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Lead-off man Alden Carrithers continues to find ways to get on base

Still Lacking Big Hits, Cards Fall Again

Orleans strands the bases loaded in the eighth and again in the ninth

July 16, 2007

By: Brett Brecheisen - Orleans Cardinals Intern

Orleans, Massachusetts – The frustrating losses for Orleans just keep mounting.  The Cardinals had a player thrown out at the plate and stranded the bases loaded in both the eighth and ninth innings on their way to a 4-1 loss to Harwich.

After a couple of days of scoring runs in droves, the Cardinals offense has started to fall back to where it was at for most of the season.

“We just didn’t get a big hit.  We had Gaston and Jimenez up there with the bases loaded in the eighth and then we had the last inning with the bases loaded and just couldn’t get it done,” a dejected Manager Kelly Nicholson said.

Orleans fell behind in the game early after the Mariners used small ball to move 2B Jake Opitz (Nebraska) around the bases and into score in the top of the first.  Opitz would hit a home run in the sixth to give Harwich a 2-0 lead.

The Cardinals had a serious threat in the sixth when 2B Alden Carrithers (UCLA) singled with one out and CF Ollie Linton (UC Irvine) followed with a bunt-hit.  With a 2-2 count to the league’s RBI leader, RF Dennis Raben (Miami, FL), Carrithers and Linton attempted a double steal.  Raben swung through strike three, however, and Carrithers was gunned down at third to complete the strike-out, throw-out double play and end the inning.

The Cardinals put together another rally, this time in the eighth, in an attempt to break through and take the lead.  With one out, pinch-hitter Eric Reese (Fordham) and Carrithers both drew walks.  A single to left by Linton scored Reese and put the tying run in scoring position for Raben.  Harwich LHP Evan Crawford (Auburn) proceeded to hit Raben with a pitch. That would bring LF Jon Gaston (Arizona) to the plate with the tying run on third base and only one out.  Gaston hit a hard groundball to the right side of the field, however, and Harwich 1B Alex Avila (Alabama) threw home to nab Carrithers.  Orleans DH Jose Jimenez (Tampa) followed by grounding out to short as the Cardinals could not tie the game.

Harwich would add two insurance runs in the top of the ninth to give themselves a little breathing room with a three-run lead.  The Cards felt they had one more solid rally left in them, though, and had the bases loaded with two outs.  Crawford struck out Linton with a heater up and outside the zone and ended the game.

“I just tried to fight any pitches off that I got once I was behind but he ended up getting me with a fastball up and away,” said the Cardinals center-fielder.

RHP Clayton Shunick (NC State) had nice stuff tonight but struggled mightily with his location.  Shunick would pitch 5.1 innings and allow just two runs but his amount of walks, five, put him in a lot of trouble and made him have to work extra hard for outs.

“Shunick did his job as a starter.  He didn’t have very good command of his fastball tonight and you have to have that to be successful,” Coach Nicholson said.

He was out-dueled by Harwich RHP Brett Jacobson (Vanderbilt) who was in complete command and earned his second win of the season.  Jacobson tossed 7.0 innings and struck out seven while only allowing one walk and surrendering four hits without a run.

Orleans’ outstanding bullpen did some great work in keeping the game close.  RHP Jason Novak (UCLA) and LHP Rob Catapano (UNC) threw 1.2 shutout innings and did not allow a base-runner either.

Carrithers extended his streak of reaching base to 15 games.  He has now reached base via a hit or a walk in 15 of his 17 games played.  Linton started his first game since July 12 and made his presence felt with a three-hit performance.  The Anteater center-fielder also stole two bases.

“Ollie played well.  His return is big because he gives our team a lot of energy and it bothers him to lose.  He’s really good defensively and he’s good in this league because he can bunt, handle the bat, and do the little things you need to do to win,” Nicholson said.

According to Coach Nicholson, Linton provides exactly what this team needs, a shot of energy.

“I just think we have to play with a little more energy and desire.  I don’t see a lot of life in this team right now, to be honest.  I’m looking down at the dugout with the bases loaded late in the game and there just isn’t a lot of energy.  There isn’t a lot of enthusiasm and it’s disappointing,” a frustrated Nicholson said.

The loss puts Orleans back at .500; but, they did not lose any ground on Brewster or Chatham in the standings as both teams fell tonight.  The Cards will have a well needed off day tomorrow as the team has played a game everyday since July 2.  Orleans will look to beat up on the Western Division-leading Bourne Braves when they return to the field Wednesday in Bourne.

WP – Brett Jacobson (Vanderbilt), 2-3

LP – Clayton Shunick (NC State), 1-2

SV – Evan Crawford (Auburn), 3