Potomac State gets past Chesapeake to open Region XX Tourney.

Hanover, MD- After two days of rain the 2008 Region XX Division 1 baseball tournament finally got under way and Andy Altemus must have enjoyed the extra rest.  The sophomore turned a stellar complete game effort as Potomac State defeated Chesapeake Community College by a score of 6-2 in their respective first game of the tournament.

The win advances Potomac State into the winner's bracket and a match up with Hagerstown Community College.  HCC won in the bottom of the ninth over Monroe College on Alex Stover's two run double.

Altemus struck out six, walked two and did not allow an extra base hit until a ninth inning double by Bryan Woolford.  The win raises his record to 6-2 on the year.

"It was a big game effort from Andy, said Head Coach Doug Little.  "He changed speeds, worked fast and we played some good defense behind him."  Altemus agreed with his coach's assessment. 

"It's easy to pitch when guys are making plays behind you and scoring runs for you," said Altemus. "I was able to get ground balls and I felt good all day."

Matt Schrader supplied an immediate boost for the Catamounts when he launched a two run home run in the fist inning that gave PSC a 2-0 lead. 

That lead would hold up until the sixth inning when PSC added four runs that started with a single from Kyle Orensky.  Schrader then reached on an error to put runners at first and second.  Both runners moved up on a wild pitch and Orensky scored on another wild pitch on a base on balls to Jason Lombard.  Another wild pitch allowed Schrader to score to make the score 4-0.

Mike Smith then walked and moved to second on the fourth wild pitch of the inning putting runners at second and third.  Jacke Healey then fisted a base hit that allowed both Lombard and Smith to score and make the score 6-0. 

Chesapeake finally broke through on Altemus in the ninth on an infield hit, a double, a sacrifice fly from Andrew Markey and an RBI single from James Corriveau.

Chris Custer took the loss for the Skipjacks.  He worked five innings, gave up five runs, (four earned), and struck out two.  Evan Ford worked the final three innings for CCC.

Rains interrupted the loser's bracket game with Monroe and Chesapeake in the second inning.  Plans for the reminder of the tournament are unknown.

Line Score:

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Chesapeake	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	2	9	2
Potomac State	2	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	X	6	8	0

CCC- Chris Custer (5IP, 2K, 4W), Evan Ford (6^th) (3IP, 3K, 1W) and Derek Richards.  PSC- Andy Altemus (9IP, 6K, 2W) and Kevin Griffin.

HR-Schrader (6)