EMERSON,
Ga. – The Triton Rays out of Montgomery, Ala., came into Monday
with an undefeated record of 4-0. They sat atop their pool with 33
runs scored and 11 runs allowed, and were coming off a huge 16-4 win
of Home Plate on Sunday afternoon.
The
Rays would hope to keep their bats hot coming into to their matchup
against the Orlando Scorpions Purple 16u, who were just 1-2 coming
into the game. The Scorpions had been unable to score very many runs
through their first three games, and were certainly the underdog in
this particular game.
If
they were the underdog, no one told them, because right out of the
gate the Scorpions were playing solid baseball. The Rays starting
pitcher, Noah Bryant, came in throwing strikes, but an error by his
defense put the Scorpions leadoff man on, who would eventually score
by way of wild pitch.
In
the third, the defensive mishaps would continue for the Rays, as a
misplayed ball in center field allowed a runner to get to third. He
was later driven in with a base hit, making the game 2-0. Thanks to a
solid start to this game by the Scorpions starting pitcher Logan
Brouwer, they were able to ride that 2-0 lead for a little bit until
the bottom of the fifth inning.
In
the fifth, the Rays’ Hunter Brittain started them off with a
leadoff triple that really fired the dugout up. Despite how well the
starter for the Scorpions had done – only allowing two hits up to
that point – he would be taken out of the game and it was now up to
the bullpen to save this lead. Great defense by the Scorpions allowed
them to get out of the jam with only one run allowed, but at this
point, the Rays were really feeling it. It looked as if a
drama-filled final two innings would ensue.
Throughout
the course of the game, the Rays middle infield looked very solid,
and turned clutch double plays on the drop of a dime. In the sixth,
the Scorpions threatened to score, but the rally was foiled by a
double play that gave the Rays some momentum. They would begin the
bottom of the sixth inning with a bunt for a single, putting the
tying run on first. That runner advanced with a hit batter, and then
later scored to tie it up due to a passed ball.
That
passed ball was huge, as it moved the leading run to third as well. A
fielder’s choice would score that runner, making the score 3-2, and
the Rays now had the lead in a back-and-forth contest.
Rays
reliever, Nick Boothe, looked as if he was going to close this one
out for the win, but with two outs in the top of the seventh inning
the Scorpions mustered up some late inning magic. Boothe allowed a
couple of base hits, putting the tying and leading runs in scoring
position. The Scorpions’ Sam Koruschak came up in a big spot and
delivered with a towering double to left field that cleared the bases
and gave them the lead.
The
Rays would eventually get out of this inning down 4-3. In the bottom
of the seventh the Rays made things interesting by getting a runner
to third base with two outs, but they would not be able to bring him
in and would suffer their first loss of the tournament.
The
Rays as a whole feel that they can play a lot better than they did
today, and with the mid-tournament arrival of the talented Luke
Berryhill, they definitely have a good chance of bouncing back on
Tuesday. Berryhill couldn’t make much of a difference in this game,
going 0-for-3, but he looks to settle back in and could be a real
force in this Triton Rays offense.
“I
think from here on out, we just need to make the routine plays and
keep a cool head,” said Berryhill after the game.
Berryhill,
a Georgia Southern commit, is one of the top catching prospects in
the country and was just recently announced as a Perfect Game
All-American on Monday afternoon. He is set to compete at Petco Park
in the All-American Classic on August 16, and like anybody else who
has been named to this exclusive list, he is ecstatic.
“I
flipped out when I found out I was selected,” Berryhill said of his
initial response. “It was awesome, I couldn’t believe it. My
expectations for that game are simple; to go out there and try to get
hits, have no passed balls, and throw people out. I also want to have
fun as well.”
Berryhill’s
credentials are quite impressive behind the plate, and when you see
his tools in live action, you can see why he was selected to play
amongst the best players in the nation. At the PG National Showcase
he was really able to show scouts his true ability, which was a big
factor in his selection process.
“The
showcase was awesome,” said the soft-spoken Berryhill. “I hit
pretty good, had a good pop time and caught good.”
Berryhill
was able to show impressive speed at the showcase for a catcher,
running a 6.77 60-yard dash, which is a magnificent time for a
catcher. He was able to register a 1.77 pop time and throw 80 mph
behind the plate.
The
Head Coach of the Triton Rays, Tyler Courson, has only had Berryhill
for this summer, but he can already see why he is one of the highest
rated players in the country.
“This
is our first summer with him, and he’s improved drastically so
far,” Coach Courson said. “His pop time has gotten a lot better,
his stick has gotten a lot better, and he has a good chance to play
at a high level. His work ethic really separates him. He’s always
getting after it, always in the weight room and cages. The kid never
stops working.”
The
Rays hope to get it going on Tuesday as pool play begins to come to a
close, and there’s no doubt they will give their best effort,
seeing as they have been consistently successful at PG tournament
events this summer.
The
Rays finished as the runners-up at this year’s 17u PG/East Cobb
Invitational, a tournament in which Berryhill was named to the
All-Tournament Team. Plus, their 18u squad just finished with a very
good showing at the 18u WWBA National Championship, also finishing as
the runner-up, while they also made the playoffs at last week's 17u
WWBA National Championship.
Coach
Courson feels that his team is going to need to cut down to the
mistakes if they want to live up to the expectations that their 17u
and 18u teams have set for them this summer.
“We
just have to make the routine plays. We gave up two or three unearned
runs in today’s game and that was the difference in the game. We
have to fix that moving forward.”