GOLD RECLAIMS SERIES LEAD WITH 4-1 WIN
November 1, 2007

FORT WORTH, TX:  The Gold team pushed the Navy team to the brink of elimination with a 4-1 win on Thursday at Sycamore Park.  Once again the story was timely hitting and domination pitching.

The Gold team wasted no time in getting to Kody Thiebaud (Fr.-HS) scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning.  Thiebaud walked three batters in a row with one out, and with two outs Kyle Harmon (Jr.-TR) ripped a base hit to center field that plated the two runs.  A couple of innings later Harmon scored a run on a two out double by Harrison Law (Fr.-HS).  The Gold team would add a run in the bottom of the 8th inning on a double by Zach Smith (Sr.-TR).

Not to be outdone, Steve DeFratus (Sr.-TR) made his mark on the game by going 8 strong innings and allowing no runs and just six base runners (5 hits, 1 error).  DeFratus struck out 4 and retired 15 of the last 17 batters he faced.

The bright spots for the Navy team on Thursday were Butch Ballez (Jr.-TR), Ryan Ragsdale (So.-1L) and Thiebaud.  Ballez was 1-3 with a walk and the only run scored.  Ragsdale again came through with a runner in scoring position with the lone RBI.  And Thiebaud was in trouble most of the day and continually worked his way out of it.  On the day Thiebaud went 7.1 innings allowing only four hits, but walked six batters.  All four runs scored for the Gold team reached base via the base on balls.  However, Thiebaud did strike out seven batters.