Tuesday Apr. 21, 2009

Middle Creek reverses previous loss, beating Green Hope by the same 8-3 score

This game was a mirror image of the first GH-MC game which took place over a month ago. This time, MC played the flawless defense, and it seemed that every MC hard hit found a hole, while several GH hard hits were right at somebody (no sun aided, plugged ball, grand slam for GH tonight). Max Povse had 3 of the best hits all night, but went 0-3 tonight.

But more than that, MC seems to be a much improved team now than earlier. Where earlier this season they struggled defensively and somewhat in pitching, they have made some subtle defensive changes which seems to have worked, and they have found a pitching rotation which is working for them right now. Where GH arguably has the top 1-2 lineup in the Tri-9, and AD certainly has the top 1-5 hitters, possibly MC has the best 1-9 lineup (hitters who make solid contact and are a threat to steal).

MC ends GH's 6 game conference winning streak, and now is the team with the 6 game streak, and is the hottest team right now in the Tri-9. The current 3-way tie (GH, MC, FV) in the conference actually favors MC, as they only have 1 game left against the other two (at FV), while GH has 2 games remaining against FV, and FV has those 2 and the one with MC left. Of course the rest on the conference will also have something to say about who wins the Tri-9, but the schedule favors MC at this point.

On the flip side, GH looks to be struggling slightly now, after the great start where tremendous defensive plays, great hitting, and great pitching were the norm - now balls seem to be dropping or getting through the infield, the team hitting has definitely dropped, the great pitching is still there, but it's not being helped as much by great defense (or offense). It's tough to be the top team for the whole year, the pressure to stay on top sometimes takes it's toll - last year FV went undefeated for a bunch of games (16 or something ?), but ended up loosing 2 games to Apex and not winning the Tri-9.

As for the game, GH scored 1 in the top of the 1st via a Grant Shambley single and a Joe Pistacchio double. Pitcher Max Povse followed with a sure hit up the middle, but the high bouncer was snagged my MC winning pitcher Max Drisko for the out, and saving a sure run. (Early big defensive play for MC) MC tied it in the bottom of the 1st, Dylan Drayton saw 1 ball and 7 strikes from GH starter Povse, but fouled off enough of them to be able to bloop a single into short RF (inbetween 3 GH fielders). That scenario would be played out all too often in this game. Drayton reached 3rd via a groundout and failed pickoff, and scored on Jimmy Boyd's single. MC took a 2-1 lead in the 2nd, a walk, stolen base, and 2-out single by 9th hitting Matt Laxton.

GH took the lead in the 4th, Michael Sondag hit a solo HR, followed by Matt Nusbaum's double, who advanced to 3rd on a past ball, and scored on a suicide squeeze play where the batter missed the sign, but the pitch was in the dirt and got past the catcher, so Nusbaum scored easily. But MC immediately tied it up, again the same scenario as in the 2nd, a walk to Chase Martin and a 2-out clutch hit by Matt Laxton.

So with the score tied 3-3, the 5th inning exchange determined the outcome of the game. With both teams at the top of their order, both teams had runners at 1st and 2nd and no outs. GH came away with nothing - 2 strikeouts and inbetween a rocket from Povse right to the CF - while MC scored 3 - sac bunt, 2 singles, and sac fly. MC added 2 meanlingless runs in the 6th, but the game was decided in the 5th.

So Povse suffers his first loss of the year (6-1), Adam Boghosian relieved in the 5th and pitched hard but also was hit fairly hard, and Nolan Poythress pitched in the 6th and couldn't stop the MC momentum at that point in the game. So GH falls to 6-1 conference, 14-3 overall, and must regroup quickly for tomorrow's game at Fuquay Varina.