del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
YahooMyWeb
Google
Facebook
What's this?
"Overall, I am very proud of my players," McCann Head Coach George Canales said. "I feel that we played a great game against an excellent team. These guys (Smith) have been blowing out the competition and I feel that my team worked very hard against them today."
Things started off a bit shaky for McCann (9-5, 9-3) and starting pitcher Tom Primmer. The senior ace had a hard time finding his groove in the first couple of innings. But even with two walks in the first inning, Primmer was able to keep the baserunners away from home plate with a groundout and a flyout to right field.
Things started well for the Hornets' bats, as lead-off hitter Ben Raimer singled to right and wound up on third, thanks to two passed balls. He eventually scored on a fielder's choice hit by Sean Cota. That was all the Hornets managed in the first as Smith Academy starter Chris Shulda shut the door.
"Chris is not a guy who
In the second inning, Smith Academy got things going as Tyler Kendrick led off with a walk. Two outs later, Thomas Moriarty moved Kendrick to third with a line drive to centerfield. Shulda then plated both Kendrick and Moriarty with one of his three hits on the day, giving Smith a 2-1 lead.
"(Shulda) threw a great game and was excellent at the plate for them," Canales said. "Both he and Moriarty had excellent games in the field and at the plate."
McCann answered back in the second as Corey Briggs hit a two-out single to center, and moved to third when Bryce Horsfall's fly ball was misplayed by the right fielder. Briggs crossed the plate with the tying run on an infield single by James Jarvis Jr.
The Falcons didn't let the Hornets keep the lead for long, though, as Luke Wickles walked to lead off, and then stole second. Primmer walked Jeff Donnis and both baserunners advanced on a fielder's choice hit by Mike Hoffenspirer. Liam Streeter then plated Wickles with a sacrifice fly to left and a 3-2 lead for Smith.
"I think we played very well today against a very tough team," Weybrew said. "I told my players that if our pitcher hits the spots then we just have to be in the right position to field it. We did that well today, and our bats came around when we needed them."
Even though things were going well for the Falcons, the Hornets did not let them out of their sights. In the bottom of the third inning, McCann tied the game again as Art Zander reached first on an error and then stole second. After a Sean Cota walk, both runners advanced with another walk to Primmer. Zander then scored on a single by Andrew Champagne. That was the last of the scoring for McCann, though. Both Shulda and the Smith Academy defense buckled down in the field to hold the fort the rest of the way.
In the top of the fourth inning, Shulda led off with a single to left, and then moved to second with a steal. Wickles then doubled to left, scoring Shulda and giving Smith the lead for good. The Falcons added an insurance run in the sixth, when Jack Yarrows singled up the middle, eventually scoring on a hit by Hoffenspirer.
Primmer pitched a complete game for the Hornets, giving up five runs on eight hits, while walking eight and striking out six. Shulda pitched six innings for Smith Academy, giving up three runs on five hits, while walking two and striking out five.
Jarvis led the Hornets with two hits, while Raimer, Briggs and Champagne had one each. Shulda led the Falcons with three hits.
McCann is back in action on Monday at Joe Wolfe Field against Granby at 4 p.m.
