By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
May 28, 2003
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. Meridian Community College head baseball coach Michael Federico talked a lot about how his freshmen, 16 players on the 25-man roster are first year players, were now sophomores.
The coach's technical assessment of his players moving on to their second year of college after receiving final grades on May 9 was exemplified by the performance of freshman Chris Rayborn on Tuesday.
The first-year hurler pitched a complete-game two hitter against the Seminole (Fla.) Community College Raiders (42-21, 1-2 JUCO) in the teams 9-1, seven-inning victory in the 11th game of the 2003 Alpine Bank Junior College World Series.
MCC's coach was also quick to point out the work of catcher Ricky Newman, who is also a freshman.
Rayborn (10-3) was nearly flawless on the mound striking out four, walking two and allowing just one run, which was unearned. The Natchez native said he was surprisingly calm on the mound in the elimination game.
Rayborn didn't flinch after he gave up a double to the first batter he faced, and he didn't let the 1-0 deficit the team faced after the Raider's leadoff hitter scored phase him either.
The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder allowed just one more hit in the fourth inning on a bunt that third baseman Van Pope barehanded and just missed getting the runner out by a step. He also got 10 of the last 11 batters he faced out, ending the game by inducing a line drive out to first baseman Aaron George.
Rayborn threw 68 of his 100 pitches for strikes, and he topped the radar gun at 92 MPH.