APPALACHIAN LEAGUE: Osterbrock Overpowers Bristol White Sox

By Tim Hayes
Sports Writer / Bristol Herald Courier
Published: July 5, 2008

BY TIM HAYES
Bristol Herald Courier

BRISTOL, Va. — Daniel Osterbrock left the University of Cincinnati as the school’s career leader in wins.

So in his first month as a professional baseball player, the Elizabethton Twins left-handed pitcher has continued that trend of winning.

Osterbrock tossed a complete-game three-hitter to highlight Elizabethton’s 6-3 Appalachian League victory over the Bristol White Sox on Saturday night at DeVault Stadium.

Osterbrock needed just 91 pitches to overpower Bristol’s lineup. He improved to 2-0, lowered his ERA to 1.57 and crafted the Appy League’s first complete game of the season.

“Going into the game we knew the White Sox were a first-pitch hitting team,” Osterbrock said. “I just went out there and threw strikes, kept the ball low and got groundballs. My pitch count was 81 through eight innings and our coach just said go ahead and shut the door.”

Bristol was held hitless until Kevin Dubler’s single up the middle with one out in the sixth inning. Just one of Bristol’s three runs against Osterbrock was earned and the Sox struck out nine times.

“He had all his stuff working,” Bristol third baseman John Kateon said. “He had a really good change-up and his curveball was tight. You couldn’t really sit on one, you had to sit back and try to see the pitch. It was tough to adjust.”

Bristol’s pitching had issues all night. Starter and losing pitcher Onarkys Paniagua (1-1, 5.21 ERA) allowed three runs on six hits in three innings of work, while relievers Willy Mota and Dan Puls were also touched for runs.

In fact, Elizabethton’s first four hitters of the game reached against Paniagua and gave the Twins an early 2-0 lead. That was all Osterbrock needed.

“I love getting the lead before I even take the mound,” Osterbrock said. “It’s a great feeling to go out there and be able to get ahead in the count and already have two runs.”

Dubler, Kateon and Justin Greene had consecutive singles in the sixth inning to account for all of Bristol’s hits. Jorge Castillo had a RBI groundout in the ninth to produce Bristol’s final run.

Angel Morales crushed his team-leading fifth home run for the Twins, while catcher Alexander Soto had three hits to lead the victors at the plate.

Elizabethton (15-4) increased its lead to four games over Bristol (10-7) in the Appy League’s West Division.

As for the 6-foot-3, 195-pound Osterbrock — a seventh-round pick by the Minnesota Twins in last month’s amateur draft — another victory was in the books after an impressive outing.
“The transition’s been really, really easy,” Osterbrock said. “I’m only about five hours away from home and my family comes down to visit. The people from Elizabethton are really nice and will bend over backwards for you. The guys are great , the coaching staff is great. Everything’s been smooth.”

NOTES: A large crowd was on hand for the game and a fireworks display was held following the final out … Kingsport native and former Milligan College standout Nathan Fritz was recently signed by the Twins and is on Elizabethton’s roster. He is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in two relief outings … The control problems continued for Mota, who is in Bristol on a rehabilitation assignment and is making the transition from outfielder to pitcher. Mota struck out three, but hit three Elizabethton batters with pitches … The teams will play again tonight in Bristol at 7 p.m.