|
|||||||||||||
Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
Spartans move closer to Dulles baseball crown
The Broad Run Spartans took a big step towards repeating as Dulles District regular season baseball champions May 14 with a 5-4 home win over the Potomac Falls Panthers.
With the victory, the Spartans grabbed sole possession of first place in the Dulles with a district mark of 11-2. Broad Run can capture the district championship with a win Thursday at Dominion.
The Panthers (11-3) completed the regular season and will await the outcome of Thursday’s game. If the Titans defeat the Spartans, Potomac Falls and Broad Run would meet again Friday in a one-game playoff to determine the district champion.
Each side had its number one starter on the mound Wednesday, as Panther coach Joe Terango gave the ball to Jake Kline while the Spartan coach Pat Cassidy countered with lefty Cole Shain. It was the same pitching matchup which produced a 2-1 Potomac Falls victory in Sterling earlier in the season.
Though both Kline and Shain went the distance, it was not quite the expected pitchers' duel as the lead changed hands four times and both coaches had their bullpens active in the fourth inning.
The hearts of the respective orders provided the thunder on a threateningly overcast evening in Ashburn.
Panther three through five hitters, Aaron Sweger, Michael Spring and Patrick Nightingale, combined to go 3 for 8, knocking in all four Panther runs. Table-setting leadoff man Robert Malan contributed two hits while playing exemplary defense at third base.
"They showed up tonight," Terango said of the middle of his batting order. "We played a good baseball game, wasn't a perfect baseball game, but they edged us out by one run. They got a good baseball team."
Broad Run used timely hitting and speed on the base paths to come back against Kline and the Panthers twice.
Chris Jessop stole two bases in addition to his 3 for 4 night at the plate. Jessop drove home two runs during a decisive fourth-inning rally that saw the Spartans collect five singles, putting the home team ahead for good.
"All year we've been moving on the bags," Cassidy said. "We're a good hitting team but I think we're a pretty darn good base running team too."
Tommy Meier added a pair of RBIs while notching two hits in three at-bats.
"Our offense came alive to put up five runs against a great pitcher in the district. Everyone was stroking the ball solid tonight," complimented Shain.
Kline took the loss, allowing four earned runs on 10 hits, striking out nine.
"Jake wasn't on top of his game tonight, but that's due to a good hitting ballclub. They slap the ball around and put it in play," Terango said. "I thought Cole Shain was extra-sharp tonight. I'd like to see them match up again."
Shain collected six strikeouts while scattering seven hits to notch the win. All four runs against him were earned.
The Spartan lefty, who will play for the Tribe at The College of William & Mary next spring, received a scare when Malan opened the fifth with a devastating line drive that caught Shain fully on the inside of the upper right thigh. Shain recovered to record the out at first base, but required several minutes lying next to the mound to recuperate, surrounded by sympathetic teammates.
After getting up gingerly and tossing two pitches off the mound to ensure his well-being, he proceeded to deliver three scoreless innings, preserving the lead and giving the top spot in the district to the Spartans.
"That ball was a seed coming at something that I did not want to get hit," Shain remarked, able to smile broadly after protecting both the victory and his future familial prospects.
Cassidy was impressed with his lefty's performance, in spite of Shain not having his best stuff.
"Cole just stayed gutty," Cassidy said. "He was even better after he took that ball in the midsection. I'm proud of Cole."
With an outright title on the line, Cassidy intends to throw right-hander Trey Brocke at Dominion, who currently sit third in the district standings.
"We got to go beat a good Dominion team," Cassidy said. "Dominion's improved a lot from last year. We've got to get focused for tomorrow in a hurry. We've got to go win tomorrow if this [win] is going to mean anything."
You must be logged in to post a comment.