Sand Gnats Shrug Off Deficits, Win Championship

The Sand Gnats celebrate their championship victory at Bartholomew Park.

By Michael Steele

Down early on a brutally hot Saturday morning, the One-on-One Judo Club Sand Gnats could easily have folded. As a wild card team that slipped into the postseason in their final weekend, just reaching the Elk Grove Babe Ruth championship game was an achievement in itself. But, after falling into an early hole, the Sand Gnats rallied, taking advantage of defensive mistakes to come back twice and win the league title 8-6 over the Routt Roofing Owlz.

Gale pitches in the 1st inning

Coming back at all seemed like a long shot three innings into the ball game, as the Owlz pitching and hitting both looked sharp. After starting pitchers Peter Sprague and Andrew Gale traded scoreless frames through two, the Owlz rallied in the third. With two outs, Jose Robles reached on an error, and the visiting team made the miscue hurt. Leadoff hitter Ethan Moreno singled sharply to left, Austin Archuleta hit an opposite-field double to right to plate Robles, and  Tyler Lantsberger put an exclamation point on it with a two-run single up the middle that made it 3-0 Owlz.

With a chance to answer back, the Sand Gnats could not steal any momentum against reliever Austin Archuleta, who set down the side in order with two strikeouts. And, going in to the bottom of the fourth inning, it looked like the Owlz had a firm grasp on the game.

Sprague pitched 2 scoreless innings

But the Sand Gnats’ bats would not be denied for long. After a strikeout to start the inning, twelfth-place hitter Garrett Bray and leadoff man Kevin Brase both singled band Ricky Van Houten was hit by pitch to load the bases. Poised to score, things suddenly looked bleak when the Sand Gnats’ Nicholas Henderson hit a ground ball to third that Lantsberger threw home for the force to keep the home team scoreless. But, looking to turn a 5-2-3 double play, the Owlz threw to first but the ball was off target, flying into the vast foul territory of Bartholomew Park and allowing all three remaining runners, including Henderson, to score as a simple fielder’s choice became a three-run, three base error that tied the game and ignited the Sand Gnats’ dugout.

Not content, the Sand Gnats kept going when Tanner Smith singled and three teammates drew walks, with Gale’s base on balls plating Smith to give the Sand Gnats an slim lead. By then, lefty Jack Roselli had relieved for the Owlz and, although he escaped the mess, the damage was done: the Owlz were suddenly trailing.

Down—but not out—the Owlz came back themselves in the sixth with a rally of their own. After Moreno and Archuleta drew walks to start the inning, reliever Nick Pruitt bounced back by recording strikeout and inducing a weak pop out. But, after falling behind in the count, Owlz catcher Ryan Ames kept his team’s hopes alive with a clutch single to right field that scored both runners and gave the Owlz a 5-4 lead.

Just as before, though, the Sand Gnats refused to stand down, mounting a furious four-run inning in which their bats took the lead for good. With one out, Brase and Van Houten singled and Henderson hit a fly ball into shallow right field. But the ball not only got down but bounced past the right fielder, rolling to the fence and turning a blooper into a two-run double by Henderson that stole back the lead. With Henderson then on third, Smith walked to put runners on the corners, but Roselli immediately picked off Smith. In the interim, though, Henderson raced home for another run and Smith took second. Although Smith would be thrown out at the plate on Pruitt’s single, the Owlz misplayed Joe DeSoto’s deep fly to center, allowing Pruitt to score one more run. With the score at 8-5, Sand Gnats stood three outs from victory.

“We’ve got to catch and field,” said Owlz manager Rick Venegas. “And we didn’t. Credit to [the Sand Gnats]. They took advantage and believed they could win.”

The Sand Gnats and Owlz shake hands.

In the seventh, the Owlz tried to fight their way back in, with Zach Aquila stealing home on the back end of a double steal. But, down to their final out, a grounder to short by Robles was easily corralled and, with a perfect throw to first basemen Devin Ashley, the Sand Gnats’ were champions.

After celebrating and posing for photographs, the team faced one final challenge. Wanting to provide their coaches with a celebratory Gatorade bath, the Sand Gnats found no orange jugs available. But, just as they had responded to every Owlz charge during the game, the Sand Gnats found a way, borrowing two nearby ice chests and dumping their contents over their coaches, Rich Henderson and Eric Van Houten.

“It feels great,” said Henderson in a sopping wet shirt of his team’s victory. “Today was a lot of fun.”

Saturday June 16 at 10 am Bartholomew Sports Complex Babe Ruth field the Elk Grove Babe Ruth League presents the 2012 Championship game.  The Rick Venegas Coached Routt Roofing Owlz play the Rich Henderson/Eric Van Houten coached One on One Judo Club of Wilton Sand Gnats.  The Owlz were the AL winner for 2012 and defeated the NL wild card team, the Palermo Thunder on Thursday night.  The Thunder were short a few players but put up a good fight against the #1 AL team.  The Sand Gnats were the 4th seed in the AL but had two close wins to make the Championship game.  They beat the NL champion Iron Birds in a one run extra inning thriller on Thursday night at Jones South. The Gnats closer, Nick Pruitt came in to close the game out with a 5 run lead but the Iron Birds would not quit and tied the score in Regulation.  There were some walks and hit batters in the Iron Birds rally, but Coach Henderson stuck with his ace pitcher.  In the top of the next inning Nick drove in the go-ahead run and then went back out to the hill. With one out an Iron bird reached 1st on an error and stole second then a balk sent him as the tying run to third.  After a squeeze attempt went foul Nick took matters into his own hands and struck out the next 2 batters for the win.

The Last game of the Week for 2012 is Saturday night June 9 starting at 7pm. this game features The Sports Shop Beavers at the Knights. The Usual Saturday night announcer, Mike Steele, Mr Saturday night, will be joined in the booth by the Beavers broadcaster, Lynn Tetlow.  Lynn is the sister of Beavers Coach Brent Tetlow. Larry Stone will have the snackbar open.  come out and enjoy the game! 

the Beavers feature some real talent in the league. Leading off is Anthony "Sparky" Rivett batting .538 he is a 14 year-old all star.  Batting second is Tanner "Slick" Morrison, smooth fielding shortstop, with an on base average over .500.  batting 3rd is Blake "Shark" Lewis 550 average and a 15 year old all star along with Slick. Batting 4th one of 3 13 yearold all stars Tony "Rocky" Anguiano, followed by 2nd 14 year old all star Ryan "Rocket" Sutherland .444 average.  The other 13 all stars are Derek "D-Buzz" Dokter .350 average, who will miss this game and "Woody", Wes Trejo.  The other outstanding members of this team include: Magic Joe Oto, Michael "DynoMike" Jorrin, Max "Pill" Huscher; Tyler "Shamrock" Kelly, Tyler "Smiles" Buck and last but not least our fastest player 15 year-old Christain "Sticks" McElroy, playing his last 13-15 Babe Ruth game.