TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Fast Start Helps Carry Riverview

ADVERTISEMENT

By JARRETT GUTHRIE

Tribune correspondent

Published: March 8, 2009

RIVERVIEW - Two early doubles and some clutch bottom of the lineup hitting led Riverview to a 7-3 win against Sickles on Saturday.

With two outs in the bottom of the first, Sharks catcher Brett Clements drove a double down the left-field line and Spencer Andrews followed with an RBI double for Riverview (4-3) and an early 1-0 lead.

The Sharks widened the lead over Sickles (3-4) in the second as an RBI from John Alty plated Eric Santiago and a double from Ryan O'Gara scored freshman second baseman Justin Rose. Rose, the No. 9 hitter, had a solid game, going 2-for-3 with two singles and driving in two in the third.

"You got to love that," Sharks coach Bill Leiby said of his freshman. "We worked hard this morning taking extra swings and the guys really brought into it today."

Rose also showed off on defense in the second inning, handling a ball hit up the middle that took an odd hop off the mound and another off the edge of the infield grass.

Nick Tarnok, the Sharks' No. 8 hitter, added an RBI double. Riverview scored four runs with two outs, which Leiby said was the difference.

"We started swinging the bats today and came out and moved some runners around," Leiby said. "We got some big hits especially with two outs."

Solid pitching from Riverview's Bryant Barbosa and O'Gara held Sickles' bats in check. Barbosa pitched four innings, allowed two runs and earned his first win of the season, while O'Gara earned his first save with a three-inning relief appearance.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT