Assistant coach Elliott Strankman had no strategy when he put together the Alaska Goldpanners’ lineup for Thursday night’s nonconference baseball game against the Stockton Senators of California.
But the Goldpanners’ 13-5 romp at Growden Memorial Park showed it was a stroke of genius for him to have Geoff Byrns batting in the No. 3 spot and Joey Dunn hitting right behind him. The two combined for six hits, six runs batted in and five runs scored.
Byrns, a third baseman who recently finished his sophomore season at Chabot College in Hayward, Calif., went 3 for 4 with two RBI from a triple in the bottom of the fifth inning. He also scored four times, with three of them from hits by Dunn.
“It always gives me a lot of confidence to know that I have a really good hitter behind me,” Byrns said. “It forces the pitcher to go after me a little bit than if there was a weaker guy behind me. He might be able to pitch around me a little bit, but it definitely gives me a lot more confidence at the plate.'’
Byrns didn’t finish his sixth at-bat in the eighth because he pulled his right hamstring with the count two balls and two strikes against Stockton relief pitcher Pedro Castellanos. Alex Mills came in to finish the at-bat and was hit by a pitch.
Byrns will take tonight off but expects to be in the lineup Saturday night against the Southern California Running Birds.
Dunn, a sophomore catcher from the University of Washington, hit 3 for 5 with four RBI and one run scored.
Goldpanners manager Ed Cheff and Strankman said the lineup was more or less thrown together because of injuries and the absence of several players who haven’t arrived yet. Among those who haven’t arrived is left fielder Mike Lissman, who’s playing with Oregon State in the College World Series.
“There’s no strategy at all yet because we don’t know what we’re doing yet,” Cheff joked about putting the lineup together.
“It’s pretty complicated. How much time do you have?,” Strankman, who also played at second baseman and batted fifth, said lightheartedly. “It’s kind of a skeleton crew right now. We had a pitcher playing right field tonight.'’
Regardless of how Thursday’s lineup was formed, Alaska’s coaching staff was satisfied with the outcome, as the defending Alaska Baseball League champions generated 17 hits off three Senators pitchers, helping raise their record to 2-0.
Stockton starter Bobby Allen took the loss after giving up five runs and four hits in 1 2/3 innings. He also hit two batters and walked three with one strikeout.
Strankman, right fielder Dixon Allen, center fielder Chu Yuan-Chin and shortstop Mark Thompson each had two hits. Strankman also had an RBI and scored a run and Thompson and Chu each scored once.
“We’ve got some pretty good hitters,” said Cheff. “I think we’re going to be a little more offensive team than we were last year. Pitching is a question mark because we haven’t seen much, but I think our pitching will be okay.'’
Cheff, though, wasn’t surprised at starter Sean Timmons’ work on the mound.
The 29-year-old right-hander from Fairbanks began his 10th season with the Goldpanners by allowing a run, scattering six hits, striking out six and giving up a walk over six innings.
“He was just amazing,'’ said Cheff. “He just had special command of his slider; he’s always had that since he’s been pitching.'’
Right-handed Wu Cheng-Hsien of Taiwan, in his first appearance of the season, pitched three innings, allowing four runs, six hits and a walk and striking out one.
“It’s hard to tell, he was a probably a little nervous,'’ Cheff assessed. “He couldn’t get any of his other pitches over than a fastball for a strike. It was too many fastballs.'’
All of the runs Wu allowed came off an inside-the-park grand slam by Stockton right fielder Shane Farmer in the top of the eighth. Farmer finished 1 for 5, including going hitless in his first three at-bats.
“You don’t see those much,'’ Cheff said of the inside-the-park grand slam. “It’s the first one I’ve ever seen and I’ve been coaching for 35 years.'’
Cheff is also the head coach at Lewis-Clark State College of Lewiston, Idaho, which recently captured its 14th NAIA national championship.
Stockton shortstop Steve Rinaudo hit 3 for 5 Thursday with an RBI triple in the top of the third and he scored once.
The teams close out their series at 7 tonight.
Staff writer Danny Martin can be reached at dmartin@newsminer.com or 459-7586
STATISTICS ARE FOR ENTERTAINMENT PURPOSES ONLY
** NOT THE OFFICIAL STATISTICS **
Stockton Senators vs Alaska Goldpanners (Jun 15, 2006)
Box score
The Automated ScoreBook
Stockton Senators at Alaska Goldpanners
Jun 15, 2006 at Fairbanks, AK (Growden Park)
Stockton Senators 5
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Riley Gavello cf......... 3 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 0
Derek Martinez cf....... 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
Andrew Randawa 2b........ 4 1 1 0 1 1 1 2 0
Steve Rinaudo ss......... 5 1 3 1 0 1 3 3 0
Shane Farmer rf.......... 5 1 1 4 0 2 2 0 4
John Fugazi dh........... 4 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0
Paul Bassi lf............ 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 1
Travis Thomson 1b........ 3 0 1 0 1 0 8 1 0
James Villareal 3b....... 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 3
Travis Simas c........... 4 0 1 0 0 1 5 0 0
Bobby Allen p............ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Totals................... 38 5 12 5 2 7 24 10 8
Alaska Goldpanners 13
Player AB R H RBI BB SO PO A LOB
------------------------------------------------------
Mark Thompson ss......... 4 2 2 0 0 1 2 5 0
Chu Yuan-Chin cf......... 4 2 2 1 1 0 2 0 0
Geoff Byrns 3b........... 4 4 3 2 1 0 1 3 0
Beau Mills ph/3b........ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Joey Dunn c.............. 4 1 3 4 0 0 7 0 0
Elliott Strankman 2b..... 4 1 2 2 2 0 2 2 4
Tyler Cheney 1b.......... 4 1 1 0 1 1 11 1 0
Chris Campanella dh/c.... 4 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 3
A.J. Davidson lf......... 4 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 2
Dixon Allen rf........... 5 1 2 0 0 1 1 0 4
Sean Timmons p........... 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Mai Chia-Yi p........... 2 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0
Totals................... 39 13 17 12 6 5 27 11 13
Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------
Stockton Senators... 001 000 040 - 5 12 1
Alaska Goldpanners.. 413 050 00X - 13 17 0
-------------------------------------------
E - T. Thomson. DP - Stockton 1; Goldpanners 1. LOB - Stockton 8;
Goldpanners 13. 2B - R. Gavello; M. Thompson; J. Dunn; Strankman;
C.Campanella. 3B - S. Rinaudo; G. Byrns. HR - S. Farmer. HBP - M. Thompson;
B. Mills; C.Campanella. SH - M. Thompson. SF - Yuan-Chin. SB - J. Fugazi; T.
Thomson; M. Thompson.
Stockton Senators IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Bobby Allen......... 8.0 17 13 12 6 5 39 50
Alaska Goldpanners IP H R ER BB SO AB BF
-----------------------------------------------
Sean Timmons........ 6.0 6 1 1 1 6 23 24
Mai Chia-Yi......... 3.0 6 4 4 1 1 15 16
Win - S. Timmons. Loss - B. Allen. Save - None.
WP - B. Allen. HBP - by B. Allen (M. Thompson); by B. Allen (C.Campanella); by
B. Allen (B. Mills). PB - J. Dunn.
Umpires -
Start: Time: Attendance:
Game: 06_06_15
Play-by-Play
The Automated ScoreBook
Stockton Senators at Alaska Goldpanners - Play-by-Play
Jun 15, 2006 at Fairbanks, AK (Growden Park)
Score by Innings R H E
-------------------------------------------
Stockton Senators... 001 000 040 - 5 12 1
Alaska Goldpanners.. 413 050 00X - 13 17 0
-------------------------------------------
Stockton Senators starters: 45/cf R. Gavello; 48/2b A. Randawa; 10/ss S.
Rinaudo; 24/rf S. Farmer; 8/dh J. Fugazi; 42/lf P. Bassi; 11/1b T. Thomson;
46/3b J. Villareal; 47/c T. Simas; 12/p B. Allen;
Alaska Goldpanners starters: 4/ss M. Thompson; 49/cf Yuan-Chin; 6/3b G. Byrns;
18/c J. Dunn; 12/2b Strankman; 23/1b T. Cheney; 54/dh C.Campanella; 43/lf A.
Davidson; 29/rf D. Allen; 33/p S. Timmons;
Stockton Senators 1st - R. Gavello grounded out to 3b. A. Randawa
walked. S. Rinaudo singled; A. Randawa advanced to second. S. Farmer grounded
into double play ss to 2b to 1b; S. Rinaudo out on the play. 0 runs, 1 hit,
0 errors, 1 LOB.
Alaska Goldpanners 1st - M. Thompson hit by pitch. M. Thompson stole
second. Yuan-Chin walked. G. Byrns walked; Yuan-Chin advanced to second; M.
Thompson advanced to third. J. Dunn popped up to 1b. Strankman walked, RBI; G.
Byrns advanced to second; Yuan-Chin advanced to third; M. Thompson scored. T.
Cheney struck out. C.Campanella hit by pitch, RBI; Strankman advanced to
second; G. Byrns advanced to third; Yuan-Chin scored. A. Davidson singled, 2
RBI; C.Campanella advanced to second; Strankman scored; G. Byrns scored. D.
Allen reached on a fielder's choice; A. Davidson advanced to second;
C.Campanella out at third 3b unassisted. 4 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Stockton Senators 2nd - J. Fugazi singled. J. Fugazi stole second. J.
Fugazi advanced to third on a passed ball. P. Bassi grounded out to 3b. T.
Thomson popped up to ss. J. Villareal struck out. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
Alaska Goldpanners 2nd - M. Thompson flied out to rf. Yuan-Chin popped
up to ss. G. Byrns singled. G. Byrns advanced to second on a wild pitch. J.
Dunn singled, RBI; G. Byrns scored. Strankman singled; J. Dunn advanced to
third. T. Cheney walked; Strankman advanced to second. C.Campanella grounded
out to 2b. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Stockton Senators 3rd - T. Simas grounded out to ss. R. Gavello doubled.
A. Randawa struck out. S. Rinaudo tripled, RBI; R. Gavello scored. S. Farmer
struck out. 1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Alaska Goldpanners 3rd - A. Davidson walked. D. Allen singled; A.
Davidson advanced to second. M. Thompson grounded out to 2b, SAC; D. Allen
advanced to second; A. Davidson advanced to third. Yuan-Chin flied out to cf,
SF, RBI; A. Davidson scored. G. Byrns singled; D. Allen advanced to third. J.
Dunn doubled, 2 RBI; G. Byrns scored; D. Allen scored. Strankman flied out to
lf. 3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Stockton Senators 4th - J. Fugazi grounded out to 2b. P. Bassi struck
out. T. Thomson singled. T. Thomson stole second. J. Villareal popped up to 3b.
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Alaska Goldpanners 4th - T. Cheney grounded out to ss. C.Campanella
grounded out to p. A. Davidson struck out. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
Stockton Senators 5th - T. Simas grounded out to 3b. R. Gavello grounded
out to ss. A. Randawa grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0
LOB.
Alaska Goldpanners 5th - D. Allen grounded out to ss. M. Thompson
doubled. Yuan-Chin singled; M. Thompson advanced to third. G. Byrns tripled, 2
RBI; Yuan-Chin scored; M. Thompson scored. J. Dunn singled, RBI; G. Byrns
scored. Strankman doubled, RBI; J. Dunn scored. Strankman out at second 1b to
3b to p to ss. T. Cheney reached on a fielder's choice. C.Campanella doubled;
T. Cheney advanced to third. A. Davidson reached on an error by 1b;
C.Campanella advanced to third; T. Cheney scored, unearned. D. Allen struck
out. 5 runs, 6 hits, 1 error, 2 LOB.
Stockton Senators 6th - S. Rinaudo struck out. S. Farmer struck out. J.
Fugazi singled. P. Bassi flied out to cf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1
LOB.
Alaska Goldpanners 6th - M. Thompson struck out. Yuan-Chin singled. G.
Byrns grounded into double play ss to 1b; Yuan-Chin out on the play. 0 runs,
1 hit, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Stockton Senators 7th - Chia-Yi to p for S. Timmons. T. Thomson out at
first 1b to p. J. Villareal popped up to 1b. T. Simas struck out. 0 runs, 0
hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.
Alaska Goldpanners 7th - Chia-Yi to p for J. Dunn. C.Campanella to c. /
for Chia-Yi. Chia-Yi flied out to cf. Strankman walked. T. Cheney singled;
Strankman advanced to second. C.Campanella flied out to lf. A. Davidson flied
out to rf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Stockton Senators 8th - D. Martinez to cf for R. Gavello. D. Martinez
singled. A. Randawa singled; D. Martinez advanced to second. S. Rinaudo
singled; A. Randawa advanced to second; D. Martinez advanced to third. S.
Farmer homered, 4 RBI; S. Rinaudo scored; A. Randawa scored; D. Martinez
scored. J. Fugazi flied out to rf. P. Bassi flied out to 2b. T. Thomson walked.
J. Villareal reached on a fielder's choice; T. Thomson out at second ss
unassisted. 4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.
Alaska Goldpanners 8th - D. Allen singled. M. Thompson singled; D. Allen
advanced to second. Yuan-Chin popped up to 1b. B. Mills pinch hit for G. Byrns.
B. Mills hit by pitch; M. Thompson advanced to second; D. Allen advanced to
third. Chia-Yi struck out. Strankman reached on a fielder's choice; B. Mills
out at second 3b to 2b. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 3 LOB.
Stockton Senators 9th - B. Mills to 3b. T. Simas singled. D. Martinez
singled; T. Simas advanced to second. A. Randawa flied out to cf. S. Rinaudo
popped up to 1b; D. Martinez advanced to second; T. Simas advanced to third. S.
Farmer grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.
Line score
Alaska Goldpanners 13, Stockton Senators 5 (Jun 15, 2006 at Fairbanks, AK) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Stockton Senators... 001 000 040 - 5 12 1 Alaska Goldpanners.. 413 050 00X - 13 17 0 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Pitchers: Stockton Senators - B. Allen. Alaska Goldpanners - S. Timmons; Chia-Yi(7). Win-S. Timmons Loss-B. Allen
