Syracuse rides excellent pitching and defense to opening game victory


August 16, 2008 - A Syracuse, New York pitcher throws one to the plate in a game against West Fargo, North Dakota at the Babe Ruth World Series at Adams Field in Quincy. Photo by Jeff Loughlin/The Patriot Ledger.
 

By GUS SHLIMBAUM
The Patriot Ledger

QUINCY– Sure Syracuse’s  starter, Brooks Weigl, will get  most of the attention for his team’s  3-0 victory over West Fargo, N.D.,  tossing 6 innings of one-hit ball,  but it was the defense behind him  that was the most impressive in the  opening round matchup of the  Babe Ruth World Series at Adams  Field.
   When Weigl wasn’t striking out  West Fargo batters, or making  them pop the ball up, his defense  was busy spinning 5-4-3 double  plays, making ridiculous diving  catches, running down seemingly  impossible fly-balls and snaring  screaming line drives that flew at  their heads.
   “I had great defense behind  me,” Weigl said. “I just threw my  game and they made all the plays  behind me.  There were so many  great plays.”
   Syracuse scored its first run of  the game in the top of the third in ning, when Phil Zdanowski  sin gled with two-outs and scored af ter West Fargo made three consec utive infield errors.
   They again took advantage of a  crucial two-out error by West Far go, which loaded the bases for  Russell Runions, who hit a two- run bloop single to right field.
   Syracuse manager Greg  Monashefsky said he was happy  with the way his team played, and  is confident that they can be suc cessful at the tournament.
   “If we minimize our mistakes  and play the way we did today, we  have just as good a shot to win as  anybody else does,” he said.


August 16, 2008 - Game action during the game between Syracuse, N.Y. and West Fargo, N.D at the Babe Ruth World Series.  Photo by Jeff Loughlin/The Patriot Ledger.