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CLEAR Temp: 71 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, June 5, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend May 27, 2003 Goosmann pitches Phoenix to state-opening win By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune TALENT — The one they call "Goose" cooked Glide’s goose. Phoenix senior left-hander Richard Goosmann no-hit Glide into the sixth inning Monday as the Pirates triumphed 7-1 in the first round of the Class 3A baseball state playoffs at Hagler-James Field. The Skyline Conference runners-up next go on the road to Independence to face Val-Co League champion Central and its star pitcher, Jordan Pratt, on Wednesday. Phoenix (17-9) scored two runs in the first inning, one in the second, then sat back and watched Goosmann (8-2) frustrate the Wildcats, the third-place team from the Far West League, by picking at the corners, changing speeds and, generally, taking command. Advertisement He wound up with a three-hitter, fanning three. Pirates coach Joe Hagler had the option of using Brady Rhodes, whom he considers interchangeable with Goosmann as co-No. 1 starters, but elected to save the former for the matchup with No. 4- ranked Central. "Richard was the perfect guy for a game like this," said Hagler. "He comes up and throws strikes and lets things happen." Goosmann wasn’t as sharp as he normally is, walking four batters and hitting two. But he never was in serious trouble. "I just wanted to throw lots of strikes and make them put the ball in play," said Goosmann. "It could have been better, but I think I did pretty good. I had a lot of walks, though." Glide put runners on in every inning except the fourth, but solid defense and Goosmann’s perseverance kept the Wildcats at bay. That changed in the sixth, when leadoff hitter Kellan Steed hit a high fly that three Pirates circled under, only to have it glance off second baseman Brett Ellis’ mitt and noggin for an error. The next two hitters, Dan Cox and Brandt Pedersen, rapped singles to end the no-hitter and the shutout. "Those balls just kind of slipped through," said Goosmann. "But if it’s my pitch and they get a hit, they deserve it." After a visit to the mound by assistant coach Brent Watts, Goosmann got out of the inning without further harm, inducing a couple of fly outs and a weak grounder that he took care of for the third out. Cox added another single in the seventh for Glide. Phoenix’s offense was helped by six walks, a hit batsman and five errors. Rhodes had an RBI single in the first inning, and Ian McPhee ripped a two-run single in the fourth. Each collected two hits, as did Jon West, off Glide starter Pedersen. "He was kind of all over the place," said first baseman McPhee, who made two alert plays when he tagged out runners after throws pulled him off the base and also sprawled on the ground to take a low, wide throw to complete a double play. "You didn’t know where the pitches would be. I didn’t really see the ball that good. He had a good fastball." McPhee’s big hit, on an inside slider-curve, was a line drive to left field that scored West, who reached on an error, and Kevin Hudnall, who walked. Phoenix finished off Glide in the fifth on a couple of wild plays. Karl Strong, running for West after the catcher’s single, came all the way around to score when Pedersen’s high pick-off attempt ended up in the right-field foul territory. The batter at the time, Ellis, then hit a hard single to right that got past Taylor Skinner. Ellis, too, came all the way around to score when the throw to the infield scooted away. Now, it’s Central and the hope of a Pratt-fall. Pratt, who has a fastball in the low 90-mph range, has signed a letter of intent to play at Washington State. He’s the Val-Co’s player of the year and, at 6-foot-3, was a first-team all-state basketball player. "I’m looking forward to it," said Hagler. "You have to beat the good ones anyway (to win state)." Glide........................................000 001 0 — 1 3 5 Phoenix...................................210 022 x — 7 7 1 Goosmann and West; Pedersen, Harris (6) and O’Dell. W — Goosmann (8-2). L — Pedersen. 2B — P: Lockett. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times