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Redfish Squeezed By Juice In Doubleheader

August 7, 2007 - South Coast League (SCL)
Charlotte County Redfish News Release


PORT CHARLOTTE, FL- The Redfish returned home to face-off against the Bradenton Juice to make up two games rained out last week. Charlotte County couldn't hide behind the weather or their starting pitching as the Juice out hit the 'Fish 19 to 13 but just edged them out on the scoreboard. Bradenton used an inside the park homerun to take the first game 7-5 and got 9 Ks from starter Derek Hawk as the 'Fish fell 3-1 in game 2.

Charlotte County looked as if they were still on fire from their victory over the Peanuts on Saturday night early in the first game of the doubleheader. Jared Williams leadoff with a walk and stole second against Juice starter Rocky Collis and PJ Lehmann followed with a walk of his own. Billy Hogan came through with a 2 RBI double to centerfield and the Redfish took an early 2-0 lead.

Bradenton matched up Redfish starter Brandon Camardese who set down the first two hitters he faced getting a pop out and strikeout. Camardese didn't get out of the inning unscathed as the Juice back-to-back singles from Al Corbeil, Eddie Kim and Brenan Hererra to get a run and make the score 2-1. The Juice tied the game on Luke Barganier's RBI single and took the lead as Kim brought home a pair with a single to centerfield and Bradenton had a 3-2 lead.

Camardese left the game after just two innings of work but the Redfish bullpen was a great surprise in relief. Righty Mike Rigazio allowed just 2 hits and added 2 Ks in his 2 innings of work but it was his bat that was surprising. After the Redfish tied the game on a Jose Gutierrez RBI double that just missed being out of the park and took the lead on a Mike Muscato RBI single, Rigazio took up the bat. He came through in a big way as he got ripped Collis' pitch to the centerfield wall for well legged out RBI double and gave the 'Fish a 5-4 lead.

The Redfish had a chance to pad their lead in the top of the 6th inning as Murray, Gutierrez and Muscato loaded the bases with just one out against Juice reliever Jim O'Malia. New reliever Wayne Hedden (4-0) didn't budge as he got 2 strikeouts and left them loaded. This came back to haunt the 'Fish immediately as Juice tied the game against Aaron Easton (3-5) on a pinch-hit RBI double by Nick Corbiel and Barganier hit a 2-run inside the park homerun on a ball misplayed by Jared Williams and that was all the Juice needed to take the first game 7-5.

Billy Kovatch, who singled, stole a base and scored in his last at-bat in first game, came out hot as he ripped a single to right field and promptly stole second to start the 2nd game. Kovatch though couldn't be pushed cross the plate as Juice starter Derek Hawk (3-5) got 2 of his 9 Ks on the game to end the inning. Daniel Chaffardet (1-5) got the start for the 'Fish and worked a 1-2-3 first inning with a little help from his defense including a pop out to Lehmann and a great leap by Gutierrez to rob Al Corbiel of extra bases.

Chaffardet, like Camardese in game 1, struggled in his second inning of work. With runners on the corners with 1 out, Mikela Olsen put one through the hole past the drawn in Redfish infield to drive home Nick Corbeil and the Juice took a 1-0 lead. After Chaffardet walked Willie James to load the bases, Aaron Simmons came on in relief. Against the first batter he faced, Simmons got Hawk to chopped right back to him and used his field awareness to turn a 1-2-3 inning ending double play. Bradenton added a run in each of the next two innings to take a 3-0 lead and that was enough for Hawk. Kovatch stayed hot and was the only Redfish hitter to notch multiple hits against Hawk. He finished the game 3-for-3 with 3 singles, a stolen base and was the only Redfish run to cross the plate as Jason Hurst got an RBI seeing-eye single and the 'Fish fell 3-1.

The Redfish return to action and the Charlotte Sports Park to take in state rivals the Bradenton Juice in the conclusion of the "Sunshine State" Rivalry Series presented by Fairchild Roofing. The teams continue their series with 2 7-innings games tomorrow night, Tuesday, August 7th. Game time is set for 5:05 PM with game two beginning 30 minutes after the conclusion of game 1. All Redfish games can be heard on 1070 AM WKII and online at www.redfishbaseball.com. For more information, check out www.redfishbaseball.com. Charlotte County Redfish Baseball - Reel in the Fun.



South Coast League Stories from August 7, 2007


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