Cranberry and Black Series Begins Saturday

There are several autumn rituals. Football, foliage, and the Cranberry and Black Series.

Yes, it's that time of year again. The Cranberry and Black Series, a best three out of five series of three-inning games, which brings an official end to the Rider fall baseball season.

This year's Cranberry and Black Series will be Saturday, October 20, on the Sonny Pittaro Field, with Game one starting at 11am.

The Friday game was rained out.

The Series began in 2004. Cranberry leads the all-time series 5-3, although the Black team has won 17 of the 35 games played.

This year the Cranberry team is led by the 2012 MAAC Pitcher of the Year, senior Mike Murphy, a 2012 Preseason All-American closer, senior Tyler Smith, who is now a starter, and senior Adam Wayman, a 2012 Second Team All-New Jersey third baseman.

Wayman scored the winning run in the deciding game in last year's Cranberry and Black Series. Smith won two games for Cranberry last year.

The Black team is led by senior Ian Lindsay, a First Team All-MAAC and All-New Jersey selection last year, junior Jerry Mulderig, voted the Most Improved Player on the 2012 team, and sophomore pitcher Kurt Sowa, a New Jersey All-Rookie team member last year who is expected to pitch in the MAAC rotation this coming spring.

Mulderig led the Black team in hits in last year's Cranberry and Black Series.

A panel of experts has made Cranberry a 5-3 favorite this year.

The official end of fall practice. Just another autumn ritual.

-ru-