Lexington, Ky., continued its dominance at the 2006 Cal Ripken World Series on Wednesday. The Ohio Valley Region champion rattled off its fourth win in National Division pool play with a 10-run mercy-rule victory, 16-6 over Satsuma, Ala., at the Ripken Baseball Academy?s Fenway Park field.
Lexington (4-0), a finalist in the U.S. championship game last year, and Satsuma (2-1) both began the game undefeated and on top of the National Division. Lexingtonwasted no time, scoring four runs in the first and second innings and three in the third.
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“We went up in a hurry,” said Lexington manager Dennis Dillingham. “But our pitchers made this game. Alabama is a great hitting team, and our three pitchers threw fantastic.”
Lexington?s three pitchers ? Corey Mosley (who earned the win), Travis Murray and Ryan Combs ? combined to allow six runs (one earned) and six hits. Four unearned runs resulted from four Lexington errors in the top of the fifth inning.
“As frustrating as that inning was, the nice thing was how the pitcher [Combs] kept his composure,” Dillingham said. “They did not drop their heads. They kept battling and got out of it.”
“Our pitching has been good ever since we came together as a team,” said Murray, who was Lexington?s game MVP. “That one inning, we had errors, but our pitcher stuck with it.”
Murray went 3-for-3 against Satsuma with four runs scored, two RBI, a home run and a double. Murray?s bomb was the first ever to be hit over the “Green Monster” at Ripken Baseball?s Fenway replica.
“Wow, that was awesome,” Murray said. “That was incredible for me.”
Murray was not alone in offensive production. Center fielder Dorian Hairston was 3-for-4 with four RBI, three runs scored and a double.
“He is a great hitter,” Dillingham said. “He is patient for a good pitch. He really has come on this tournament.”
Hairston also scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the fifth.
“I knew I was the winning run,” Hairston said about getting on base. “I just didn?t want to do anything stupid.”
BATTLE OF LEXINGTON
» Lexington outfielder Brandon Shrout also homered in the game, sending a three-run blast to right field in the second inning.
» Coming into Wednesday, Lexington?s Kyle Polley was leading the tournament in RBI with seven.
» As a team, Lexington allowed seven errors that resulted in five runs for Satsuma.
