Blowfish Cruise Past Tobs

COLUMBIA SC - All the best teams have a player or two who provides a performance that exceeds expectations to lift their team when needed. Maxime Talbot did it for the Pittsburgh Penguins when they won the Stanely Cup in 2009. Dustin Pedroa did it for the Boston Red Sox during the 2007 World Series.

At least for tonight, Matt Williams (Liberty, 1-0) did it for the Columbia Blowfish (8-11, 20-27).

The Blowfish extended their hot streak tonight to 8 wins in their last 11 games by crusing to a 7-1 victory over the Wilson Tobs (13-8, 31-18) at Capital City Stadium Friday night. They did so behind a stellar start by their typical starting shortstop Matt Williams. Williams, who had not pitched this season, took a no-hit bid into the fifth inning until Gar Keen (Heidelburg) drove a one out double down the right field line. On the night, Williams pitched seven innings and allowed just one run on two hits, walking two while striking out one, although he did hit five batters on the evening. But, the performance was not entirely unexpected by Head Coach Lee Gronkiewicz and Williams.

"Yes, I did expect this out of Matt. I didn't exactly expect him to give us seven innings of two-hit ball, but I know Matt," Coach Gronkiewicz said in his post-game interview. "I knew that Matt would go out, battle and compete, and he did very well with it."

The knuckle-balling shortstop, who mixed fastballs and curveballs when he got behind hitters, said he also expected to pitch well.

"I knew I could give us a chance to win, and that's what I wanted to do," he said after the game. "My priority was keeping runs off the board, and I guess I was able to do so."

Not to be overlooked though is the fact that Williams got plenty of offensive support from his team as well. They jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third, and never looked back. Catcher Shawn Glover (Erskine), who had an excellent game calling pitches behind the plate, singled to start the inning. Nick Orvin (Citadel) then hit a groundball to third that went right through the legs of Nick Aranas (USC-Aiken), and the runners ended up at second and third with no outs. A Taylor Black (Kentucky) walk loaded the bases, before Williams and Chase Vergason (Florida Atlantic) each lofted a sacrifice fly to plate the runs.

Columbia's recent power surge continued in the next half inning, in response to what would end up being Wilson's only run of the game. Brison Celek (South Carolina) drew a lead-off walk to bring up CPL Career Stolen Base leader Branfy Arias (Tusculum). He took strike one before fouling a pitch back to put himself in an 0-2 hole. The next pitch he saw was breaking pitch that did not break where Tobs starter Greg Holt (North Carolina) had in mind and it pitch hung over the plate. Arias turn on it rapidly and launched it over the 25 foot wall in left field for his second homerun in as many days and put his team ahead 4-1.

Columbia would go on to add another run in the seventh when Demontez Jones (Georgia Southern) scored on a wild pitch after Glover moved him over by hitting a groundball to the right side of the infield, and tacked on two more in the eighth when Celek hit a one-out double. Arias followed with a double of his own to plate Max McEleny (San Diego), who was pinch running for Celek. Arias eventually came around to score when David Greene (Citadel) lifted a single into right field after Arias stole his 33rd base of the summer.

But the night belonged to Blowfish pitching, one night after the bullpen imploded in Florence. Chase Pickering (West Virginia) came on and pitched two scoreless innings to end the game, allowing just one hit while striking out one and walking one. More importantly, the team handled one of the best teams in the CPL this season in front of their home crowd.

"I believe we have one of the best teams in the league. When we're hitting, running, and pitching like we're capable, there's no doubt in my mind we're one of the best teams in the league," Coach Gronkiewicz said. "This team is capable of playing with anyone."

NOTES: Columbia pitchers combined to hit 6 batters... The Blowfish have now hit three homeruns in their last two games. Coming into this stretch, they had hit just ten long balls all season... The start was not Williams' CPL debut as a pitcher. He worked 2 1/3 innings last season in 4 appearances for a 3.86 ERA... Coach Gronkiewicz said that Williams will start one more game this year, although he was not entirely sure of the exact date of the start. He did mention that it likely will be on the road... Columbia travels to Morehead City tomorrow to take on the Marlins at Big Rock Stadium at 7:05. The Fish return to the Cap on Sunday July 25th to meet the Wilmington Sharks. It will be Bark in the Park and all fans are invited to bring their friendly, well-trained canine companions to the ballpark. All college students will be admitted free with student ID.