Section B Online

Wednesday March 03, 2010

	AT BAT				BALL					STRIKE					OUT						H/E
		2	7			3					2					2					H
				1	2	3	4	5	6		7	8	9	10			RUNS		HITS			E
FSU				0	0	5	1	0	0		0	0						6		6		1
PHI				0	0	4	0	4	3		2	X					1	3		8		0

Playing for fun

by Corey Dowlar, Warchant.com

CLEARWATER, FL - - For one night, the final score simply didn’t matter.

Sure Florida State lost 13-6, but when taking into consideration it came against the defending National League champions, it doesn’t sound that bad after all.

For the Seminoles, it wasn’t a competitive game, but a once-in-a-lifetime experience to face major league stars such as Chase Utley and Ryan Howard. Emotional leader Tyler Holt watched the Philadelphia Phillies take batting practice with wide eyes on Wednesday evening.

“It’s an honor that they let us play them,” Holt said. “They might get one or two at bats and be done with it, but it isn’t every day you get to face Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, and all those guys.”

Florida State struck first blood in the third inning putting a five spot on the scoreboard against Phillies right hander Phillipe Aumont. Stuart Tapley provided the exclamation point by taking a pitch over the right field fence for a three-run homer.

Following the game, head coach Mike Martin talked about how many moments were made for many players on the Seminoles squad.

“It was a game a game that was always fun for everybody,” Martin said. “Players, coaches, managers, you name it. I’m just very proud of the way we played. Of course we gave everyone a chance to play and pitch.

“To see Ryan Howard and J-Roll and Chase Utley, they are seeing guys that are literal superstars,” he added. “It was quite an experience for them to see how they play the game and also standing next to them watching them take (batting practice). “

Tapley, an Orlando native, admitted that he had some help on his home run whether it be the strong winds blowing out to right field, or the high velocity of the pitch. But either way, Tapley now has a statistic that no one can ever take from him – a home run against a major league club.

“I was reflecting on it once I calmed down in the dugout,” Tapley said. “I was like man, that’s probably one of the top moments, baseball wise of my life.”

Sophomore right fielder James Ramsey joined Tapley in the home run column by hitting a solo home run to right center. Ramsey was in a unique situation as a second generation Seminole to have played against Major League Baseball competition.

“Talking with my dad, obviously he played at Florida State, he got to play against some pretty good teams,” Ramsey explained. “The Reds, the Yankees, and he still remembers things that he did and that they did as well. I think I will take it with me for a long time.”

When Hunter Scantling found out he would be the starting pitcher against the Phillies, all he could think about was facing Ryan Howard. At one point, the possibility of facing Howard wasn’t looking like a sure thing, but with two outs in the bottom of the first, his opportunity came.

Howard grounded a chopper straight into the ground causing Scantling to use every inch of his 6’8 frame to jump up and field the ball. When he realized he had come up with it, he tossed the ball over to Jayce Boyd at first completing his outing.

“It was fun going out there facing those guys,” Scantling said. “When I heard the names called, I got kind of nervous, but after the first batter (Jimmy Rollins), I started to settle in.

“I don’t know how (Howard) missed the fastball I threw to him, but I was happy with myself with the pitches I made.”

After striking out Placido Polanco and retiring Chase Utley and Howard, Scantling tried his best to return to the dugout in an all business state of mind.

“I tried to keep a straight face until everyone told me to smile,” Scantling admitted. “I just started laughing.”

Florida State will take on Georgia this weekend starting on Friday at 6:00 p.m. from Dick Howser Stadium in Tallahassee.

<I>Note: This game was an exhibition, therefore it does not count against the Seminoles win-loss record.</i>

Click here for a complete boxscore
Section B Online Player of the Game: Stuart Tapley 2-3, 1 R, 3 RBI, HR