Facing impossible odds

Hughesville wins three straight at states, on verge of elimination

Friday, July 25, 2008

Click here to enlarge this photo Photo by CAMERON ADAMS Hughesville’s Cal Rye reaches first base on an error, beating the throw to Fruitland first baseman Ben Turner on Monday. Hughesville won the game in extras, 13-10. E-Mail This Article | Print This Story

The Southern Maryland District 7 champion won games in dramatic fashion Sunday through Tuesday, highlighted by a wild 13-10 victory over Fruitland, from the Eastern Shore, in an extra-innings barnburner that was won on Adam Munshaw’s three-run homer in the seventh. It was his first ever shot over the fence.

‘‘The Fruitland game, above all, was such a roller-coaster,” said Hughesville head coach Gary Ruble, whose club surrendered 10-7 lead in the fifth of the back-and-forth affair. ‘‘You were watching determination on both sides. It was thrilling. They were hitting home runs, we were hitting home runs. I would’ve liked to have a blood pressure gauge on me during that game.”

Sunday and Tuesday featured Hughesville comeback wins of 7-6 over South Maryland and 4-3 against North East, respectively. Edging North East was particularly impressive as Hughesville trailed, 3-0, and stormed back with four runs in the fifth using five straight singles in the frame.

However, Hughesville’s heart-racing heroics were grounded Wednesday night in the loser’s bracket final when the locals dug a 17-0 deficit through the opening two innings versus the offensive barrage of tourney host Easton.

The lopsided game was suspended to Thursday night due to ominous thunderstorm conditions, which included lightning, and was slated to resume at the start of the third inning with Hughesville coming to bat. Thursday’s completion of the contest finished too late for inclusion in this edition.

Unless Hughesville pulled off a miraculous rally Thursday, its state run is finished. The team’s first loss in the double-elimination tournament occurred last Saturday to Frederick by a 10-0 outcome in four innings, the mercy rule ending the game.

Hughesville was one of three final teams remaining in the field by Wednesday, needing to beat Easton to forge a trip to the championship round with favorite Hagerstown awaiting. The winner’s bracket final is scheduled for today with the if-game Saturday.

‘‘Tonight, I’m not satisfied. I’m kind of shell-shocked,” Ruble said late Wednesday after returning from Easton with his club facing a seemingly impossible situation. ‘‘I thought with Brock [Ruble] on the mound, we had a shot to fight with [Easton]. They came ready.”

Ruble’s 6-foot son, who recently turned 12 and has been an imposing force toeing the rubber for much of the season, was overwhelmed by Easton.

The Easton bats connected for six home runs – all over the fence –– in two innings and scored 11 runs in the first.

One of Easton’s three homers in the first was a grand slam. And it did all of its first-inning damage with two outs and a runner on base.

Hughesville needed to cut the Easton lead inside of 10 runs by the fourth or the mercy rule will have ended the game prematurely.

Hughesville was on its third pitcher going into the third inning.

‘‘Easton hit the ball,” the Hughesville coach said, also estimating that about 600 people were in attendance Wednesday. ‘‘[My son] was struggling with the breaking ball. He only had his fastball.

‘‘But it wasn’t just him. I threw more junk at [Easton] than you could shake a stick at. I was throwing [pitchers] with all kinds of slow stuff to break their rhythm.”

Hughesville had two hits –– both doubles, from Ljay Newsome and Nate Hoxie –– going into Thursday’s resumed contest.