Pittsfield Dukes Defeat TEAM USA National Baseball Team 5-2
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The two teams were scheduled to play Monday night but the contest was postponed due to inclement weather.
Team USA held the early lead when Blake Smith (California) hit an RBI single, scoring Christian Colon (Cal State Fullerton) to take the 1-0 lead off Dukes starter Louie Bernardini.
USA starter Bryan Morgado (Tennessee) held the Dukes scoreless in the first inning but really struggled in the second against Pittsfield.
Jayson Langfels (Eastern Kentucky) reached on an error by third baseman Derek Dietrich (Georgia Tech), and Morgado hit the next batter Jake Rosenbeck (Buffalo). With two on and no one out, J.T. Musso (BYU) dropped down a bunt but Morgado bobbled it for an infield single. With the bases loaded, Perry Silverman (Canisius) drilled a two-run double off of the left-center field wall to give Pittsfield the 2-1 lead.
Craig Hertler (San Jose State) then followed with an RBI infield single, and Tyler Stampone (William & Mary) would complete the 4-run inning with an RBI groundout.
With the 4-1 lead, the Dukes gave other members of the staff an opportunity to face the toughest collegiate hitters in the country.
The Dukes bullpen would hold the difference as 5 Pittsfield pitchers would hold the US National Team to just one run on three hits over the final 7 innings.
The U.S. National team would add a run in the top of the sixth inning on a Blake Smith RBI single to left but he was thrown out trying to leg it into a double.
More fine defense was seen by Kentrail Davis (Tennessee) when he made a diving catch in left field in the 5th inning on Chris Edmondson (Le Moyne). Davis hustled towards the line and dove parallel to the grass for the grab right by the line.
The U.S. National team will now travel down to Torrington, CT to play the Torrington Twisters of the NECBL at 7 PM.
The Pittsfield Dukes will now host the North Adams SteepleCats tomorrow in the second of six games in the Battle of the Berkshires. The game will take place Wednesday night at Wahconah Park at 7 PM.
Wednesday night will also be Pittsfield History of Baseball night at Wahconah Park. The Dukes players will be wearing 1791 hats in honor of the first written notice of baseball in America.
Amherst College vs. Williams college baseball hats will also be sold commemorating the first ever collegiate baseball, played right here in Pittsfield.
Tickets are still available by calling 413 447 3853 or by stopping by the Dukes box office at 105 Wahconah Street.
