Young Knights put best foot forward
AAE beats Apple Valley Christian for first time ever
By KRIS REILLY/Staff Writer ~ Daily Press
APPLE VALLEY - It's way too early to say that Howard Rifkin's team has arrived, but Saturday's victory was a good place to start.
The Academy for Academic Excellence baseball team beat Apple Valley Christian 4-2 in the season opener for both squads.
The two Apple Valley private schools have faced off in nonleague games almost every season since AAE began playing baseball in 2000, and before Saturday the Knights had never beaten the Warriors.
Though the victory is just a small step, the Knights hope it's a harbinger of a more competitive season than in years past - but don't expect an overnight turnaround from first-year head coach Rifkin.
"Getting off to a solid start is great," Rifkin said. "We wanted to keep it close and give ourselves a chance and that's what (the players) did. ... We're a building program with one senior, and the majority of our kids are freshmen and sophomores. ... They're really young and we're basically working on teaching them baseball."
It was a disappointing way for the Warriors to christen their new grass infield at Apple Valley Christian School. In fact, the new surface may have played a part in the Warriors' four errors.
"We're so used to a dirt infield, and the guys are waiting back on balls when they should be charging," AVC coach Rocky Lockwood said. "One or two more games, and we'll be OK with that."
The Knights (1-0) took a 2-0 lead in the third inning without putting up a hit, taking advantage of three errors by AVC (0-1).
Back-to-back errors by third baseman Sean Turpen, who was fighting a sinus infection, and a two-base throwing error by shortstop Johnny Mortimore allowed AAE's Riley Szydloski and Ethan Reed to score.
"We had a sick third baseman trying to play the game," Lockwood said. "He gave it a good effort, but it kind of came back and bit us."
The Warriors' lineup struggled for the first two innings against AAE starter Alex Martin, who struck out 11 in five innings of work. But in the third, Martin walked the leadoff batter, Stevie Mortimore.
Martin struck out Jacob Graham, but the next batter, Johnny Mortimore, launched a line-drive homer to left center to tie the game 2-2.
Things started to look even worse for Martin when he gave up a line-drive double to right by catcher Chad Gross. He then struck out Steven Messner, but Messner reached base on a wild pitch.
Martin got out of the frame when he struck out two consecutive batters to complete a rare four-strikeout inning. The Warriors' two hits in the third were the only ones they got off Martin.
Martin worked two more innings to pick up the victory, and Mike Carroll saved it with two scoreless innings of relief.
AAE took the lead for good in the fourth inning. Jon Borkman led off with a single up the middle and later stole second. With one out, Szydloski doubled to left to score Borkman. The ball dropped inside the line and just past the glove of left fielder Adam Rodriguez.
The next batter, Reed, singled to move Szydloski to third. Reed was caught stealing second as Szydloski sprinted for home. Gross threw out Reed, but Gross couldn't corral the throw to home for the double play, allowing Szydloski to score and give the Knights a 4-2 advantage.
AVC starter Joe Ungaro had a solid outing, allowing five hits and striking out two while walking one in five innings of work. Johnny Mortimore pitched two shutout innings of relief for the Warriors.
AAE 002 200 0 - 4 6 0
AVC 002 000 0 - 2 4 4
Martin, Carroll (6) and Borkman; Ungaro, J. Mortimore (6) and Gross. WP - Martin (1-0). LP - Ungaro (0-1); SV - Carroll (1). 2B - Szydloski (AAE), Gross (AVC). HR - J. Mortimore (AVC).
Kris Reilly can be reached at 951-6275 or via e-mail at kris_reilly@link.freedom.com.
Used with permission by Daily Press, Freedom Communication, 2005