Temple University Athletics
Cherry Team Wins Baseball Fall Classic, 3-1
10.22.07 | Baseball
Oct. 22, 2007
AMBLER, PA - Junior Mark Ortega earned series MVP honors after batting 4-for-6 with three RBI to lead the Cherry team to a 3-1 series victory in the annual Cherry and White Fall Classic on Saturday at Skip Wilson Field. The series marked the end of the non-traditional fall season for the Temple baseball team. Each game was two innings long, except for the decisive game five, which went three innings.
"We had a lot of fun with the games," head coach Rob Valli said. "There was a great crowd of family and friends out to support our program.
"Most teams are out of gas at the end of a long fall, but this group takes pride in having the energy and enthusiasm to play hard every day," Valli said. "We are definitely a much better team today than we were eight weeks ago."
Game 1
Cherry 1, White 0
Junior Carmen Del Mastro walked and scored on Ortega's double in the first inning to provide all the offense for Cherry in a 1-0 series opening victory. Junior Matt Mongiardini bested his brother Mike with two no-hit innings. He struck out two batters in the victory.
Game 2
White 1, Cherry 0
The Mongiardini brothers matched up in game two, with Mike getting the better of his younger brother this time with a 1-0 victory to tie the series. Mike threw two no-hit innings and worked out bases-loaded jam in the second. Senior Tom Dolan drove in White's only run with a first inning double.
Game 3
Cherry 6, White 1
Cherry exploded for five second inning runs to win the third game of the series, 6-1. Junior Mike Xifaras drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the first. Senior Stan Orzechowski and Ortega had back-to-back RBI triples in the second to make it 3-1. Junior Kyle Obal then singled home a run and Xifaras had an RBI groundout for the winners. Sophomore Matt Blackburn earned the win after pitching two innings and allowing one earned.
Game 4
Cherry 2, White 0
Orzechowski and Ortega drove in runs in the two-run first inning and it proved to be all Cherry sophomore starter Ryan Thomas needed in a 2-0 victory. Thomas did not allow a run in two innings and struck out one.
Game 5
Cherry 3, White 1
Freshman Byron McKoy drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the third with a fielder's choice as Cherry wrapped up the series win with a 3-1 extra-inning victory in game five. Senior pitcher Arshwin Asjes added an insurance run in the frame with a sacrifice fly. Sophomore Mike Click picked up the win with an inning of relief of classmate Kyle Monahan, who threw two shutout innings.
