It was not until the waning
moments Friday that activity began
to stir in the bullpens at Watson
Stadium.
When reserve catchers and relief
arms began to scurry to the warm-up
areas in the
seventh
inning, it was
induced by
pitch counts,
not panic.
In one of the top pitching match-
ups of the Big South season, UNC
Asheville's Alan DeRatt and Coastal
Carolina's Bobby Gagg faced off,
pounding the strike zone inning after
inning.
Neither figured in the decision of
Coastal's 4-3 win, but each offered
eight quality innings of work as the
Chanticleers extended their winning
streak to seven games.
DeRatt entered with a nation-best
0.64 ERA and has six of Asheville's 16
wins. Gagg has done little to tarnish
his preseason All-American honors
with a 5-1 mark and 2.31 ERA.
It was a game that marked growth for
Gagg, who allowed eight hits, three runs
and seven strikeouts while not walking a
batter.
In a match-up against New York
Yankees first-round pick Andrew Brack
man and N.C. State last season, Gagg
tried to match Brackman's high-velocity
fastball, and got himself into trouble by
overthrowing.
``I have to be myself,'' said Gagg, who
pitched with a blister he developed on his
throwing hand Friday. ``DeRatt is not in
their lineup.''
Although DeRatt's Asheville team has
struggled this season (16-25, 2-8) when he pitches _ he threw 78 of his 128 pitches
for strikes _ he offered the Chants (31-7,
8-2) a region ...
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