Ryle Raiders Baseball: Welcome

Special thanks to Scott Pulice for taking some outstanding photos of  Raider players in action during the course of the season.  If anyone else has  pictures you wish to share with the team, please upload them to  Snapfish as outlined below on this home page.  There are some terrific shots in this album that you are certain to enjoy.  Just click on the story headline above to go to the Snapfish page, then use  log in  rylebaseball@fuse.net and password raiders.

RYLE OVER CAMELS FOR 20TH WIN

On May 9, the Raiders traveled to Campbell County to take on the Camels.  For the third time in the pastfive games, the Raiders played into extra innings, this time prevailing by a score of 6-3.  In a statistical anomaly that can only be found in the stat-laden sport of baseball, starting pitcher Mark Downs  was charged with a blown save before subsequently earning the win. 

Downs left the game after completing the 6th inning and the Raiders leading 3-1.  During his six innings,  Downs allowed only one run on 3 hits and struck out 8 Camel hitters.  He got stronger as the game progressed, retiring the last 13 batters he faced, including strike outs of 4 of the last 6 batters. 

The Ryle relief corps could not hold down the Camels in the 7th inning, however, so Downs was brought back into the game with the bases load and one out and the Raiders still clinging to 3-1 lead.  The next batter hit a seeing-eye single that scored two runs and tied the game 3-3, as well as causing Downs to be charged with a blown save.   Downs then retired the next 2 Camels, sending the game into extra innings.  (Note: It would have been a remarkable feat had the Raiders hung on for the win in the 7th, as Downs would have been credited with both the win and the save!). 

In the top of the 8th, the Raiders scored three times to take a 6-3 lead.  Senior Bryan Comora pitched a perfect 8th inning, needing only 6 pitches to earn himself a save, a win for Downs, and the Raiders their 20th win of the season.

Offensively, the Raiders were lead by Thomas Baumann, who hit a 2-run home run, Leiff Clarkson with 2 hits and 2 runs, and Jackson Brennan, who had 4 quality at-bats leading to a run scored and an RBI.  The left field tandem of Tyler Mason (2 hits) and Tanner Pulice (8th inning squeeze bunt) was also instrumental in keeping the Raider offense humming. 

RYLE EKES OUT WIN OVER ST. HENRY

On Monday, May 7, the Raiders hosted the St. Henry Crusaders.  Brian Ernst took the mound and pitched 6 1/3 outstanding innings, leading the white-clad Raiders to a 3-2 victory.  Tanner Pulice closed out the game in the 7^th and earned the save, picking off a Crusader runner at third base for the final out of the game.  Offensively, the Raiders were led by Marshall Long, who collected 2 hits and knocked in 2 runs.  Jackson Brennan, who scored one of the Raider runs, reached base in all three of his at bats, with a single and 2 walks. 

Aside from the pitching of Ernst, the story of the game was the stellar Raider defense.  Ryle catcher Evan Winchester threw out two Crusader base runners attempting to steal second base.  The Raider middle infield was also up to the task, converting 2 double plays.  The play of the game belonged to junior third baseman Tyler Lonnemann, who leaped to snare a line drive and promptly threw the ball to first base to double off a St. Henry base runner, ending the inning and a Crusader scoring threat.

RAIDERS WIN 2 OF 3 IN FRANK SHOOP
Defeat two state-ranked teams

On Friday night, the Raiders took on #14-ranked Danville and came away with a 5-2 victory.  Senior lefthander Mark Downs was his usual reliable self on the mound, shutting down another opponent and earning the win.  Offensively, senior Leiff Clarkson slugged a home run to lead the way.

In the first game of a twinbill on Saturday, the Raiders took on #20-ranked Franklin County.  This game came complete with plenty of offense, solid pitching, heated close plays, extra innings, and – most importantly – a walk-off 9-8 Ryle win.  Mitch Lawson started for the Raiders and pitched well, exiting in the 7^th inning.  Thomas Baumann contributed a huge grand slam homerun to give the Raiders a 6-3 lead in the 4^th inning.  The Raiders pushed the lead to 8-3 entering the 7^th inning.  Things fell apart momentarily at that point, as Franklin County plated five unearned runs to tie the game.  Things looked especially bad for the Raiders when Franklin County put on their first two runners on base in the 8^th inning. Mitch See was called in to relieve and got off to a somewhat inauspicious start, bouncing 6 of his 8 warm-up pitches at the 50’ mark.  But it was smooth sailing once the ball was put in play, as he closed the door on Franklin without allowing a run in his two innings of work.  Raiders senior Bryan Comora knocked a walk-off single in the 9^th inning to end the game and give Ryle the hard-earned win.  
 
In game two, Comora took the mound with a rare opportunity to have a walk-off hit pitching win in the same day.  Though he pitched very well, a win was not in the cards for the Raiders, as their bats fell silent and Scott County defeated the Raiders by a score of 3-2.  All things considered, it was another good weekend for Raider baseball as the boys from Union had good success against top-flight competition from across the state for the second weekend in a row.

RAIDERS GO 2-1 IN LIT

The Raiders travelled to Bullitt East High School on Friday and Satruday (April 26-27) as part of the Louisville Invitation Tournament.  On Friday evening, Ryle faced another "Raiders" team, this one from Warren East High School.  Warren East came into the game with a 9-11 season record.  They left with a 9-12 record, as the Raiders from Union soundly beat them by the score of 13-4.  Mitch Lawson was the winning pitcher, going the distance and allowing only 4 hits and one earned run. 

 

Ryle broke the game open early, scoring five runs in the first inning on a Bryan Comora double and a Dylan Plvan grand slam home run.  Ryle added one run in the 3rd inning, two runs in the 5th inning, and then capped off the scoring with five more runs in the 6th inning.  There were plenty of hitting leaders in the game, including Thomas Baumann with his first varstiy home run, Comora with three hits and 2 RBI, Plvan with 4 RBI, Tyler Mason with a double and three runs scored, and Evan Winchester with 2 RBI. 

 

The Raiders played a twinbill on Saturday, with the Jefferstown Chargers being the day's first opponent.  Ryle only tallied five hits in this game and found themselves on the short end of a 5-4 final score when all was said and done.  Justin Hoard took the loss, but pitched well, going 3 innings and allowed two runs (none earned) on two hits, while striking out two batters.  Dylan Plvan had two more RBI in this game. 
   
Down 2-0 going into the top of 5th, Ryle tied the game on 2 hits, an error, a walk and a balk.  Jefferstown scratched out a run in the bottom of the inning to go up 3-2.  The Raiders took a 4-3 lead in the 6th inning and held this lead going into the bottom of the 7th inning.    Jefferstown's first two hitters reached base via error that inning and then loaded the bases via a seeing-eye hit.  After a strikeout, the next batter hit a sac fly to tie the game and the following batter hit a flair over second base for the walk-off win.  

In the second game of the day, Mark Downs led Ryle to an 8-0 win while dominating the #21-ranked Bullitt East Chargers, who were riding an 11-game winning streak and had a season record of 18-3.  Downs allowed only five hits while shutting out the Chargers.  He recorded eight strikeouts during the game, while walking only two batters.  

Raider bats were relatively calm this game as well, as Ryle could only muster six singles. The singles proved very valuable, however, when mixed in with three walks and four hit batsmen by Bullitt East pitchng.  Evan WInchester led the way for Ryle offensively, driving in three runs on a single and two sacrifice flies.    

 

2012 RAIDER BASEBALL CAMP
New Date: June 11-15, 2012

The annual Ryle Raider Baseball Camp will be held this year from June 11-15, 2012.  Please note that these dates are a change from previous years and what was previously posted.  The camp lasts from Monday through Friday from 9:00 - 11:30 a.m. and is held at the Ryle High School baseball field.  Any student that will be entering the 5th through 9th grade during the 2012-2013 school year is eligible to attend.  The cost is $45, which includes a camp t-shirt for every attendee.  The camp is hosted by Ryle Head Baseball Coach Pat Roesel and other Ryle baseball staff and varsity players.  There are a limited number of spots available and this camp usually fills up each year.  Please click on the "Raider Baseball Camp" link on the left-hand side of this page to download a signup form. 

RAIDERS HAMMER GRANT COUNTY 14-0

On Thursday April 26th, the Raiders traveled south on I-75 to take on the Grant County Braves.  For their troubles, the Raiders picked up a 14-0 shutout.  Junior Tanner Pulice earned the win with six strong innings on the mound, holding the Braves to just 3 hits.  After surviving a one-out, bases loaded jam in the first inning, only two Grant County batters reached base the rest of the way. 

Offensively, the Raiders were beneficiaries of 15 walks and a hit batsman from Grant County pitchers.  Marshall Long and Brian Comora led the way for the grey-uniformed Raiders, each collecting 2 hits.  Sophomore outfielder Eric Clarkson delivered a big 2-out, 2-RBI single in the 4th inning which extended the Raider lead to 5-0.  The Raiders closed out the scoring for the day when junior Dylan Plvan knocked in 2 runs with a bases loaded double in the 7th inning.  It was a great opportunity for a lot of Raiders to swing the bat, as 17 different players had plate appearances for Ryle. 

NO TIES IN BASEBALL?

Well apparently on some days, there are!

On April 25th, the Raiders met up with the Cooper Jaguars in their final district seeding game, however, the game had no effect on the final standngs, as Ryle had already clinched the #1 playoff spot and Cooper was locked into the #4 spot.  The two teams will meet each other in the first round of district playoffs the week of May 21st.

The Raiders and Jaguars played to a 3-3 draw when the game was called due to darkness.  The game was played under wet skies, a stark contrast to the near perfect conditions that existed when the two teams met exactly one week earlier in a Raiders' 10-0 romp.  Neither team could muster much in the way of offense in this one.  The Raiders clawed their way to 3 runs off of just 4 hits.  Senior Brian Comora, subbing for an injured Jacob Raines, tied the game with a squeeze bunt in the bottom of the 6th inning following a Marshall Long double.  On the mound, juniors Justin Hoard and Tyler Lonnemann pitched well enough for a Raider win, limiting the Jags to 3 runs (2 earned) on just 5 hits. 

Junior first baseman Jacob Raines left the game in the 6th inning with a dislocated left elbow following a collision with a Cooper base runner at first base.  Best wishes on a speedy recovery to Jacob!

ERNST LEADS RYLE OVER DIXIE

Behind a stellar pitching performance by Brian Ernst, the Raiders defeated the Dixie Heights Colonels by a score of 6-1.  Ernst needed only 99 pitches during his 7 innings of work, allowing one run (unearned) on just three hits.  He had solid command of the game from the first pitch on and Dixie was unable to mount any kind of major scoring threat against him. 

The game was scoreless through the first 3 innings.  Tyler Lonnemann hit a 2-out bases loaded single in the 4th inning to drive in two runs and stake Ryle to a lead they never relinquished.  Leiff Clarkson followed with another RBI single.  The Raiders pushed across two more runs in the 6th inning compliments of some Colonels' fielding miscues.  Ryle scored their final run in the 7th inning on a solo home run off the bat of Jacob Raines.  

COACH ROESEL RACKING UP THE WINS

Coach Roesel began his 20th year at Ryle this season as the 19th active winningest coach in the state of Kentucky.  There are only two active coaches in Northern Kentucky that have more wins that Coach Roesel - Dixie Heights Coach Chris Maxwell (556 wins entering 2012) and Covington Catholic Coach Bill Krumpelbeck (808 wins entering 2012), for whom Coach Roesel played while himself a high schooler. Coach Roesel will pass the 400-win plateau at some point during the 2013 season.  The all-time winningest high school Kentucky baseball coach is Larry Gumm (now retired), who amassed 1006 wins while coaching at Green County High School.  The current active winningest coach is Bill Miller, head coach of Pleasure Ridge Park High School, who began the 2012 season with 948 wins. Congrats to Coach Roesel and all these fine coaches.    

RAIDERS GO 1-1 IN DOC MORRIS
Defeat St. Henry 5-2; Lose to CCH 5-2

On Friday, April 20th, the Raiders packed up their wood bats and traveled to Scott High School to play the St. Henry Crusaders in the opening round of the Doc Morris Tournament. Thanks to some crafty Raider base running and Crusader fielding miscues, the Raiders eeked out a 5-2 win.   Mitch Lawson started on the mound and actually received some run support for a change, going six strong innings and only allowing two runs. Tanner Pulice earned the save by pitching a scoreless 7th inning.

The decisive inning was the 6th, as the Raiders came back from a 2-0 deficit. Senior catcher Marshall Long led the inning off with a base hit. A balk and a wild pitch put him on third base and he promptly scored on a sacrifice fly by Brian Comora. Tyler Mason, who was 3-3 for the game, followed with a double. The stage was set for the key play of the game one out later.  With runners at the corners, the Raiders pulled off a double steal to tie the game.  A Crusader catcher's interference put runners on 1st and 2nd base and a run then scored on a wild 1B pickoff attempt, as Jake Sander scampered all the way from second base as the ball rolled down the right field line.  Leiff Clarkson followed with an RBI double which gave the Raiders a 4-2 lead at the end of the inning.  The Raiders added another run in the 7th to push the final score to 5-2.

Ryle then met up with Covington Catholic at noon on Saturday.  The Colonels had advanced with a 2-1 win over Scott late Friday.  The Raiders were looking to avenge their 6-0 loss to the Colonels a week earlier and advance to the tourney semi-finals.  It was not to be, however, as CovCath beat the Raiders by a score of 5-2 on a cold, blustery day of baseball.  The loss eliminated Ryle from the one-and-out tournament. 

Bryan Comora started for the Raiders and pitched well enough to win, but walks and Ryle's lack of timely hitting were too much to overcome in this one.  Comora allowed only 4 earned runs on two hits in 4 2/3 innings to the #1-ranked Colonels, who benefitted from five walks and a Ryle fielding error.  CovCath scored two runs in the 4th inning and then three more in the deciding 5th inning on only one hit.  Offensively, the Raiders left a whopping eleven men on base, including runners in scoring position in each of the first six innings.  

CovCoth was the ulitmate winner of the tournament, defeating Dixie Heights in the championship game by a score of 11-2.  Congrats to the Colonels for an impressive tournament run, defeating Scott (2-1), Ryle 5-2), Holy Cross (4-1) and Dixie Heights (11-2).

RAIDERS WIN BIG IN A.J. COHEN MEMORIAL

Ryle met the Milford Eagles on April 19th at the Midland Redskins Baseball Complex main field.  The game was one of numerous pairings between local and out-of-area teams as part of the 11th annual A.J. Cohen Memorial Baseball Tournament.  The tournament is held annually to raise money to fund a scholarship in honor of A.J. Cohen, a local student who died in 2000.  This was the first time the Raiders have participated in this event. 

Mark Downs started on the mound for the Raiders.  The mound is one with which Downs will become quite familiar this summer when he plays for the Redskins.  Behind Downs' 5-inning stint, in which he allowed only 1 hit and 1 run, the Raiders cruised to an easy 10-3 win.  Downs struck out 8 hitters and walked 4 batters.  Tyler Lonnemann threw the final two frames, allowing 1 earned run on three hits and recording two strikeouts.  

Ryle took a 5 -0 lead in their first at bat, tallying three hits and benefitting from two walks and a Milford error.  They added two more runs in the 3rd inning on three hits, including RBI singles by Dylan Plvan and Mitchell See, before adding single runs in the 4th, 5th, and 6th innings. Hitting leaders for the Raiders included Thomas Baumann (2B), Marshall Long (2-4), Bryan Comora (3-4, 2 RBI), Tyler Mason 2B, and Plvan (3-3, 3 RBI).  The Raiders anticipate being asked to play in this tournament again next season.

RAIDERS ROLL OVER COOPER

On a weather perfect day for baseball (blue skies and temperatures in the 70's), the Raiders traveled north on US 42 to take on rival Cooper High School.  For the 2nd game in a row, both the Raider bats and pitching were revved up, leading Ryle to a 10-0 shutout win in 6 innings.  As most wins start with excellent pitching, this game was no different.  It began with Justin Hoard who went 4 innings and allowed only 2 base runners as he limited Cooper to just 1 hit.  Brian Ernst relieved Hoard to pitch the final 2 innings, striking out 3 Jaguars and not allowing a hit.  Add it all up, and you have a one-hit shutout from the Hoard-Ernst duo. 

Offensively, the Raiders were led by Jake Sander and Evan Winchester.  Junior leftfielder Sander was a one-man wrecking crew, making the most of his opportunities by going 2-3 and driving in 5 of the 10 Raider runs.  Deuces were wild for Winchester as he collected 2 extra base hits in his 2 at bats (2B & 3B), scored 2 runs and knocked in 2 runs.  Thomas Bauman chipped in with a triple during a 2-2 day that included 2 RBI’s.  Leiff Clarkson was 2 for 3 on the day, with a double and pair of runs scored. 

COVCATH BLANKS RYLE IN KNOCHELMAN TOURNEY

The Raider bats were ice cold as they met Covington Catholic in the first round game of the annual Scott Knochelman Tournament hosted by the Colonels.  Senior pitcher Mitch Lawson's string of bad luck continued on this Friday the 13th (of April).  For the second consecutive start, Lawson received no run support during the 6-0 loss to the Colonels. The third out was elusive for Lawson all game long, as CovCath pushed across 2 runs in each of the 1st, 3rd and 5th frames - all coming with two out.  Tanner Pulice came in to replace Lawson and shut out the Colonels over the final 1 1/3 innings. 

CovCath pitcher Brian Fagel put the clamps on the Raider sticks all game long, allowing only four singles and striking out nine Ryle hitters.  What little offense the Raiders tried to generate was led by Leiff Clarkson, who had two singles in three plate appearances,  DH Tyler Mason, who was 1 for 2 with a walk, and Marshall Long, who chipped in a single in his three at-bats.  Not much positive news in the offense department for the Raiders in this game.

Ryle will suit it up against Conner and St. Henry tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., weather permitting, for the conclusion of the tournament. 

RAIDERS NOTCH 11-2 DISTRICT WIN OVER CONNER

Behind yet another outstanding pitching performance by lefty senior Mark Downs, the Raiders notched their second district win of the season, defeating the Conner Cougars by a score of 11-2.  The win has assured Ryle of the number one seed for district tournament play.  

The Raiders bats came alive in this game and did so early on.  Down 1-0 in the bottom of the third, Evan Winchester started a Raider rally with a lead-off single. When the smoke cleared and the dust settled, the Raiders finished their half of the inning with a 4-1 lead. Thomas Bauman, on his way to a 4-RBI day, delivered the key hit with a 2-run double. 

From that point, it was all Downs as he cruised to a complete game win, allowing only one earned run on 3 hits, while striking out 7 Cougar batters. While Downs was in control on the mound, the Raiders continued to pad their lead, scoring 7 additional runs over the final 3 innings. Leiff Clarkson led the charge with 3 hits on the day and also scored 3 runs. Designated Hitter Tyler Mason made the most of his 4 plate appearances by going 2-2, along with 2 walks and 2 runs scored. 

And not be outdone by Downs and the potent bats, the Raiders flashed some leather throughout the game.   In the third inning, Bauman made a diving, 2-out catch on a ball hit in the left-centerfield gap which saved at least one run. In the sixth frame, catcher Jake Sander, first baseman Dylan Plvan and third baseman Cole Snyder all made nice fielding plays.

REDS AUTOGRAPHED BASEBALLS FOR SALE

Chris Welsh has generously donated three signed baseballs for the benefit of the Ryle Baseball program.  All proceeds go directly to Ryle Baseball.  

The balls are all official Major League Balls and are signed by Reds players JOHNNY CUETO, SCOTT ROLEN, and JAY BRUCE. Each autograph is on the sweet spot and comes in a UV protective display cube. Chris personally obtained these balls from the players and will sign an authenticity letter if requested. The balls are valued at $100 each.

AThe balls can be purcahsed individually for $85 each or purchased together for $250.  Please notify Coach Roesel if interested.

Purchase some great Reds' memorabilia AND help out the Ryle baseball program!