Blue Team Takes Third Game of Baseball's Blue/White World Series

STORRS, Conn. (October 16, 2008) — Sophomore Pierre LePage (Wolcott, Conn.) singled in the winning run as he sparked a three-run eighth inning to lead the Blue Team over the White Team in the University of Connecticut baseball team's final game of the annual Blue/White World Series on Tuesday afternoon at J.O. Christian Field.

The Huskies, who were separated into two teams prior to the start of the Blue/White World Series, finished their fall season with the deciding game on Tuesday.

The Blue Team led the way as they scored the first run of the game as play was scoreless until the fifth inning. With junior Greg Nappo (Madison, Conn.) on the hill for the White Team, the Blue Team put a run on the board as freshman John Andreoli (Shrewsbury, Mass.) led the inning off with a single and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by fellow classmate, Ryan Thompson (Amherst, N.H.). Andreoli later moved to third as Nappo was called for a balk. John Sulzicki (Stratford, Conn.), who led his team to a win over the weekend, drove in Andreoli with a single to left field to put the Blue Team up 1-0.

In the bottom of the seventh, the White Team rallied back as freshman Nick Ahmed (East Longmeadow, Mass.) reached base on a fielder's choice then stole second. After a strikeout, Ahmed was able to steal third base to get into position to score. Junior Dale Brannon (St. Petersburg, Fla.) battled at the plate, working a walk off Dan Mahoney (Boston, Mass.) on a 3-2 count after fouling off a number of pitches. Mahoney recorded two quick strikes on the next batter before a wild pitch scored Ahmed from third to tie the game and force the contest into extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, Dusty Odenbach (Rochester, N.Y.) took the mound for the White Team and gave up a lead-off walk to Thompson, who advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Sulzicki. LePage's single came next, scoring Thompson, the eventual winning run, to give the Blue Team the 2-1 edge. LePage ended up at third base after advancing to second on the throw home then moving to third on a throwing error attempting to catch him going to second base. Junior Peter Fatse (Hampden, Mass.) continued the Blue Team's hitting streak of the inning, as he doubled to the left field wall to score LePage from third. After stealing third base and an intentional walk to sophomore Mike Olt (Branford, Conn.), sophomore Joe Pavone (Rochester, N.Y.) grounded out to short which allowed Fatse to score to put the Blue Team up 4-1.

Mahoney returned to the mound in the bottom of the eighth and retired the side to earn the win. He finished the afternoon with three strikeouts and two walks in two innings pitched. Ahmed led the White Team with a 2-for-2 performance with one run scored and two stolen bases.

 -UCONN-