Lee-Davis has looked strong up until now, but I understand they let one get away last night at Patrick Henry. A key error opened the floodgates until a lead got away in the bottom of the 7th.
A frigid night, yet PH's Ches Harrington hit a milestone by touching 90 in one inning of relief. Not a name you've heard a lot about, but as he's only a junior, I suspect that may change.
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Are games generally getting done this afternoon? I did hear that James River at Midlothian was postponed to April 8, so that one is not happening today.
Temps have been above forecast so far today but the clouds are now moving in ....
If you don't have it circled on your calendar already, James River @ Cosby (tomorrow) Tues 4:30pm.
Matoaca @ Thomas Dale Tuesday April 1, 5:00
Went to Cosby, then hustled out to Atlee to catch 2 of the games yesterday.
I was disappointed in the JR-Cosby matchup. JR jumped out to a lead, held on right up until the bottom of the 7th. On the scoreboard it was a nip-and-tuck game. In person it just didn't have a lot of the tension I have come to expect from this rivalry. Can't put my finger on it, but there just wasn't a lot of excitement. One guy who really stood out was JR 2B Coleman Paz (sp?), who did just about everything you could ask your small-man middle infielder to do including a 2-out, 2-run single, a sac bunt that set up another run, later took one in the ribs, stole second and scored on 2-out hit, and made the defensive play of the game with a diving stab on a hot shot up the middle to prevent 2 runs and keep JR on top through the middle innings. This one kid triggered 4 of JR's 5 offensive runs and stopped at least 2 more with his defense.
Cosby has a history of not letting a rival see its ace until playoff time, so it wasn't really a big shock when Hunter Williams didn't start on the mound. Both teams used a handful of pitchers. Cosby started Jake Huggins and perhaps for that reason held him out of the batting order. JR was without Harry Lee Watson, not sure why, so I guess both lineups were down a big stick and that cancelled out. Cosby showed more depth in its hitters, and but for Paz's play might've broken out in the lead much earlier.
The Atlee-Hanover game was played in much more of a rivalry atmosphere even though the 9-2 final score might make you think it wasn't close. In one sense it wasn't, as it was pretty clear Atlee was not going to score as long as Casey was on the mound. He ran 90-92 all night but had the command to pitch around a poor night by the HPU and also flashed some nasty off-speed stuff. First batter singled up the middle, then Atlee had no more hits until the 5th.
Atlee ran two guys out there who showed some pretty live arms, both 88-90 for the most part, but command was more of an issue, especially in terms of offering up some pitches in the middle of the zone. Atlee then went to a long, limber side-armer. Overall I was impressed with their pitching, but Hanover just kept getting runs here and there until it pulled away.
It was a night for hard throwers as Renfro came in for Hanover and, had he not been following Casey, his MPH would've been seen as overpowering. Following Casey, though, means hitters were already conditioned to hard stuff, and the first Atlee hitter (sophomore catcher Henry Moore, who had a great night behind the plate with his arm as well) drilled belt high fastball for a double to help Atlee scratch in the 6th.
For those keeping track, I think Casey has had 3 starts, 13 innings and only 3 hits allowed so far. There's no wondering about H/E decisions when calculating his ERA, either, because so far he hasn't given up any runs of any kind. Lots of scouts and RADAR guns in evidence and they stayed for all 5 innings he threw last night.
For those keeping track, I think Casey has had 3 starts, 13 innings and only 3 hits allowed so far. There's no wondering about H/E decisions when calculating his ERA, either, because so far he hasn't given up any runs of any kind. Lots of scouts and RADAR guns in evidence and they stayed for all 5 innings he threw last night.
For those keeping track, I think Casey has had 3 starts, 13 innings and only 3 hits allowed so far. There's no wondering about H/E decisions when calculating his ERA, either, because so far he hasn't given up any runs of any kind. Lots of scouts and RADAR guns in evidence and they stayed for all 5 innings he threw last night.
Casey wasn't in the game in the 6th when the RF made a diving catch on the fly ball that involved the appeal play.
Hunter Williams (Cosby) tossed a beauty yesterday against Manchester to get a 1-0 win. Mauricio also pitched very, very well for Manchester. If you like pitchers duels and "snapping" catchers mitts....this was the place to be. This was the sharpest I've seen Williams, and Mauricio has a big upside in college. More radar guns per square inch in the Richmond area than anywhere else!
I may be mistaken, not sure when the 1 run scored in the Midlothian game -- was Casey still in at that point? If so, then I guess I need to ask, was it earned or the product of an error?
As to this: "Then had the 2nd run called out on appeal for a nontag at 3rd.. when the runner basically walked home, after a shallow fly to right" -- whether the runner could have walked home, or even if he did, is unimportant. The question is whether he was touching the bag either when the ball was caught or at some point thereafter, before heading home. There is no exception granted for runners who could have scored anyway if they had taken the time to tag, so speaking to the amount of time the runner had available to him is a non sequitur. On the operative question, the umpire ruled that the runner did not tag properly.
Casey gave up 1 hit, 2 walks, and had 8 Ks in 4 innings - 65 pitches. The run was scored in the 5th and it was unearned.
The tag play was a bad call... he most definitely tagged up; the ball was hit to shallow right and the runner broke for home. The right fielder made a diving catch and the runner sprinted back to third to tag and was safe at home.
Back on topic of Richmond area games....there is a unique game being played Saturday April 5. A benefit baseball game at Hanover High school featuring a rematch of the 2013's AAA State Championship game Hanover vs Great Bridge at 2PM. The cost is $5 with Hanovers portion of the proceeds going to the Heather James Medical Fund. This is a 9 inning game.
Hanover High is sponsoring a variety of fun events all day including a fun run for kids, the 2nd annual Hanover Hawks 5K Run/Walk, a Drive 4UR school event and a community festival. The game should be fun and very competitive and for a good cause.
Matoaca @ Thomas Dale Tuesday April 1, 5:00
Dale lost to Matoaca in their first game of the season. Played Cosby tonight and held them to 1 unearned run. Dale made some errors that were costly but pitcher Nathan Eaton pitched well, struck out a few and held hits to about 5.
