Old Gold and Black > 4.25.02 > Greer's Gang bombard Terps

By Matt Gallagher
Assistant Sports Editor

Domination. No other word can really describe just how good the Diamond Deacs have been recently; Head Coach George Greer and his squad eased out a sweep over visiting Maryland from April 19-21, and shredded UNC-Charlotte and Virginia Tech April 23 and 24. During the five-game romp, the team not only upped their winning streak to 11 games, but they scored a shellshocking 77 runs - yes, in just five games. The Deacons (35-6 overall, 14-3 ACC) have now clawed up the national rankings all the way to No. 3 - the highest ranking ever achieved by the squad in school history.

Sophomore ace Kyle Sleeth opened up for the Deacs on April 19 against the visiting Maryland Terrapins at Hooks Stadium. Anytime the scoreboard reads 19-0 in Demon Deacon favor, you know that game was a good time, but this victory was particularly sweet. Simply put, Sleeth was absolutely money, chucking a complete game shutout. He yielded only six hits while he struck out nine Terps, dropping his ERA to 2.99 and upping his record to a flawless 8-0. Yeah, that was money.

"Kyle is one of the best sophomore pitchers in the country," Head Coach George Greer said. "When his fastball is moving like that, he is virtually untouchable."

Only days later, on April 24, Sleeth was invited to the prestigious USA Baseball National Team Trials for this summer. Only 35-40 college ballplayers in the nation are awarded this opportunity.

Meanwhile, the offensive juggernaut of Deac ball also awoke. Sophomore third baseman Jamie D'Antona and redshirt frosh Ryder Mathias both launched three-run homers in the fourth inning, and junior Ryan Hubbard also jacked a solo shot off the Terps. Freshman shortstop Ben Ingold swatted a homerun of his own, in the midst of going 4-for-6 while driving in four RBIs.

Junior Nick Blue, however, was the king of clutch all game, garnering a perfect 4-for-4 with two RBIs. Blue also swiped four bases against the Terps, tying a school record for most stolen bases in one game.

Game two of the Terrapin-Deac series brought much of the same for both teams from game one: battering by Deac batters brought only battered Terp pitchers. D'Antona and his fellow bleach blonde, junior outfielder Ryan Johnson, led the offensive onslaught, knocking in four and five runs, respectively. Blue scattered four hits and two RBIs to add to his stellar weekend, and junior hurler Seth Hill (3-0) collected the victory. Hill, a former long reliever who banged his way into the starting rotation, whiffed five Terrapins and gave up five runs in seven innings of work.

"He (Hill) has done a tremendous job (at adapting into the starter's role)...It is a bit of a mental adjustment," Greer said.

The theme of the weekend, Deacon drilling of Maryland pitching, continued in the series finale on April 21, leading to a 15-7 "W". Leadoff man and junior centerfielder Adam Bourassa got thingsrolling, poking out three hits, three RBIs, while also adding a swiped base. Johnson continued his recent tear from the plate, blasting two homeruns - giving him eight on the year - and seized four RBIs in the process.

D'Antona also unloaded two bombs, grabbing three RBIs of his own. Blue smacked one homer of his own, snatching three RBIs and two hits.

Junior Ryan Braun took advantage of the explosion from the plate, tossing six innings of solid ball. Braun surrendered only two earned runs and struck out seven batters to improve his record to 1-0. Senior closer Dave Bush came on in the eighth to add to his ACC-leading 29 appearances, giving up only one hit in two innings of play.

Largely for his play against Maryland, Blue was named the co-ACC Player of the Week. In the series against the Terps, he batted an amazing .750, lifted seven bases, and brought home seven runs.

And despite rumors to the contrary, the offensive firepower provided by the Deacs was not caused by radiation. According to Greer, "It was great weather. The hard work that the guys have done in the batting cage has paid off."

Due to their sweep of Maryland and some shakeups elsewhere in the nation, the Deacs jumped from No. 5 to No. 3 in the national polls. Only ACC rival Clemson, who resides at No.1, and the No. 2 Rice Owls, who beat the Deacs Feb. 15 by the score of 15-5, remain on top of the Diamond Deacons in the polls.

On April 23, Greer's Gang left the comforts of Hooks and hit the road against nearby UNC-Charlotte. D'Antona went yard for the fourth straight game, rocking homer No. 15 in the third inning. Mathias brought home four RBIs of his own, while Bourassa and Johnson both chipped in three hits.

Diaper dandy Tim Morley, who started the season off strong but has looked shaky in recent outings, returned to previous form against the 49ers. He (4-2) did his best Kyle Sleeth impression, and, well, he is quite the mimic. Morley went the distance, yielding only three runs and seven hits in all nine innings. He also froze seven 49er batters for the K, ensuring the 15-3 win.

The road trip continued for the baseball squad on April 24, as Greer and company jaunted on up to Virginia Tech to square dance with the Hokies. Freshman sensation Brian Bach - apparently in yet another effort to impersonate Sleeth - became the second frosh pitcher in as many days to hold the fort the whole nine innings. Bach (5-1) earned the 10-3 victory by striking out seven Tech batters and surrendering eight hits. Bourassa garnered three hits again, while sophomore outfielder Steve LeFaivre, Mathias, and Ingold each grabbed two RBIs apiece.

D'Antona also drove in a run, bringing his season total thus far to a whopping, and team-leading, 64. Match that with his 15 homers and his bleach blonde hair, you not only get a public relations dream but an All-American candidate.

"I think he (D'Antona) is handling being pitched around, and he is being thrown a lot of pitches that are in some cases unhittable," said Greer. "He comes through in the clutch for us, gives us a lot of confidence as team, and makes us a better team."

And now its showdown time at the O.K. Corral. The No. 3 Demon Deacons and the No. 1 Clemson Tigers are scheduled to meet this weekend, April 26-28, at Kingsmore Stadium in Clemson, S.C., with first place in the ACC on the line.


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