by Josh Chetwynd
South Africa vs. Chandler-Gilbert Community College 9-7
CGC 034 000 000 7 SFA 030 301 20X 9
Winning pitcher: Robert Verschuren (2IP, 1H, 0R, 0BB, 2Ks)
Save: Justin Erasmus (1IP 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2Ks)
Top hitter: Anthony Phillips – 4-for-4 (2 singles, double, triple) with 3 RBI, 2 Runs and 2 SBs
Highlights:
South Africa came back from 0-3 and 4-7 deficits to win its opening warm-up game in preparation for the World Baseball Classic against Chandler-Gilbert Community College on Thursday. The game was played at the Oakland A’s spring training facilities in Scottsdale, Arizona. Chandler-Gilbert roughed up South African starter Barry Armitage for seven runs in three innings, but the Springboks rallied back behind excellent relief pitching and timely hitting. Relievers Alessio Angelucci (2IP, 1H, 2Ks), Robert Veschuren (2IP 1H, 2Ks), Jared Elario (1IP, 1H, 1BB 2Ks 1HBP), and Justin Erasmus (1IP, 2Ks) combined for six shutout innings, allowing just three hits over that span.
After falling behind 3-7, South Africa began the comeback in the bottom of the 4th keyed by an Anthony Phillips double, which plated two runs. The Springboks then knotted the score in the sixth when Phillips singled, moved over to second on a fielder’s choice and then stole third and home. Phillips used heads up base running to swipe the bags, capitalizing on a mental mistake from the Coyotes catcher who went to the mound to talk to his pitcher without calling time out.
The bench then came through on offense in the seventh with the game’s decisive runs. After pinch hitter Ashley Scott walked, another pinch hitter Justin Lazarus laced a double to drive in Scott with the eventual game-winning run. Lazarus would then score on a triple by Zaid Hendricks to give South Africa a little insurance before Elario and Erasmus shut the door in the eighth and ninth innings.
The two teams play again on Sunday March 1st before South Africa takes on the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (March 4th) and the Oakland A’s (March 5th).