Saturday Feb. 21, 2009

Sondag leads Green Hope in opening scrimmage against Pine Forest

Michael Sondag had 2 Home Runs and pitched 2 scoreless innings, as Green Hope beat Pine Forest 10-3 in the opening scrimmage of 2009. Green Hope was very impressive in it's first scrimmage of the year. Hitting appears to be GH's strength this year, and that was evident immediately as they scored 9 runs (including 3 HRs) in the first 3 innings of the game.

GH also shined defensively, as several great plays were made. A nice double play was turned by Eric Brady and Jonathan Grudee, and a diving catch in centerfield by David Josam, highlighted the action. These plays really helped out the pitching staff which turned in a solid performance.

Sondag's 3-Run home run started it off in the top of the first, putting GH up 3-0 after 1 inning. Adam Boghosian started the game, and pitched the 1st inning, not allowing a run. In the 2nd, Brady also hit a 3-Run home run, putting GH up 6-0 at the time. This was later followed by Sondag's solo HR, making it 7-0 GH after 2 innnings.

GH added two more runs in the 3rd, as Anthony Colantino doubled to bring in one run, and Grant Shambley sharply singled to bring in another. Will Yoder pitched the 2nd and 3rd innings, not allowing a run, and GH was ahead 9-0 after 3 innings. Sondag pitched innings 4 and 5, also not allowing a run, and it was still 9-0 after 5 innings.

In the 6th, and last inning of the game, things went from humorous to irritating for GH. Wesley Clark hit a long high fly ball to center, which just got over a running centerfielder, fighting the sun, for a solid double. This was followed by Max Povse's bloop popup to short right, which got even more into the sun, and landed safely for a hit. Then Matt Nusbaum hit a high popup to right, which really got into the sun and landed safely for a double, driving in a run. Then GH's only freshman, Tyler Jones, ripped a bullet to right, only to be caught by the right fielder, demonstrating the value of experience to young Tyler - knowing it's not how hard you hit it, it's where you hit it, that matters. But all frivolity ended in the bottom of the inning, as GH made 4 errors, allowed 3 unearned runs, and even though the entire infield were substitutes, it was not a very well played inning. Eric Brady was on the mound, and induced several ground balls which should have been outs, but weren't.

Still a great opener for Green Hope !!!

Above - 3rd baseman Nolan Poythress and SS Eric Brady on defense against Pine Forest