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The pair teamed up last week at the Sunbelt Classic baseball series in Oklahoma, as members of Team Maryland. The squad won five of its first six games against all-star squads from Oklahoma, Texas, Canada, Illinois, Ohio, Georgia and eventual champion Arizona.

Vattuone, the 2009 Gazette Player of the Year with a 7-0 record, earned a save in Maryland's 9-6 win against Oklahoma. He then picked up a win in the squad's 6-5 victory against Georgia on Friday, working six strikeouts in his 5 1/3 innings.

"He buckled knees to end the ballgame [against Oklahoma] and he came back on Friday and threw against Georgia," Team Maryland coach Rod Cameron said. "He held them down. He did an outstanding job in 100-plus degree temperatures."

Riley's two outings came during different situations. Riley, who compiled a 5-2 record last spring, entered his team's 14-4 loss to Texas in the second inning after the starter allowed 10 runs. He slowed the eventual runner-up for the rest of the run-rule shortened contest.

"I just kind of gave it everything I've got," Riley said. "I couldn't lose anything."

Riley again came on in relief during the 9-8 loss to Arizona that knocked Team Maryland out of the championship game. Once again, Riley significantly slowed a powerful lineup, but also surrendered the game-winning home run in the eighth inning.

"That was bad," said Riley, who returned home in time Sunday to participate in a doubleheader for Gaithersburg Post 104. "I thought I pitched pretty well, but all that matters is a loss."

Overall, his Team Maryland experience was "amazing," said Riley, who struck out eight in his nine innings of work in Oklahoma. "It's probably the best tournament I've been to. I've never been a part of something that special. The hitting was the most ridiculous I've ever faced."

According to Cameron, Riley's performance has already secured him an inside track to an encore selection next summer. Cameron said fatigue finally caught up with the team, which was down one man with Quince Orchard graduate Anthony Howard having signed with the Kansas City Royals on June 23.

Howard's high school teammate, Mike Ryan, was also selected for the team, but arm troubles forced him to stay home. Ryan is currently serving as a designated hitter for Gaithersburg Post 295 and will be re-evaluated in three weeks.