GrapeSox owner heated after loss in first road game

The first road game in the inaugural season of the Lodi GrapeSox ended in a 1-0 defeat to the Nor-Cal Longhorns on Wednesday in San Mateo.

And the loss had GrapeSox owner Stevie Mac steaming afterwards.

"We got beat 1-0 by a team that can't hold our jock," Mac said. "To lose to them is ridiculous."

GrapeSox manager Leon Lee understood Mac's frustration, but he's hardly jumping ship after a 2-2 start to the season.

"I know Stevie put the team together and he gets a little high-strung," Lee said. "If he was George Steinbrenner and they were getting paid millions, that'd be one thing. But at this level, today was a learning experience. But Stevie did put a good team together and they're going to win a lot of games. He just has to be a little patient."

Wednesday's loss spoiled a strong outing by Lodi's pitching staff, as Jeff Lease, Justin Smith and Justin Cooper combined to allow just four hits. Lease, an American River College product, struck out the side in the first and second innings.

But Longhorns' Mike Ryder, a Menlo College product, was just good enough to keep the GrapeSox off the board, scattering eight hits in the complete-game shutout.

"They had a well-pitched game," Lee said. "In and out, up and down, he kept our guys off-balance. I think the kid had thrown 56 pitches after six innings."

The Longhorns scored the game's lone run in the fifth, thanks to a single, stolen base and run-scoring flair down the left-field line.

Longhorns 1, GrapeSox 0

GrapeSox record: 2-2.

Today: San Jose at Lodi, 7:05 p.m.

Friday: San Jose at Lodi, 7:05 p.m.

Lodi had its opportunities, but was plagued by inning-ending double plays in each of the first three innings. The GrapeSox twice had runners on first and second with two outs in the late innings, but couldn't muster the clutch hit they needed to tie the game.

In the ninth, Chris Richburg (two hits on the day) and Ryan Bernal started a two-out rally with base hits, but Nor-Cal's shortstop then made a tough play on a hard-hit one-hopper by Tanner Moore, flipping the ball to second for a game-ending force out.

Despite the loss, Lee is very excited about what his team has to offer.

"I think across the board, in a four-game period, our pitching is the best I've ever seen at this level," Lee said. "I just think we're a game or two away from getting adjusted (at the plate)."

The GrapeSox return to Zupo Field tonight to begin a four-game series with the San Jose Seals. First-pitch is 7:05 p.m.

Reader Feedback

loduca16 wrote on Jun 13, 2008 4:26 PM:

" Sounds like SOUR grapes to me. I guess I'd be pretty upset if my stacked roster full of D1 players was beaten by a team full of young D3 and JC players. To attack a team full of college students is reprehensible behavior, give credit where credit is due. "

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thaglove14 wrote on Jun 12, 2008 9:00 PM:

" "We got beat 1-0 by a team that can't hold our jock," Mac said. "To lose to them is ridiculous." You have got to be kidding me! This is a joke!! When team loose a close ball it was a good game. You mean to tell me that a 1-0 ball game was not a good game both sides had to play a good game with the out come of a 1 to zero score. To come down on his team like he did shows no class and needs to give them credit and motivation not critizing the out come of the game. I just think this was wrong to do to a team of young men who are just playing there dreams. I just think it was wrong of the owner to put down his own team. Well good job Lodi Grapesox you guys played a good game! "

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