Baseball

Athens Academy verses Prince Avenue
April 18, 2008

The Spartans and Wolverines simply played a great baseball game on a beautiful night at Spartan Field. Patrick Jansen was stellar on the mound, as was the Prince Avenue pitcher, Buck Harris. Both teams came ready to play and the game was hotly contested until James Colquitt snagged a fly ball to left field for the final out.

Highlights:
• Pitching:
o Patrick Jansen showed savvy on the mound with all his pitches working to perfection… he only faced 23 batters in 7 innings, striking out 6 (all 3 he faced in the 3rd inning), walking none, and allowing only one earned run.

• Defense:
o After a lead-off single in the first, Hunter threw a strike to second, gunning down a runner trying to steal.
o The Spartans did not commit any errors
o Matt Woodruff once again would not allow a ball hit anywhere near his territory in center field to drop… one catch was extremely impressive as Matt scampered toward second base, dove for the catch and came up with another spectacular grab
o All nine defensive Spartans played their positions to perfection
o Hunter Stiles jumped out the catcher’s box in the sixth inning to snag a bunt and throw the runner out at first for the 3rd out of the sixth inning

• Offensive:
o McKay Matthews was 2 for 3 with a double and stolen base
o Hunter and Mark Sanders were 1 for 2 with one run scored (Everett running for Hunter)
o Thomas Sanders was 1 for 2 (a double) with 1 run scored and 1 RBI

• Scoring: (all three Spartan runs came in the fifth inning)
o Hunter singled with Everett Young coming in to run for him
o Mark came to the plate and pulled back on his first bunt attempt
o On the second pitch to Mark, executed the perfect slash… showing bunt and then promptly smacking the next pitch sharply down the left field line with the infielders coming in to cover the bunt… Coach Nonni said it was the best slash he had ever seen!
o With 2 strikes, Thomas slapped a double to deep center, scoring Everett, who was running at full speed at the crack of the bat
o As if the slash wasn’t exciting enough, McKay came to the plate knowing the suicide squeeze was on… he laid down the perfect bunt, which stunned the defense allowing Mark to score and McKay to reach second on pure hustle
o Matt sent Thomas home with the final run of the game with a hard hit ball to second
 Three runs scored

The stands were full of Spartan fans and no one wanted to leave, savoring every moment of this exciting victory. The coaches and players on both teams gave it their all and the result was a memorable baseball game. The Spartans will travel to Social Circle on Tuesday to face the Redskins at 5:00. Hope to see you there!

Final Score: Athens Academy 3, Prince Avenue 1