University Tops Fort Lauderdale In Colts First Pitch Classic Opener

Coach Rich Hofman has had his share of wins over the years. The man who has had more coaching wins than anyone in state history had a successful return to the dugout on Monday evening in the opening game of the Colts First Pitch Classic.

Mike White led the way on the mound and Diego Perez provided the offensive spark, as University defeated Fort Lauderdale 6-3 in both teams’ opener of the 2011 season. It was Hofman’s first win in a regular season game in three years.

“Solid performance,” said Coach Hofman. What impressed the Suns coach the most was a stretch of outs recorded by University starting pitcher White. “Retired thirteen batters in order in the middle innings.”

Coach Hofman was speaking of a stretch from one out in the first to two outs in the fifth when White was virtually un-hittable. The performance was nothing like the first game White pitched in the preseason against Coral Glades.

“Twice as good a performance as his last one in the preseason opener,” said Pitching Coach Dave Hofman. On Monday, White went six innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits and two walks. The Suns pitcher also struck out six.

White had been cruising through six, when Hofman had to make a decision about the final inning. The pitcher convinced the coach that he could finish the game, but on this night it was not meant to be.

Fort Lauderdale rallied in the seventh, trailing 6-1. White allowed a couple of base runners to start the inning, and Michael Crespo was summoned to close the game. Crespo gave up two walks and a hit, but managed to strike the side out to earn his first save. The Flying L’s had the go-ahead run at the plate with the bases loaded, but Crespo struck out their clean up hitter to end the game.

Offensively for the Suns, Perez went 2-4 with two triples, an RBI, and three runs scored. Charlie Gomez was 2-2 with 2 RBIs, a run and a stolen base, while White had the big hit in the first inning, a two-run single.

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