Bulldogs trigger 10-run rule in 5-inning shutout of neighborhood rival Lowell

A USA-365.com Special Report By Dave Woodworth

5-24-2005

Tuesday, 5-24-2005 - sunny and 65 degrees at Crown Point

WP – Matt Jansen (6-2) 3Ks, 1 walks (5 inn.)
LP – Jon Capp  3Ks, 3 walks, 2 HB (4 inn.) 

Gerlach - 1 K, 1 walk, 1 HB (2/3rd inn.)

Lowell (10-17)
Mike Beier (CF) Single
Mike Smith (SS) Single

Mike Malino (C) Single

CROWN POINT (15-10)
Nick Ullman (2B) Triple, hit by pitch, one run scored

Chris Sarhoff (3B) 3 Singles, 2 runs scored

Matt Ernest (SS) 2 walks, 1 run scored

Dave Dickerson (RF) home run, 2 walks, 2 RBIs
Jimmy Wilson (LF-P) Single, 3 RBIs
Matt Jansen (P) Single, Double, 2 RBIs

CROWN POINT, IN (5-24-2005) - After having lost their last five games, the Crown Point Bulldogs put together a late season 10-0 win over Lowell, their neighborhood rival to the south, and in the process may have righted a ship that appeared to be sinking with just a week to go before the sectional tournament.

Dave Dickerson got things going early in the game, hitting a two run homer down the right field line in the bottom of the first inning, driving in Chris Sarhoff who had just singled with two outs.

Nick Ullman later tripled in the third inning with one out.  Matt Ernest drew a walk, but was erased when Chris Sarhoff hit into a fielder’s choice and Ernest was thrown out trying to advance to second.  Ullman then scored on a trick play -- a delayed double-steal in the third when Chris Sarhoff broke for second base on a steal attempt. Ullman then crossed the plate to score before Sarhoff was tagged out in a run down between first and second bases to end the inning.

Dickerson led off the bottom of the 4^th with a walk, and scored later that inning after the Bulldogs loaded the bases and Jimmy Wilson grounded out to shortstop, driving in Dickerson from third for the RBI.

Three Red Devil errors in the fifth inning were costly, as everything caved in on them. The Bulldogs batted around the order, bringing 11 men to the plate, producing three hits, drawing two walks, one hit batter and two ground balls to shortstop, both of which turned into two-base errors.  The third error appeared to be a routine fly ball to left field that simply popped out of the fielder’s glove.  The game winning hit by Chris Sarhoff was a short fly to right field near the line that the fielder had to make a long run for, and just missed the diving catch attempt, which triggered the 10-run rule to end the game.

Lowell’s Jon Capp pitched four innings and to the first three batters in the 5^th before Brian Gerlach came on in relief, striking out the first batter he faced, and coaxing a ground-out. But Gerlach was responsible for the final three runs, giving up two hits, one walk and a hit batsman.  Capp took the loss, giving up 7 runs, 5 of them earned. He had 3 strikeouts, walked two and hit two batters.

Mat Jansen went the distance for CP, upping his record to 6-2, recording 3 strikeouts, forcing 9 ground-outs, including a double-play ball in the top of the fifth.

Crown Point ends a 5-game skid with the win and is now 15-10 on the season, while Lowell drops to 10-17.

BASEBALL NOTES: Another Crown Point baseball player has announced his commitment for his college choice. Dave Dickerson, veteran right fielder and clean up hitter for Steve Strayer’s Crown Point Bulldogs will be playing for John Weber at Purdue North Central in Westville, Indiana.