Dinwiddie vs. Hanover

They scored 4 in the bottom of the 7th to win it. Big win for Dinwiddie. 

Corley, Denton (7) and Searles. Mostoller, Hinton (5) and Hughes. W — Hinton. L — Denton.

Highlights: Trevor Denton (H) 2 for 3, 2B, 2 RBIs; Chris Gilliam (H) 2 for 3, HR; Jimmy Malloy (D) 2 for 3, 2B; Brandon Stout (D) 2 for 2; Rashad Stewart (D) 1 for 3, 2 RBIs.

Records: Hanover 1-1; Dinwiddie 1-1

http://www.timesdispatch.com/s...30-95335677aa5e.html

Wow, is all I can come up with.

At face value, score was surprising. But, Dinwiddie has some tough kids and they're a tough out at home

Early in the year weird things can happen, but Dinwiddie is a solid program too. It's not all that unusual for a team to get fired up for a final at bat, then if they can get a little something going it can snowball quickly and be hard for the opponent to stop. 

I've seen many times where a HBP or an error or a great AB will get a little positive energy flowing. I don't think this changes who Hanover is...they are still very good and one bad inning in game #2 doesn't change that.

With the blustery cold days we've had, we're seeing a lot of games where the bats just don't get going, and the games often turn on balls bouncing off frozen gloves. 

I heard that Derek Casey had a tender shoulder a week or so ago, and that influenced his not pitching at all vs. Cosby.  I don't know if that problem is lingering or if they are just saving him for district games, but he hasn't thrown in a regular season game yet.  Hope all is well there. 

Generally it looks like Hanover just didn't score like it did last week, Dinwiddie managed to keep it close, then got some key hits just in time.  Good to see our man Rashad Stewart coming through in the clutch!

I notice that James River and Midlo also had a low-scoring, nip-and-tuck game in the windy cold yesterday as well.  JR won in extras, but Midlo is showing promise here early in the season.

The Midlo/James River game was a nail-biter the whole time (and bone chiller).  Midlo went up 1-0 in the 1st inning...but JR got their leadoff hitter on at least the first four innings and threatened just about every inning...it would be interesting to know how many baserunners they stranded, i bet close to 10, but Midlo would get out of it just about every time.  The pitching by both Cumbea and White was very good, not sure how they could feel the ball it was so cold with the wind blowing.  Two game changing moments...with bases loaded and 2 outs, Midlo did a pick off to 1st, and thought they had the 3rd out, but he was called safe, but it was extremely close...then the batter hit a liner to right center to score 2 runs for JR, and they went ahead 2-1.  Then with the score tied 3-3, i think in the bottom of the 8th, Midlo had a runner on 3rd with 1 out and the Midlo coach called for a squeeze..batter missed a high pitch, and the runner was tagged out in a run down...JR then busted it open when they came to bat and it was over.  The Midlo players were obviously very down after coming so close to beating a Tier 1 team, but you only get so many chances (also had bases loaded in another inning) against a good team.  A lot of us were shocked at the squeeze play since any wild pitch/passed ball or mishandling of a grounder or flyout could have scored the winning run.  I know, monday morning quarterback, but in this case it seemed like the Midlo coach tried to force the game instead of letting it play out, especially since home field and playing with a chance to beat a top team....hopefully Midlo can bounce back from the disappointment....I saw JR play Bird and Midlo back to back, and my take-away is that their 1-4 hitters didn't have great batting days either day, but their 5-9 hitters took turns picking up the team up in both games..so when their studs start hitting like we know they will, they will be a good match for Cosby....can't wait to see that one.

My other ponder is that Harman did not pitch against either JR or Cosby this week...anyone with insight to that ?  To me he was their only chance to beat either of those teams.

This is just a wild theory based on nothing but speculation, but, re: Harman not pitching vs. JR or Cosby - I noticed that, too.  My thought would be that the strategy might be to play for third place and then take your chances in the district tournament.  So, the idea would be to use him against the Manchesters and Midlothians and try to secure no worse than third place.  And maybe an upset even gets you second place.  The new pitching rules also remove some flexibility with how you can use your pitchers, obviously.

You finish third, and you play, say, Clover Hill (a likely win), then save Harman for James Rive or Cosby in the semi-final with a regional berth on the line and them seeing him for the first time this season.  For you Central Region old-timers, you may recall that Ronnie Atkins never threw Terry Guzman against Freeman until the regional final in 1982 (back when you HAD to win the region to advance to the state tournament).  The strategy paid off, and Guzman dealt Bob Dement his only loss of the year.

Or, none of the above could have anything to do with it.  But it was just something that crossed my mind as I was freezing my buns off, watching Cosby win convincingly over at Bird.

I heard (I am sure it was 3rd or 4th hand) at the JR/Bird game that there may have been something amiss with Harman's arm/shoulder and they would use him only in relief.  It didn't happen.  But note, I don't think Bird pitched Harman against JR at either matchup last year.  

why would you post a rumor you don't know to be true?  Not right!

very true lovethesport. maybe keewart should double check his or her 3rd or 4th hands sources before posting.

Yep, shouldn't have posted that (however, my source was fairly reliable and I was replying to latazaea's inquiry).  I confirmed with keewartson, who talked directly with Bryce at the game, and it was his elbow with an issue. I am glad they are protecting his arm, and I hope he is back on the bump soon.  Tremendous player.