Vero Beach, Fl- In a back and forth game that saw Greater Allegheny fight back from an 8-5 deficit, GA used a Jason Paris RBI single in the top of the 8th inning to outlast Rochester College (MI) 11-10.
GA got on the board in the top of the first, when Sophomore first baseman Adam Wehr (Northwestern) singled in Sophomore center fielder Zak Schmidt (Moon), who had reached on a lead-off walk. Senior Teddy Fricke (Carrick) would later come across on a wild pitch, giving GA the early 2-0 lead.
Rochester would score two of their own in the bottom of the first, and added another in the second, to go up 3-2.
Back up in the third, Freshman shortstop Aaron McGee (Penn Trafford) led off with a single, and then scored on a Teddy Fricke double to tie the game at three. After Adam Wehr was intentionally walked to load the bases, Sophomore Sam Weightman (Penn Trafford) would make Rochester pay dearly. Weightman crushed a double to left-center field, driving in two runs. GA would load the bases again in the inning, but could not capitalize a second time.
After two scoreless half-innings, the Rochester bats exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fourth, putting themselves back in front 8-5.
GA chipped away at the lead in the top of the fifth, scoring one run when Jason Paris knocked in Teddy Fricke, who had stolen third after doubling in his earlier at-bat. This brought Greater Allegheny to within two, down 8-6.
In the top of the sixth the GA bats got going, as they stormed in front with four runs. Sam Weightman again did the damage, drilling a 2-RBI double to left-center. Following Weightman in being Rochester-killers, Jason Paris singled home two more runs, putting GA in front, 10-8.
Rochester quickly recovered, scoring two runs in the bottom half of the sixth, again tying the game- this time, at 10-10. A scoreless seventh would send the game into extras.
Teddy Fricke led-off the eight with a single down the left field line. Wehr followed, and reached on a fielder's choice- eliminating Fricke from the basepaths. Sophomore Kevin Quinn (West Mifflin) pinch-ran for Wehr, and would eventually score the game-winning run on a single by Jason Paris, after Sophomore outfielder Tyler Kugler (Serra Catholic) successfully pushed Quinn to second with a sacrifice bunt.
Freshman Oliver Girman (Serra Catholic) would close the door in the Rochester eighth, stranding the game-tying run on third base. Greater Allegheny would survive for the 11-10 victory.
Jason Paris and Sam Weightman had huge days at the plate, both recording four RBI's. Paris went 4-5, while Weightman went 2-3. Teddy Fricke also had a strong game, going 3-4 while scoring four runs. As a team, GA would collect 15 hits. Oliver Girman (1-0) earned the win, giving up just two runs through five innings. He struck out three batters, and scattered six hits.
With the win, Greater Allegheny wraps up their Florida trip going 5-4. Overall, GA owns a 5-5 record, and will return to the diamond this Friday, March 16 as they host USCAA foe Southern Virginia. First pitch is at 12 PM.
