Zach Nyman set the stage for an offensive onslaught as the Reds scored three runs in the top of the first inning. Nyman drew a lead-off walk, stole second, and then advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Scott Borsum drove in Tom Jameson who also walked. Kevin Wallace doubled in Borsum to score the third run of the inning. Red starting pitcher Tom Jameson pitched three strong innings and shut out the Blues. The Reds scored three more runs when Scott Borsum drove in two runs and teammate, Dylan Smith drove in a run. Tom Jameson added a 3 run home run to finish the Reds scoring attack. The Reds finished the World Series by a series of dominate pitching performances. After Tom Jameson started and struck out 7 hitters, Scott Borsum pitched two strong innings. Troy Hansen pitched a strong sixth inning and freshman right-hander Daniel Young pitched the final inning. The game most valuable players were Tom Jameson, Zach Nyman, and Scott Borsum. The series most valuable player was junior Pat Gallagher.

Starting pitcher, Zach Sanford was the leader on the mound and Pat Gallagher continued his torrid hitting pace in Game #4 of the World Series. Sanford and Gallagher led the Blues to a 4-1 victory over the Reds to tie the Fall World Series, two games each. The visiting Blues jumped out to a 1 run lead in the top of the first inning when Garrett Winkelmaier laced a double down the left-field line. Pat Gallagher then singled to right field scoring Winkelmaier. The Blues then added two runs in the 3rd inning. Vinnie Koci singled to left field to set the table for power hitter, Pat Gallagher. Gallagher then hit a 0-1 slider from Tom Jameson out of the park to left-center field. Sanford threw 4 shutout innings for the Blues as he earned the victory on the mound. Relief pitchers Lucas Stewart and Mike Warden shut down the Reds in the last three innings to preserve the victory and send the Fall World Series to a winner take all, Game 5. Game 5 was set for Tuesday if weather permits.

Pat Gallagher hit two home runs and drove in 4 runs as the Blues dominated the Reds, 7-3. Gallagher hit a 1-2 Scott Borsum fastball out of left-center field to tie the game in the bottom of the first inning. The Reds had taken a two run lead with Zach Nyman’s drag bunt single and then two Blue errors. Pitching was also a key to the Blues win as junior right-hander Garrett Winkelmaier and freshman right-hander Vinnie Koci dominated the Red squad at Zunini Field. Both pitchers displayed great command of all three of their pitches. All 3 of the Red runs were unearned. Game 4 is set for Thursday afternoon at Reno High as the 2008 Fall World Series continues.

Tom Jameson turned in a 4-4 day at the plate to lead the Red squad to a 8-5 victory over the Blues. Jameson had 3 doubles and a towering home run as he drove in 5 RBI. Other productive players for the Reds were Colton Hampson and Shawn Walters. Jameson also pitched effectively as he threw 3 strong innings and struck out 4 hitters. Freshman Daniel Young also was effective on the mound for the Reds.

The Blues were once again led by the power of Pat Gallagher. He hit his 3rd home run of the Fall World Series as he crushed a 3-2 fastball down and away out of the park over the left-center field fence. Zach Sanford pitched well for the Blues. He was relieved by left-handed relief specialist, Scooter Stewart and right-hander Mike Warden.

In a game that began with dominating pitching, it all came down to timely hitting and defense to win game 1 at Zunini Field on Saturday afternoon. Junior pitcher-outfielder Scott Borsum hit a double to deep left field that allowed Zach Paquette to finally score the winning run, 9-8. On the day, Borsum turned in a good pitching performance but his biggest production came at the plate. He finished the game with 3 hits in 6 at-bats. He had two doubles and a triple. For his efforts, Scott was named the MVP of the world series game.

The first six innings was dominated by Blue starting pitcher, Garrett Winkelmaier and Blue first baseman, Pat Gallagher. Winkelmaier held the Red team to only one run and Gallagher hit two towering home runs. At the end of sixth innings, the Blue team held a 4-1 lead and were three outs away from an easy victory. The Red team rallied for 7 runs in the top of the 7th inning. Zach Nyman started the rally with a drag bunt single. After Colton Hampson drew a walk, then game MVP Scott Borsum doubled in a run. Shawn Walters followed with a single. A big part of the rally happened when Daniel Young, Michael Elam, and Zach Paquette all had huge extra base hits.

The Blue team then had to respond as they now were down, 8-4. They were able to score four runs to tie the game after 2 walks, 2 Red errors, and 4 hits. Joe Muller almost scored the game ending run but was throw out at the plate. It was a wild day marked by irate football fans, great hitting, shaky defense, and some dominating pitching. The stage was set for Game 2 as Tom Jameson will be the starting pitcher for the Red team and Zach Sanford will be the starting pitcher for the Blue team.

Red Hitting
Nyman (1-5), C. Hampson (1-4), Borsum (3-6), Walters (1-6), Mike Warden (1-4),
Hansen (1-3), Young (1-4), Elam (2-5), Paquette (1-5)
Extra Base Hits-Borsum 2B (2), 3B, Hansen 2B, Elam 2B, Paquette 3B
RBI-Borsum 2 RBI, Mike Warden 1 RBI, Young 1 RBI, Elam 1 RBI, Paquette 1 RBI

Blue Hitting
G. Hampson (1-5), Koci (2-5), Gallagher (3-5), Winkelmaier (1-5), Williamson (3-5),
Mitch Warden (1-3), Mathis (0-3), Crow (0-3), Muller (1-3)
Extra Base Hits-Gallagher HR (2), Williamson 2B, Mitch Warden 2B, Muller 2B
RBI-G. Hampson 1 RBI, Koci 1 RBI, Gallagher 2 RBI, Williamson 1 RBI, Mitch Warden 1 RBI, Mathis 1 RBI

Pitching
WP-C. Hampson, LP-Gallagher
SO-Borsum 6, Hansen 2, C. Hampson 1, Winkelmaier 5, Koci 3, Gallagher 3
BB-Hansen 2, Stewart 1, Koci 1, Gallagher 3

Rules for Today’s Game 1 of the World Series
1. Only 9 players will play per team
2. Other players will either be in relief on the mound, or in the hitting facility.
3. You will be called when needed if you are a freshman or sophomore.
4. Hustle in and hustle off the field
5. Compete
6. Show Efficient Leadership
7. We will play one game today
8. Game 2 will be on Monday
9. Game 3 will be on Tuesday
10. Game 4 will be on Thursday

JOE SANTORO
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
Posted: 3/09/2008

Ben Colton remembered how to find the mound at Peccole Park.

“It’s been a long time,” smiled the Wolf Pack pitcher. “But it sure felt good to be back and to be able to help the team.”

Colton, the last of eight Wolf Pack pitchers, put the finishing touches on a 10-0 Nevada victory Tuesday afternoon against the Pacific Tigers by pitching the ninth inning. The 6-foot-5 right hander, though, didn’t know if he would be able to help the Wolf Pack at all this season.

“No, it wasn’t that long ago that I was in a sling,” the 2003 Reno High graduate said. “But it was a pretty cool situation for me out there. I worked so hard to get back so it was nice to see the hard work pay off.”

Colton, who had surgery on his labrum last Aug. 1, allowed just one hit and threw nine of his 17 pitches for strikes. He took to the mound Tuesday for the first time this season with five new screws in his right shoulder.

“I would have liked to get ahead of hitters better than that,” said Colton, who turned 23 years old last Thursday. “But I’m going to keep a positive attitude and keep working hard.”

“He did well,” Pack coach Gary Powers said. “He went out there and threw the ball over the plate and got people out. That was good to see.”

Colton was 1-3 last season as a junior with a 7.10 earned run average in 21 appearances. It turns out he pitched the entire season with a torn labrum.

“The doctors told me I was probably hurt for more than a year,” Colton said. “My velocity got progressively worse as the year went on but I didn’t know why. My body never really got tired but there was just something missing in my arm.”

The problem became obvious last July.

“I was playing summer ball in San Luis Obispo (Calif.),” Colton said. “And then one day I woke up and couldn’t lift my arm above my shoulder.”

Colton, though, didn’t panic. This is a young man, after all, that had endured something a bit more serious than a shoulder injury.

“Yeah,” Colton said. “I’ve been through a lot worse.”

A lot worse was a life-threatening head injury suffered on Oct. 31, 2003. Colton, who was umpiring between the mound and first base after pitching for the College of San Mateo (Calif.), was hit in the temple by a throw from the catcher on an attempted steal of second.

“That was the first time my parents came to visit me, too,” Colton said. “I hadn’t even said hello to them. After I got hit I just went down. That night I was still bleeding from the nose and I continued to throw up. The next thing I knew, I was in the hospital signing a living will. The doctors thought I might have a few hours to live.”

He remained in the hospital for two weeks and, luckily, was able to avoid brain surgery. After missing the 2003 season, he did pitch two seasons for San Mateo before transferring to Nevada for the 2006 season.

“I remember the first time I stepped back on the mound at San Mateo,” Colton said. “That was such a special feeling.

“And today was the second time I was able to experience that feeling. Just to come back and to be able to help the team in some way, it’s a feeling I can’t describe.”

Powers, who must choose 26 active players for this weekend’s Western Athletic Conference series against Louisiana Tech starting on Thursday (6 p.m.), said Colton is still a long way from being able to contribute on a regular basis.

“He has to build up his endurance,” Powers said.

Colton isn’t afraid of having to earn his spot again. “You know, before today I didn’t really know if I was ready to come back,” Colton said. “You never really know until you get out there and the adrenaline starts to flow.

“But I felt good. When I got out there I was probably more excited than nervous. I was just happy to get the opportunity.”

Centerfielder Max Marin had a very impressive day at the plate as he went 4 for 4 with 3 extra base hits. He hit a towering Home Run over the left-field wall to go along with his two doubles. The Reds had 14 hits on the afternoon in the victory which pulls them back to a 2 games to 1 deficit in the World Series. Other outstanding hitters for the Reds were Austin Nyman and Pete Savage who both had two hits each.

Garrett Luippold was the winning pitcher has he compiled 5 strikeouts in 3 innings of work. Luippold was followed on the mound by Cavin Hill who worked three scoreless innings of his own. It was a great day for the offense as both teams accumulated 26 hits and 11 runs scored during the game. Game 4 will be played on Tuesday afternoon at Zunini Field. Taking the mound for the Reds will be Drew Simpson while the Blues will counter with pitcher T. J. Jameson.

Leadoff hitter Jarrod Volk scored two runs and had two hits in leading the Blues to a win in the 2006 Fall World Series Game #2. Brian Bus, MVP of game #1, continued his torrid pace by ripping two doubles and playing centerfield. Pitcher Tom Jameson was named the MVP of the game as he pitched out of a bases loaded jam in the first inning and then shut down the Reds in order in the 2nd and 3rd inning. The Reds drew first blood as they scored on an error in the first inning. The Blues answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning.
In the top of the 3rd inning, the Blues tacked on three more runs as Volk, Bus, and shortstop Tim Moore all had consecutive doubles. The Reds scored two runs in the 5th after two Blue errors, an Austin Nyman hit, and an RBI single from Pete Savage. Blues closer Chad Doerr once again turned in a great pitching performance. He had 5 strikeouts in two innings of work. He did escape a jam in the 7th inning as the Reds closed the gap to 6-4. With two outs, an Austin Nyman drag bunt base hit followed by a base on balls, allowed Max Marin to drive in a run and bring the winning run to the plate. However, Doerr struck out the last hitter to end the threat. Game 3 of the World Series will resume Thursday afternoon at Zunini Field.