Tennessee Wins Exhibition Opener in Cuba, 2-0

Dec. 15, 2002


Ben Riley registered the win for the Vols in today's 2-0 victory at Havana.
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Tennessee	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	2	4	0
Havana	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	1

Havana, Cuba -- The Tennessee Volunteers finally got down to action during their second full day in Cuba as they downed the Havana City Junior All-Star Team, 2-0, despite being out-hit 5-4.

The team of the top 16-18 year-olds chosen from the city's burrows, wore the uniforms of their respective teams. The squad will represent the city of Havana during the national playoffs which begin in January.

The well played game took place before a crowd of about 100 at the Sports City Field. The site, with dimensions that rival most American collegiate stadiums, 320 down the lines and 400 to center, is located at the all-sports training facility in Havana.

Not only was the game played using wood bats, but the scoreboard was manually operated with the strikes listed before the balls as used in international competition.

The game was as basic as baseball gets. There was no national anthem for either team. There was no public address announcer. There was no concessions. It was simple backyard baseball with two teams getting together for a Sunday morning contest.

Both teams played toe-to-toe with each other through a scoreless six innings before Tennessee took a 1-0 lead in the seventh.

Hassan Pena held the Vols in check, giving up only one hit, a double to Javi Herrera in the second, through the first six innings. But he was his own worst enemy as he hit three batters and walked five, including one to Jordan Czarniecki with the bases loaded, in taking the loss.

Kyle Norrid got things started with a one-out single to right. Following a fly out, the Vols loaded the bases as pinch hitter Jimbo Watson and third baseman Nick Crowe were hit by Pena. Czarniecki then drew his his third walk plating Norrid for the go-ahead run.

They added their final tally in the ninth as pinch runner Michael Rivera scored on a double steal.

Ben Riley threw 85 pitches in seven innings of work, allowing four hits with six strikeouts and two walks for the win.

Joey Andrews and Steve Wesley worked the eighth and ninth innings, respectively. Andrews struckout two, while Wesley picked up the save with one strikeout.

Brian Cleveland and Justin Branson collected Tennessee's other two hits.

Tennessee will play its next two games against the same All-Star team on Monday at 2 p.m. ET, and Tuesday at 11 a.m.

Results
Day 1 -Vols Arrive in Cuba
Day 3 - Vols Post Second Shutout
Day 4 - Vols Complete 3-game Sweep