Sterling Earns First-Ever World Series Win, 9-3
Written by World Series Media Staff
Photo by Referee Photo
With the win, Sterling (51-14) advances to play No. 2 Tennessee Wesleyan (48-13) tomorrow at 3 p.m. PDT. The Warrior’s 51 victories are a program record, and tie No. 3 Bellevue (Neb.), which plays later today, for the most victories among the participating teams. Sterling was previously winless (0-2) at the World Series.
“It’s good to get the first win in school history and get the monkey off our back,” said Sterling head coach Adrian Dinkel. “For guys being pretty tight coming in, I thought we played pretty well. I didn’t think we played the best game possible. It was good to see James (McDonald) set up and do a good job.”
Beau Kallas, who came into the game riding a six-game hitting streak, led the offense for Sterling with a 3-for-5 effort at the dish, including a pair of doubles. The Draper, Utah, native also had a game-high two RBI and two runs scored.
Aaron Stubblefield, Andrew Dorado and Luke Maher also had multi-hit games for Sterling.
The Warriors – the NAIA leader in team batting average (.357) and total hits (773) – wasted no time lighting the scoreboard in the top of the first. Leadoff hitter Kendall Radcliffe battled back from a 0-2 count to draw a leadoff walk. Two hitters later, Kallas shot a single up the middle, scoring Radcliffe from second and giving Sterling a 1-0 lead. Radcliffe advanced to second one pitch prior on a balk.
Point tied the contest, 1-1, in the bottom of the frame on an infield single that ricocheted off the glove of Sterling’s pitcher and squirted through the infield. Riliani Familia, who singled earlier in the inning, scored from second on the play.
After a scoreless second and third, Kallas lifted his 21st double of the season to deep center field, sparking a four-run inning by the Warriors. Point answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to cut the deficit to 5-3. However, those would be the final runs that the Skyhawks scored in the contest.
Singles by Nathan Greene and Taylor Harper plated the two runs for Point.
Sterling tacked on another run in the fifth to make it 6-3 when a Gerald Ceballos’ pop-up fell in the “Barbuda Triangle” in shallow right field, scoring Aaron Stubblefield from second base. The Warriors threatened again, however a strikeout and groundout kept it to only one.
The Warriors added a trio insurance runs in the top of the ninth en route to the win.
Relief pitcher James McDonald (6-1) was credited with the win for Sterling. The senior right-handed pitcher tossed five innings, striking out six and allowing only two hits.
Point first baseman Christian Cabral tied a season-high with three hits to lead the offense. Starting pitcher Payne Kosobucki (7-2) took the loss. He threw 8.2 innings, allowing 11 hits and eight runs – six earned.
The Skyhawks await the loser of No. 6 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) and No. 3 Bellevue (Neb.) tomorrow at 9 a.m.
Stretch Internet, the NAIA’s official video streaming company, is broadcasting the first 15 games of the 2016 Avista-NAIA World Series. An All-World Series package can be purchased for $29.95, while a day pass is available for $9.95. For more information, visit www.NAIANetwork.com.
The Avista-NAIA Baseball World Series is a 10-team, double-elimination event hosted by Lewis-Clark State (Idaho). For more information on the 60th annual event, click HERE.
