April 29, 1997
Balanced Effort Downs Valparaiso, 10-6
NOTRE DAME, Ind. - Another balanced offensive effort
kept the Notre Dame baseball team on its record-setting pace, as the
Irish defeated visiting Valparaiso, 10-6, in non-conference baseball
action Thursday at Eck Stadium.
Notre Dame (33-17) improved to 19-2 at home this season while
maintaining a .335 team batting average, above the team record
(.334, set in 1989 and '93). Freshman first baseman Jeff Felker's
solo home run in the third gives the Irish 56 homers for the season,
fifth-most in team history and just eight shy of equaling the team
record of 64 (set in 1993).
Valparaiso (18-24) jumped ahead with a run in the top of the
first before the Irish scored in every inning from the second
through the fifth to claim a 9-1 lead.
Senior lefthander Wally Widelski (3-0) picked up the win,
pitching the second through sixth innings while allowing three runs
(all earned) on four hits and a walk, with three strikeouts and six
groundouts.
The Irish tied the game with a run in the second, on Felker's
blast over the rightfield fence (his fourth home run of the season),
before adding three runs in the third, a single run in the fourth,
and four more runs in the fifth.
The three-run third featured opening walks from freshman
rightfielder Jeff Perconte and senior centerfielder Randall Brooks
before senior catcher Mike Amrhein ripped an RBI double down the
rightfield line. Sophomore leftfielder Allen Green brought home
Brooks with a sacrifice fly and Felker kept things going with a
two-out double down the rightfield line to score Amrhein.
The Irish tacked on a run in the fourth, after senior third
baseman J.J. Brock was hit by a pitch, moved up on a wild pitch and
scored on Amrhein's hard-hit single off the glove of shortstop Kyle
Musser. The hosts then broke the game open with four runs in the
fifth.
Felker drew a leadoff walk in the fourth, stole second and took
third when the throw went into centerfield. Junior second baseman
Todd Frye walked to put runners on the corners before Brock sent an
RBI single through the left side of the infield. Perconte then
singled to shallow right field, with a throwing error on second
baseman Josh McIntyre allowing Frye to score while the other runners
moved up. Righthander Ryan Naughton then took mound but Brooks sent
the first pitch he saw into left field, plating Brock, and Amrhein
then brought home Perconte with a single through the left side.
The Crusaders made things interesting with three runs in the
sixth and another run in the seventh off senior righthander Mike
Balicki, cutting the lead to 9-5.
Amrhein's 3-for-4 day gives him 258 career hits, moving past Dan
Peltier (257, from 1987-89) into third on the Irish all-time hits
list, behind Pat Pesavento (296, from 1986-89) and Eric Danapilis
(295, from 1990-93). Amrhein's three RBI vs. the Crusaders give him
196 in his career, just six behind Peltier for second place in Irish
history. Amrhein's run scored leaves him with 183 in his career,
four behind former teammate Scott Sollmann for fifth all-time at
Notre Dame.
NOTES: Freshman shortstop Brant Ust went 0-for-4 in the
Valparaiso game, snapping his hitting streak at 15 games, while
Greene's 0-for-3 day ended his hitting streak at 13 ... Amrhein
started his 183rd career game on Tuesday, moving past former
teammate and Irish catcher Bob Lisanti into sixth on the Notre Dame
career starts list ... Amrhein is one of 10 Irish players ever to
appear in 200-plus games (203) ... sophomore DH/catcher Jeff Wagner
did not play on Tuesday due to a sore wrist ... freshman righthander
Scott Cavey pitched the first inning vs. the Crusaders, making his
first appearance since throwing in the 16-3 win over Boston College
on April 6 (Cavey had missed the last 18 games due to elbow
problems).
Valparaiso Univ. 6 (18-24) Univ. of Notre Dame 10 (33-17)
Name (Pos) AB R H RBI BB SO PO A Name (Pos) AB R H RBI BB SO PO A
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rob Hadrick cf............ 5 1 4 2 0 0 4 0 Jeff Perconte rf.......... 3 3 2 1 2 0 2 0
Kyle Musser ss............ 5 0 1 1 0 2 1 2 Randall Brooks cf......... 2 1 2 1 2 0 2 0
Jamie Sykes rf............ 3 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 Pat O'Keefe pr/cf......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Todd Poepard 1b........... 4 1 1 1 0 0 6 1 Mike Amrhein c............ 4 1 3 3 0 0 3 0
Ryan Poepard dh........... 4 0 1 1 0 2 0 0 Mike Knecht c............. 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 2
Paul Stavnes 3b........... 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 Brant Ust ss.............. 4 0 0 0 0 2 0 4
J.J. Swiatkowski ph/3b.... 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 Paul Turco ss............. 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0
Jamie Taylor lf........... 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 Allen Greene lf........... 3 0 0 1 0 1 1 0
Scott Lockhart c.......... 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 Dan Leatherman lf......... 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1
Brian O'Connor ph/c....... 1 1 0 0 1 1 2 0 Jeff Felker 1b............ 4 2 2 2 1 0 8 1
Josh McIntrye 2b.......... 2 2 0 0 2 0 1 4 Justin Scholl dh.......... 4 0 1 0 0 2 0 0
Jim Pomeroy p............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 John Corbin ph............ 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0
Ryan Naughton p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Todd Frye 2b.............. 3 1 1 0 2 0 1 1
J.J. Brock 3b............. 3 2 1 1 0 0 2 3
Scott Cavey p............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Wally Widelski p.......... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mike Balicki p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Larry Mohs p.............. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals.................... 34 6 8 6 4 7 24 8 Totals.................... 33 10 12 10 7 7 27 12
Score by innings: R H E
----------------------------------------------
Valparaiso Univ. 100 003 101 - 6 8 4
Univ. of Notre Dame 013 140 10 - 10 12 1
----------------------------------------------
E - Paul Stavnes(12), Sc. Lockhart(3), Jo. McIntrye, Ry. Naughton(1), Scott Cavey(3).
DP - Crusaders 2. LOB - Crusaders 5, Irish 10.
2B - Rob Hadrick 2(17), Mike Amrhein(9), Jeff Felker(6).
HR - Jeff Felker(4).
SB - Rob Hadrick(14), Jeff Felker(6).
SH - Pat O'Keefe(5).
SF - Mike Knecht(1), Allen Greene(3).
Valparaiso Univ. IP H R ER BB SO AB BF Univ. of Notre Dame IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Pomeroy......... 4.1 10 9 9 5 3 21 28 Scott Cavey......... 1.0 2 1 1 0 0 5 5
Ryan Naughton....... 3.2 2 1 0 2 4 12 16 Wally Widelski...... 5.0 4 3 3 1 3 18 19
Mike Balicki........ 1.0 1 1 1 1 1 4 5
Larry Mohs.......... 2.0 1 1 1 2 3 7 9
Winner - W. Widelski 3-0. Loser - Jim Pomeroy 5-6. Save - None.
WP - Jim Pomeroy(6).
HBP - by Jim Pomeroy (J.J. Brock).
Start: 7:00
Time: 2:52
Attendance: 253
Play-by-play
Valparaiso Univ. inning 1
Rob Hadrick doubled to right field. Kyle Musser singled to center field,
RBI; Rob Hadrick scored. Jamie Sykes flied out to rf. Kyle Musser advanced
to second on an error by p. Todd Poepard flied out to cf; Kyle Musser
advanced to third. Ryan Poepard grounded out to 3b. 1 run, 2 hits, 1
error, 1 LOB.
Univ. of Notre Dame inning 1
J. Perconte singled to first base, bunt. Rand. Brooks singled to left
field; J. Perconte advanced to second. Mike Amrhein flied out to cf. Brant
Ust grounded into double play ss to 2b to 1b; Rand. Brooks out on the play.
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Valparaiso Univ. inning 2
W. Widelski to p for Scott Cavey. Paul Stavnes struck out. Jamie Taylor
grounded out to ss. Sc. Lockhart grounded out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of Notre Dame inning 2
Allen Greene grounded out to 2b. Jeff Felker homered to right field, RBI.
Just. Scholl singled to right field. Todd Frye singled to left field; Just.
Scholl advanced to second. J.J. Brock grounded into double play 2b to ss to
1b; Todd Frye out on the play. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Valparaiso Univ. inning 3
Jo. McIntrye grounded out to ss. Rob Hadrick flied out to lf. Kyle Musser
struck out looking. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of Notre Dame inning 3
J. Perconte walked. Rand. Brooks walked; J. Perconte advanced to second.
Mike Amrhein doubled down the rf line, RBI; Rand. Brooks advanced to third;
J. Perconte scored. Brant Ust struck out. Allen Greene flied out to cf,
SF, RBI; Rand. Brooks scored. Jeff Felker doubled down the rf line, RBI;
Mike Amrhein scored. Just. Scholl reached on an error by 3b; Jeff Felker
advanced to third. Todd Frye grounded out to p. 3 runs, 2 hits, 1 error, 2
LOB.
Valparaiso Univ. inning 4
Jamie Sykes flied out to rf. Todd Poepard popped up to 3b. Ryan Poepard
struck out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of Notre Dame inning 4
J.J. Brock hit by pitch. J. Perconte grounded out to 2b; J.J. Brock
advanced to second. J.J. Brock advanced to third on a wild pitch. Rand.
Brooks walked. Mike Amrhein singled to left field, RBI; Rand. Brooks
advanced to second; J.J. Brock scored. Brant Ust flied out to rf. Allen
Greene struck out looking. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Valparaiso Univ. inning 5
Paul Stavnes flied out to cf. Jamie Taylor grounded out to ss. Sc.
Lockhart grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Univ. of Notre Dame inning 5
Jeff Felker walked. Just. Scholl struck out. Jeff Felker stole second,
advanced to third on an error by c. Todd Frye walked. J.J. Brock singled
to left field, RBI; Todd Frye advanced to second; Jeff Felker scored. J.
Perconte singled to right field, RBI, advanced to second on an error by 2b;
J.J. Brock advanced to second, advanced to third on an error by 2b; Todd
Frye scored. Ry. Naughton to p for Jim Pomeroy. Rand. Brooks singled to
left field, RBI; J. Perconte advanced to third; J.J. Brock scored. Pat
O'Keefe pinch ran for Rand. Brooks. Mike Amrhein singled to left field,
RBI; Pat O'Keefe advanced to second; J. Perconte scored. Brant Ust struck
out looking. Allen Greene popped up to 3b. 4 runs, 4 hits, 2 errors, 2
LOB.
Valparaiso Univ. inning 6
Pat O'Keefe to cf. Mike Knecht to c for Mike Amrhein. Paul Turco to ss for
Brant Ust. Leatherman to lf for Allen Greene. Jo. McIntrye walked. Rob
Hadrick singled to right field; Jo. McIntrye advanced to second. Kyle
Musser flied out to cf. Jamie Sykes reached on a fielder's choice; Rob
Hadrick out at second 2b to ss; Jo. McIntrye advanced to third. Todd
Poepard singled to center field, RBI; Jamie Sykes advanced to third; Jo.
McIntrye scored. Ryan Poepard singled to right field, RBI; Todd Poepard
advanced to second; Jamie Sykes scored. Swiatkowski pinch hit for Paul
Stavnes. Swiatkowski singled to left field, out at second lf to c to 2b,
RBI; Ryan Poepard advanced to third; Todd Poepard scored. 3 runs, 4 hits, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. of Notre Dame inning 6
Swiatkowski to 3b. Jeff Felker out at first 1b to p. Just. Scholl struck
out. Todd Frye walked. J.J. Brock popped up to 1b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0
errors, 1 LOB.
Valparaiso Univ. inning 7
M. Balicki to p for W. Widelski. Jamie Taylor fouled out to 3b. Br.
O'Connor pinch hit for Sc. Lockhart. Br. O'Connor walked. Jo. McIntrye out
at first 1b to p; Br. O'Connor advanced to second. Rob Hadrick singled to
center field, RBI; Br. O'Connor scored. Rob Hadrick stole second. Kyle
Musser struck out. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. of Notre Dame inning 7
Br. O'Connor to c. J. Perconte walked. Pat O'Keefe reached on an error by
p, SAC, advanced to second on the error; J. Perconte advanced to second,
advanced to third on the error. Mike Knecht flied out to lf, SF, RBI; Pat
O'Keefe advanced to third on the throw; J. Perconte scored, unearned. Paul
Turco struck out. Leatherman flied out to cf. 1 run, 0 hits, 1 error, 1
LOB.
Valparaiso Univ. inning 8
Larry Mohs to p for M. Balicki. Jamie Sykes walked. Todd Poepard flied out
to lf. Ryan Poepard struck out. Swiatkowski flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Univ. of Notre Dame inning 8
Jeff Felker flied out to cf. John Corbin pinch hit for Just. Scholl. John
Corbin struck out. Todd Frye lined out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
Valparaiso Univ. inning 9
Jamie Taylor struck out, out at first c to 1b. Br. O'Connor struck out
looking. Jo. McIntrye walked. Jo. McIntrye advanced to second. Rob
Hadrick doubled to left center, RBI; Jo. McIntrye scored. Kyle Musser
grounded out to 3b. 1 run, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Game Notes:
Notre Dame is now 19-2 at home.
Amrhein moves past Dan Peltier (1987-89) into third on the Irish career
hits list with 258.
