2004 University of Alabama Baseball Fall Classic Recap
10/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The 2004 University of Alabama Fall Classic held at Sewell-Thomas Stadium came to a close Sunday afternoon after six games which involved Alabama and three of the top junior college programs in the nation. Each team played three games in a round robin tournament format which took place over the course of three days. Aside from the Tide's games, there were three competitive junior college matches which involved Seminole State College, San Jacinto College, and Chipola College.
Friday 10/22/04 - Chipola 5 - San Jacinto 4
In the Classic's most exciting game, Chipola used extra inning heroics to knock off the San Jacinto Gators. San Jacinto got on the board early, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning. After Chipola pitcher David Mixon retired the first two Gator batters, a walk was issued to right-fielder Jack Harris. Mixon then gave up a two run homer catcher Matt Czimskey, giving San Jac a two run lead.
Chipola didn't answer until the bottom of the sixth inning when San Jac pitcher Cory Fowler got things started by hitting Chipola right-fielder Keltavious Jones. Jones advanced to third on a single by first baseman Rene Tosoni. RBI's from Matt Gamel and Travis Anderson brought the Chipola runners home, which tied the game at two, runs which would put the game in extra innings.
Taylor Henckel struck first for San Jacinto in the top of the tenth, hitting an RBI single scoring pinch runner James Brown. The Gators got extra insurance when center fielder Sean McCraw knocked in shortstop Craig Corriston, after Corriston doubled off Chipola pitcher Anthony Moreda.
Chipola started the bottom of the tenth with a single by Jones, who finished the game two for three with two runs. A couple of passed balls advanced Jones and Tosoni, who walked the previous at bat. After an error by San Jacinto first baseman Brett Lawler brought the runners home to tie the game at 4, Chipola catcher John Ibanez knocked in Matt Gamel with the game winning RBI to give Chipola a 5-4 victory.
Chipola pitcher David Mixon picked up the win, he pitched over five innings giving up two runs and two hits, striking out eight. Steven Marek, who gave up the three runs in the bottom of the tenth, picked up the loss for the Gators.
Saturday October 23, 2004 - Chipola 6 - Seminole 3
Tyler Flowers was two for two with four RBIs and Liam Shanahan pitched three innings giving up only 1 hit and striking out three as Chipola picked up their second victory of the 2004 Fall Classic with a 6 to 3 win over the Seminole State College Trojans.
Seminole, who lost to Alabama on Friday afternoon, got things started early when Kyle Davidson, who singled on a lead off bunt, scored on a ground ball from Erik Hughes. Chipola answered with a three run bottom of the first. Lead off man Darren Ford stole two bases, Rene Tosoni walked, and Flowers started his day with a three run homerun.
Seminole brought the game to within one in the top of the third when Erik Hughes picked up his second RBI knocking in Kyle Davidson for the second time in two at bats. The Trojans tied the game in the top of the fifth when Davidson knocked in shortstop Randall Clay.
Chipola answered in the bottom of the seventh after Seminole replaced pitcher Jarrid Cavner with Dale Reneau. After giving up a single to Anthony Moreda, Reneau hit the designated hitter Luke Gordon. After a Darren Ford sacrifice bunt advanced the runners, Reneau walked Keltavious Jones to load the bases. Reneau then walked Rene Tosoni, a walk that brought in Moreda with what would ultimately be Chipola's winning run.
The story of the game was defensive mistakes which produced five errors for Chipola, and three for Seminole. Shanahan picked up the win for Chipola, and Reneau got the loss for the Trojans. Chipola improved to 2-0 in the 2004 Fall Classic, Seminole dropped to 0-2.
Sunday October 24, 2004 - San Jacinto 5 - Seminole 0
Eric Shiro and Jordan Roberts each it homeruns and San Jac pitchers gave up four hits in nine scoreless innings as San Jacinto gave Seminole their second shutout loss of the 2004 Fall Classic and gave San Jacinto their first victory of the Classic.
San Jacinto started things off early with a two run first inning. Adam Albright got on base with a triple, and then stole home before Josh Stinson singled. Stinson's base running ability helped San Jac score their second run of the inning, stealing home before Shiro, the third baseman, struck out. Shiro made up for his strike out in the bottom of the sixth when he hit a two run homerun giving the Gators a 4-0 lead. Roberts homerun in the bottom of the seventh inning gave San Jacinto their final run, and a 5-0 lead.
Garrett White got the win for San Jac with two hits and seven strikeouts in five innings. San Jacinto relievers Jonathon Runnels and Josiah Cowden pitched a combined four innings, giving up only two hits and maintaining the shutout for the Gators.
Final 2004 Fall Classic Scores and Records
Friday October 22, 2004
Alabama 6 - Seminole 0
Chipola 5 - San Jacinto 4
Saturday October 23, 2004
Alabama 3 - San Jacinto 0
Chipola 6 - Seminole 3
Sunday October 24, 2004
San Jacinto 5 - Seminole 0
Alabama 6 - Chipola 2
Alabama .......... 3-0
Chipola .......... 2-1
San Jacinto ...... 1-2
Seminole ......... 0-3
