. In the 5th inning, Mason had the bases loaded with just one out. Shortstop Brent Weiss lined out, and right fielder Ryan Uphouse struck out swinging with the team still down 4-2.

Center fielder Henry Dunn hit a three-run blast in the 6th inning to extend the lead to 7-2 in favor of the Bearcats. However, Mason put their rally caps back on in the 7th inning as they received a productive day from rookie designated hitter Dan Schafferman, who went 4-for-5 in the game. His double cut the lead to four runs, and Mason had bases loaded again for catcher Chris Henderson. The hitting sensation ended the threat after grounding out.

Mason seemed to finally have their chance after Schafferman tacked on his third home run of the season, plating in three runs in his four-RBI day. Pitcher Jordan Flasher came in to try to contain the Bearcats, but no matter how good the bullpen had been this season, things just crumbled as Flasher gave up three runs, which put the game out of reach. First baseman Justin Bour was Mason’s last chance, but his flyout closed the books on the 2009 season.

Pitcher Kevin Crum (8-4) gave up seven runs in six innings as he was charged with Mason’s final loss. Left fielder Scott Krieger went 1-for-5 with a run in his final collegiate game, and he closed out his career with three consecutive 20-home run seasons. The school’s all-time and single season leader for home runs had a grand total of 69 jacks. Henderson, one of next season’s key returning players, broke the school record for hits in a single season. His 97 hits surpassed former player Jeff Palumbo’s 96 hits.

The George Mason University Patriots (42-13, 19-5) have been dominant throughout the year, but they finally faced a tough competitor in the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, falling 11-3 to the 22nd-ranked Gamecocks.

First baseman Justin Bour doubled in Mason’s first run in the 1st inning, and Mason led 1-0 until the 4th inning when the Gamecocks finally unloaded for four runs. Right fielder Jackie Bradley, Jr. led off the inning with a single, but two costly errors on one play from shortstop Brent Weiss created a bigger mess as designated hitter Parker Bangs belted a home run off pitcher Mike Modica (11-2). The damage in the 4th inning was enough for the Gamecocks to get by Mason, but there was more to come. The Gamecocks added two runs in the 5th inning and two more in the 6th inning. Mason got two runs back in the 7th inning after catcher Chris Henderson cashed in on a two-run double. The Gamecocks scored three more runs in the bottom half of the 7th inning as Mason suffered one of their worst defeats this season. Mason last gave up double-digit runs to an opponent when they competed in the tournament in Florida. Modica gave up 10 hits and six runs in five innings.

Mason will attempt to salvage their season when they face the loser of the game between the top-seeded East Carolina University Pirates and Binghamton University Bearcats.

The George Mason University Patriots (42-11, 19-5) jumped to a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning, but the team could not contain the Georgia State University Panthers in their 9-3 loss. Left fielder Scott Krieger homered for the 20th time this season, giving Mason the early 2-0 lead. Krieger’s home run marked his 300th hit of his collegiate career. The Panthers countered with a two-run shot in the 3rd inning from first baseman/third baseman Bradley Logan, and they scored five more runs to extend their lead to 7-2 in the 8th inning. The Panthers hit a total of four home runs in the game. Mason attempted to rally in the 8th inning as right fielder Ryan Uphouse led off with a single, followed by a walk from center fielder Spencer Wiggins. Next, catcher Chris Henderson hit a pitch off the wall, but with the runners holding up just in case the ball was caught and Henderson seeing two bases, the Panthers prevented a bases loaded situation by tagging out Henderson. Krieger fouled out to first, but he cashed in his third RBI, scoring Uphouse from 3rd base. Even though Henderson enjoyed a 3-for-4 day after breaking his 0-for-15 slump, Mason suffered a loss that would have automatically placed them in the Colonial Athletic Association title game. Pitcher Kris Mengle (3-1) was charged with the loss after giving up five runs on five hits in 5-2/3 innings.

Mason (42-12, 19-5) was officially eliminated from the CAA Tournament after losing to the University of North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks 5-3 in the nightcap. Pitcher Dan Gerjets (3-2) gave up a huge three-run home run in the 3rd inning to center fielder Bobby Leeper, and even though Mason cut the lead to 3-2, Leeper’s home run proved to be the game-winner. Henderson, who had a solid performance in Mason’s 9-3 loss earlier in the day, hit his 14th home run of the season in the 6th inning. Throughout this season, Mason went through a number of comebacks, but the tide had shifted in the bottom half of the inning when right fielder Alex Hill hit the spoiler, a two-run shot, which was enough to put the game out of reach. Second baseman Ryan Soares led off the 7th inning with a single, but Mason could not produce any runs as the inning ended on a strike him out, throw him out from catcher Cody Stanley. Mason had bases loaded in the 8th inning with just one out, and their slugger Krieger was looking to do some damage. Instead of hitting a first-pitch grand slam to give Mason the lead, Krieger grounded into an inning-ending double play. First baseman Justin Bour hit a lead-off double in the 9th inning, and designated hitter Shane Davis singled to put runners on the corners. Third baseman Mark Hill hit into a fielder’s choice, scoring Bour, but with two outs and only one runner on, Mason had their last shot in preserving their season. Shortstop Brent Weiss prolonged the season just for the moment as he reached on a fielding error, but pinch hitter Dan Schafferman struck out looking to end the game and Mason’s chances to winning the CAA title. Mason, who ranked as high as 25th in the nation, will be looking to earn a slot in this season’s NCAA Tournament.

The George Mason University Patriots (42-10, 19-5) scorched the Old Dominion University Monarchs for nine runs in the 3rd inning as they went on to defeat their opponent 11-5, winning the first two games of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament for the first time since 1995. Center fielder Spencer Wiggins went 3-for-6 with five RBIs, including his third home run of the season. Not known for his power, Wiggins doubled in Mason’s first run, and later in the 3rd inning, he swatted at the 2-1 pitch and sent it over the right field wall to give Mason a 9-1 lead after the Monarchs scored first in the 1st inning. Second baseman Ryan Soares also homered for Mason in the 3rd inning. Wiggins added another RBI double in the 7th inning, and Mason held on at the end. Pitcher Mike Modica (11-1) threw for 6-1/3 innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out six batters. He needs one more win to match the school record for wins in a season. Mason will take on the Georgia State University Panthers, who also won their first two games of the CAA Tournament, with the winner advancing to the final.

The George Mason University Patriots (41-10, 19-5) won in walk-off fashion as shortstop Brent Weiss hit the game-winning single to give Mason the 6-5 win over the University of Delaware Blue Hens in the first game of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament.

Weiss came off the bench in the 4th inning, and went on a tear, going 3-for-3, which included the game-winning hit. With shortstop/second baseman Ryan Soares starting at Weiss’ normal position, Head Coach Bill Brown opted to go with second baseman hitting at the No.2 slot.

The Blue Hens jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 1st inning as left fielder Bill Merkler went yard for the 16th time this season. Even though pitcher Kevin Crum settled down after the rough 1st inning, he was replaced by pitcher Ryan Pfaeffle.

Mason eventually rallied and took the lead at 4-3 in the 6th inning as pinch hitter/catcher Chris Henderson hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Pfaeffle, who pitched for 4-1/3 innings, gave up a run in the 7th inning, tying the game at 4. However, Mason regained the lead in the 8th inning as left fielder Scott Krieger hit his 19th home run of the season, a solo shot to right center field. Merkler would go deep again as he led off the 9th inning with his 17th home run to knot things up at 5.

Soares led off the bottom of the 9th inning with a single off an 0-2 pitch, and designated hitter Shane Davis doubled to put runners in scoring position with no one out. Third baseman Mark Hill, who went 5-for-13 in the series against the James Madison University Dukes, was intentionally walked after already having a hit against the Blue Hens on Wednesday, which brought up Weiss as the potential hero. On a 2-2 pitch, Weiss drove the pitch up the middle to score Soares and give Mason the win on the first day of the CAA Tournament. Pitcher Shawn Griffith (4-0) earned the win despite giving up the 9th inning home run to Merkler.

Mason will play again tomorrow against the Old Dominion University Monarchs, who lost to the University of North Carolina-Wilmington Seahawks 7-5 later in the day. The Monarchs opened CAA play this season with a 6-3 win against Mason, but Mason took two out of three as they never lost a season series to their CAA opponents this season.