Baseball Bruhaha

Georgia third baseman Ryan Peisel goes after Arizona right fielder Jon Gaston in the top of the eight inning as first base umpire Danny Everett tries to seperate them as #1 University of Arizona beats Georgia 9-7 on Sunday, February 24, 2007. Gaston was ejected from the game after running over Georgia catcher Bryce Massanari prompting both benches to clear.


For a minute there, the sun had come out at Foley Field. A batsman was hit. A catcher was railroaded. A third baseman was offended and all hell broke loose. And for a second there, it looked as though the Mets and Phillies were exchanging pleasantries.

All in all, a wild baseball game. Georgia's starter went 6 shutout innings and gave up 3 hits. The bullpen imploded giving up NINE in the 7th and 8th innings, culminating in the aforementioned bruhaha.



Georgia coach David Perno, left, and Arizona first baseman C.J. Ziegler, center, try to seperate players during a bench clearing altercation in the top of the eight inning

Here's what happened:

Georgia pitcher Will Harvil served up a two-run home run to Arizona's Diallo Fon. Next pitch, he drills Arizona left fielder Jon Gaston. Several pitches later, Gaston goes to steal second. Georgia catcher Bryce Massanari throws the ball into center field, Gaston rounds third and comes home. Gaston plows into Massanari who was barely blocking the plate. Massanari takes offense and third baseman Ryan Peisel comes running over to confront Gaston. Then the benches empty as the umpires try to intervene. Gaston was called out on the play and ejected. Earlier in the third inning, Georgia left fielder Lyle Allen leveled Arizona catcher Dwight Childs while yesterday, Gaston ran Georgia catcher Joey Lewis.



Georgia left fielder Lyle Allen runs over Arizona catcher Dwight Childs in the bottom of the third inning




Georgia pitcher Nathan Moreau throws before the start of the first inning as #1 University of Arizona beats Georgia 9-7 on Sunday, February 24, 2007. Moreau gave up 3 hits over 6 innings.

Arizona's Colt Sedbrook hits the ball in the top of the ninth inning as #1 University of Arizona beats Georgia 9-7 on Sunday, February 24, 2007.

And this is an homage to my friend and fellow staffer Kelly Lambert, who took some very pretty sillouette shots at yesterday's game.