Articles by: sports

 

• May the Four-ce Be With You

  News1 June 19, 2009 at 12:21 am 2 comments

  Four George Mason University baseball players were selected by the American Baseball Coaches Association to the All-East Region first team this week. Catcher Chris Henderson, first baseman Justin Bour, outfielder Scott Krieger, and pitcher Mike Modica earned first team honors after being selected in last week’s Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. While Mason had four players place on the first team, no other school had more than two representatives. Krieger, Mason’s all-time leader in several categories, will start out at rookie level with the Helena Brewers. Modica takes the mound for the Single-A Tri-City Valley Cats as they approach their season opener. Bour plans to begin with the Arizona League Cubs. Last week, Henderson stated that he is leaning towards turning pro even though it may require a position change. On a side note, pitcher Jordan Flasher signed with the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday and will report to rookie ball with the Gulf Coast Red Sox.

   

• Mason Leaguers

  News1 June 13, 2009 at 1:00 am 2 comments

  Six George Mason University baseball players were selected in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft with five of them going in the second day of the three-day event. Outfielder Scott Krieger, Mason’s all-time leader in hits, runs, home runs, and total bases, went in the 19th round to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Los Angeles Dodgers selected catcher Chris Henderson, the other Co-Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, in the 21st round the Boston Red Sox chose pitcher Jordan Flasher in the 22nd round. Flasher opted to not sign after being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 39th round last year. The other player to be selected in last year’s draft was pitcher Mike Modica, who went in the 46th round to the Houston Astros in 2008. This time around, the Astros drafted the 11-game winner in the 24th round. While Henderson earned first team All-America honors and Krieger qualified for the second team, Modica represented Mason with second team All-America honors on the pitching side. The Chicago Cubs went with first baseman Justin Bour in the 25th round to add onto their collection of sluggers. On the third day, the Blue Jays selected pitcher Shawn Griffith in […]

   

• You're Out

  News1 May 31, 2009 at 1:24 am Comments are Disabled

  The George Mason University Patriots (42-14, 19-5) packed their bags alright, but their bags are not headed to Omaha, Neb. Instead, Mason will be coming home after a terrific season despite dropping to the Binghamton University Bearcats 11-6 in the elimination game of the NCAA Tournament regionals. Every time Mason rallied to cut into their opponent’s lead, the Bearcats came clawing back for more runs. Mason stranded 16 runners on base after getting a man on in every inning. In the 5th inning, Mason had the bases loaded with just one out. Shortstop Brent Weiss lined out, and right fielder Ryan Uphouse struck out swinging with the team still down 4-2. Center fielder Henry Dunn hit a three-run blast in the 6th inning to extend the lead to 7-2 in favor of the Bearcats. However, Mason put their rally caps back on in the 7th inning as they received a productive day from rookie designated hitter Dan Schafferman, who went 4-for-5 in the game. His double cut the lead to four runs, and Mason had bases loaded again for catcher Chris Henderson. The hitting sensation ended the threat after grounding out. Mason seemed to finally have their chance after Schafferman […]

   

• Heading South

  News1 May 30, 2009 at 1:44 am Comments are Disabled

  The George Mason University Patriots (42-13, 19-5) have been dominant throughout the year, but they finally faced a tough competitor in the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, falling 11-3 to the 22nd-ranked Gamecocks. First baseman Justin Bour doubled in Mason’s first run in the 1st inning, and Mason led 1-0 until the 4th inning when the Gamecocks finally unloaded for four runs. Right fielder Jackie Bradley, Jr. led off the inning with a single, but two costly errors on one play from shortstop Brent Weiss created a bigger mess as designated hitter Parker Bangs belted a home run off pitcher Mike Modica (11-2). The damage in the 4th inning was enough for the Gamecocks to get by Mason, but there was more to come. The Gamecocks added two runs in the 5th inning and two more in the 6th inning. Mason got two runs back in the 7th inning after catcher Chris Henderson cashed in on a two-run double. The Gamecocks scored three more runs in the bottom half of the 7th inning as Mason suffered one of their worst defeats this season. Mason last gave up double-digit runs to an opponent […]

   

• Early Exit

  News1 May 22, 2009 at 2:01 am Comments are Disabled

  The George Mason University Patriots (42-11, 19-5) jumped to a 2-0 lead in the 1st inning, but the team could not contain the Georgia State University Panthers in their 9-3 loss. Left fielder Scott Krieger homered for the 20th time this season, giving Mason the early 2-0 lead. Krieger’s home run marked his 300th hit of his collegiate career. The Panthers countered with a two-run shot in the 3rd inning from first baseman/third baseman Bradley Logan, and they scored five more runs to extend their lead to 7-2 in the 8th inning. The Panthers hit a total of four home runs in the game. Mason attempted to rally in the 8th inning as right fielder Ryan Uphouse led off with a single, followed by a walk from center fielder Spencer Wiggins. Next, catcher Chris Henderson hit a pitch off the wall, but with the runners holding up just in case the ball was caught and Henderson seeing two bases, the Panthers prevented a bases loaded situation by tagging out Henderson. Krieger fouled out to first, but he cashed in his third RBI, scoring Uphouse from 3rd base. Even though Henderson enjoyed a 3-for-4 day after breaking his 0-for-15 slump, Mason […]

   

• Wiggins is Walking Tall

  News1 May 22, 2009 at 1:01 am Comments are Disabled

  The George Mason University Patriots (42-10, 19-5) scorched the Old Dominion University Monarchs for nine runs in the 3rd inning as they went on to defeat their opponent 11-5, winning the first two games of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament for the first time since 1995. Center fielder Spencer Wiggins went 3-for-6 with five RBIs, including his third home run of the season. Not known for his power, Wiggins doubled in Mason’s first run, and later in the 3rd inning, he swatted at the 2-1 pitch and sent it over the right field wall to give Mason a 9-1 lead after the Monarchs scored first in the 1st inning. Second baseman Ryan Soares also homered for Mason in the 3rd inning. Wiggins added another RBI double in the 7th inning, and Mason held on at the end. Pitcher Mike Modica (11-1) threw for 6-1/3 innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out six batters. He needs one more win to match the school record for wins in a season. Mason will take on the Georgia State University Panthers, who also won their first two games of the CAA Tournament, with the winner advancing to the final.

   

• Mason Survives on the First Day

  News1 May 21, 2009 at 1:24 am Comments are Disabled

  The George Mason University Patriots (41-10, 19-5) won in walk-off fashion as shortstop Brent Weiss hit the game-winning single to give Mason the 6-5 win over the University of Delaware Blue Hens in the first game of the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament. Weiss came off the bench in the 4th inning, and went on a tear, going 3-for-3, which included the game-winning hit. With shortstop/second baseman Ryan Soares starting at Weiss’ normal position, Head Coach Bill Brown opted to go with second baseman hitting at the No.2 slot. The Blue Hens jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 1st inning as left fielder Bill Merkler went yard for the 16th time this season. Even though pitcher Kevin Crum settled down after the rough 1st inning, he was replaced by pitcher Ryan Pfaeffle. Mason eventually rallied and took the lead at 4-3 in the 6th inning as pinch hitter/catcher Chris Henderson hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Pfaeffle, who pitched for 4-1/3 innings, gave up a run in the 7th inning, tying the game at 4. However, Mason regained the lead in the 8th inning as left fielder Scott Krieger hit his 19th home run of the season, a […]