By BRADY FARKS
www.cliftonparkworldseries.com
CLIFTON PARK – After traveling, getting acquainted with host families, and attending a welcome banquet, it was a relief to get back to baseball for Jasper, IN
The Ohio Valley Regional champions opened pool play with a 2-1 victory over Guilderland, N.Y., at the 13-year-old Babe Ruth World Series in Clifton Park, NY.
Starting pitcher Craig Shepherd earned the victory by going all seven innings. He allowed one earned run on just five hits and added five strikeouts.
“All the jitters are gone,” Shepherd said. “I was feeling good the whole day.”
Jasper wasted no time offensively against Guilderland starter Alex Varsanyi, scoring in the bottom of the first inning after a sacrifice fly from Cal Krueger scored Shepherd. Shepherd doubled to lead off the game, and advanced to third on a Grant Theill groundout.
The Ohio Valley champions would add another run in the second on an Alex Allen single to center. And that’s all Shepherd, the Ron Tellefsen Player of the Game, would need.
“Craig pitched like he usually he does. He throws a lot of strikes,” said Jasper manager Mike Blessinger.
Guilderland was stymied with the bats all day as they struggled with men on. The Bulldogs stranded seven men on base; five of which came in the first three innings.
The Bulldogs’ best chance to mount a rally came in the third, when Shepherd walked leadoff hitter Brandon Das, who was then thrown out at second attempting to steal. A walk and a single by Brandon Peda put runners on first and second when Matthew Schiller was retired for the second out. After a six pitch battle, Cameron Long provided an infield single.
The ball was fielded by Allen at first, who flipped to Shepherd covering. After Long was ruled safe, Shepherd continued to look at the umpire, which allowed Peda to score from second.
However, Shepherd got Ryan Cullam to ground to short to end the threat.
“You’ve got to hand it to the Jasper pitcher (Shepherd),” said Guilderland manager Brian Grabek said. “We just didn’t hit in key situations.”
Guilderland saddled the Jasper hurler with a high pitch count early on, but back-to-back six pitch innings in the fourth and fifth allowed Shepherd to stay in the game.
Blessinger cited the Bulldogs’ plate approach as the reason for the high pitch count in the early innings. He said they were disciplined and would not chase pitches.
Jasper will have an off-day Saturday before playing Sunday against the Pacific Southwest champions from Tri-Valley, Calif.
Peda, who received the Ron Tellefsen Player of the Game award for Guilderland, went 2-4 with two singles. Varsanyi was the tough-luck loser, pitching six innings and allowing two earned runs on six hits.
The Bulldogs will be back in action Saturday when they face Glen Allen, VA at 5 p.m.

Here is our batter-by-batter re-cap via Cover It LiveGuilderland vs. Jasper CoverItLive link.

Video replay from Babe Ruth TV Click here.