Richmond Area Games May 4 - May 8

I was also at that game.  It was a great pitcher's duel.

Saw a few things differently, but overall it was a great, tight game.

Pita worked a full-count walk to lead off the game.  It was one of only two walks by Sorokowski (Fl. State commit) on the night but costly.  Cosby's # 2 hitter twice tried to bunt, twice missed.  Both times the catcher stood straight up on the play and flat out whiffed at the ball, at least one of them hitting the HPU.  Apparently L-D's main catcher has been out with a foot problem and, though he was back in the lineup last night, he was apparently not ready to catch again yet.  His sub struggled.  I've honestly never seen a HS varsity game where a catcher whiffed at two consecutive pitches, both fastballs, and while both were probably balls, they weren't wild by any means.  In fact, had the catcher remained in a crouch and actually caught them, who knows what the calls would've been.  Even with those called balls, Sorokowski rallied to get a K.

Breslin Wiley was the standout hitter of the game.  He got up three times and nailed hard line drives all three times.  His solid double to right easily plated Pita with the game's lone run after the 2 PB's, but I had the run unearned because I don't think a runner could've scored from first on that hit.  The 4th and 5th hitters struck out so this was a costly run in the end.

Wiley had another hit later, plus a lineout.  Jake Huggins (VMI commit) had a clean line hit, and also reached on a misplayed hopper to SS that I had as an E6 but the RTD reported as a 4th hit.  Those and the 2 walks were all Sorokowski gave up.  He ended with 10 K's, and Trice added 2 in the 7th as well.  Suffice it to say, pitching was not Lee-Davis' problem.

The problem, in a nutshell, was Zach Mort (George Mason commit), who is probably the most unsung standout pitcher in the area this year.  This kid was throwing low 80's a year ago but has blossomed into a guy consistently 86-88 with a solid curve, excellent control, poise and a great idea of how to carve up hitters.  He has consistently gone 6-7 innings in his starts and I think has won all but one of his starts because to my recollection I don't think he's given up more than 2 runs in any outing this year.

The only L-D hitter who had a decent night was leadoff man Adam Trice (VMI commit).  Like Breslin, Trice nailed three hard line drives in his three AB's.  Only one of his found grass, though.  He legged that into a double but was left stranded.  A grounder with eyes by Kevin France was L-D's only other hit.  (RTD says there were three hits but I'm scratching my head on that because I only saw two.)  Mort walked only one.  The only other base runner got aboard on an E4 in the 7th and was picked off for the game's final out.  I didn't tally K's for Mort but there were probably at least as many as for his counterparts.

L-D has a strong record this year so obviously they are capable of putting runs on the board, but you wouldn't have known it by last night.  Mort was, as he has been all spring, totally in charge.

Lee Davis is not a great hitting team.  They were no hit by Deep Run, but they did beat Freeman twice.  Glen Allen one hit them in their first game against them.  I do agree with the comments about Mort, though.  He has come into his own this year.  

Cosby 15 Manchester 6

I was at at the JV game so hopefully someone can fill in details.  The info that I got was that Cosby's bats were very strong and Manchester threw 4 guys.

Hanover 2, Patrick Henry 0

Outstanding pitcher's duel at PH tonight, where one error ultimately decided the game.

For Patrick Henry, UVA-bound Ches Harrington blitzed through the first 8 batters with 4 K's and 4 infield outs before Aaron Saunders lined a clean single.  Saunders stole 2nd -- this became a theme, as PH's catcher threw consistently high all game and Hanover took 2nd at every opportunity.  Cayman Richardson hit a hot grounder right at the 3B but he booted it into left field to allow Saunders to score.  Richardson stole second.  Cameron Grimes hit a one hopper that the 2B man did an ole` job on to allow a second unearned run.  Grimes stole second but was then caught trying to take third by Harrington to finally end the one inning where anyone scored.

Harrington went all 7 innings.  Looked like he was tiring a bit in the 7th, but managed to finish.  6 hits, all singles, three clean liners and three that easily could've been outs with reasonable defense.  10 K's, 0 walks.  Threw hard with command all night, slider was a wipeout pitch, also used a slower curve and a change effectively.

For Hanover, freshman Jack Dragum was, in my first viewing of him, as advertised.  You can certainly see why UVA committed to him so very early on.  He's not a real big guy, at least not yet, but his MPH was only a hair behind Harrington's.  I didn't have a gun but I know Harrington runs 89-91 so let's say Dragum was 88-90.  Also featured a hard overhand curve that no one could hit.  If you saw this guy you'd never believe he's a true freshman.  Not just talented but poised and confident looking, works quickly, the whole package.  If he actually improves year by year, holy crud, who knows what we'll see come his senior season in 2018. 

Dragum allowed one single in the 2nd and no one else reached base in his 6 innings (8 K's).  Wow.  PH almost got a second hit in the sixth but CF Hayden Moore made a nice layout catch of a sinking/slicing liner to end that inning.  Then Moore came in to close in the 7th and was nearly as impressive as Dragum, probably 86-88 also paired with a hammer curve.

I can't remember the last time I saw a game where there were no walks allowed by either side.  If the umps hadn't shown up 35 minutes after game time we'd've been done by 7:45.  PH sent only 22 hitters to the plate all game - 1 single and 21 outs.  Hanover had 27 batters, with the 6 singles, 1 costly true error, 20 batted outs plus the runner caught stealing.  An entire game with only 47 plate appearances combined, can't remember the last time I saw one like this!