Perfect weather conditions to watch a baseball game for the Green Hope student faithful

Such a treat to play at the USA Baseball Coleman field, it has brought out the best in the Green Hope baseball team for both years they have played there. Plus for the fans, both times have been perfect weather conditions to watch a baseball game.

Boghosian (left) hurt himself in warmups so Pistacchio (right) was called in to pitch

Adam Boghosian was Green Hope's starting pitcher against Apex's Harry Voorhees, but Adam hurt himself while warming up, and never threw a pitch in the game. So Joe Pistacchio was called in to pitch, and once again did an outstanding job on the mound for Green Hope.

Inning 1, Colantino backs up throw, throws out batter going to 2nd as Grudee makes the tag, and pays the price

After two scoreless innings, Green Hope opened the scoring in the 3rd inning, started with a 1 out single by Grant Shambley. Voorhees was trying hard to keep Shambley from stealing, and on one pitch looked to balk by quick pitching the batter, i.e. not coming to a stop from the "set" position. Green Hope coach Mike Miragliuolo was quick to complain about it, and alerted the umpire to the tactic being used to keep Shambley from getting a good read to steal. Will Yoder then singled to left, and after a popup for the second out, Joe Pistacchio was intentionally walked after Voorhees got behind in the count, to load the bases for Smith Prevost. At this point a balk was called on Voorhees, scoring Shambley and putting runners on 2nd and 3rd, followed by a Prevost hard single to center, scoring 2 runners, as David Josam running for Pistacchio scored from second on a play which very few runners would have. Jonathan Grudee followed with a single to move Prevost to second, and Zach Munz singled to left but Prevost was easily thrown out at home by Apex leftfielder Sean Buchanan, Green Hope up 3-0 after 3 innings.

Prevost singles to center as Apex centerfielder (left) can't throw out Josam at home (right), GH up 3-0

Munz singles to left but Apex leftfielder (left) throws out Prevost at home (right), GH up 3-0 after 3 innings

Apex runners on 1st and 3rd, throw to 2nd, then back to home (above) But everyone safe as ball gets away (bottom)

Pistacchio was in a grove on the mound, but in the bottom of the 4th, Apex pulled off one of their patented plays, twice !!! Play #1 is man on 3rd with 2 outs and batter gets behind on the count (0-2 or 1-2), the runner on third will break for home and try to get the pitcher to balk. Their other play is a common play used by several teams, runners on 1st and 3rd, have the runner from 1st get into a rundown to score the runner from 3rd. So after a single, strikeout and ground out advancing the runner to 2nd, wild pitch to 3rd, and a walk, Apex had runners on 1st and 3rd with 2 outs. Coach Miragliuolo couldn't call time out fast enough to conference the infield as to what was the plan. Based on how Pistacchio was pitching, scoring 3 runs was going to be hard for Apex, so he instructed the team to give up the run for the third out, yet in the "heat of the moment", Green Hope went after the runner trying to score from third, and ended up throwing it away, Apex scoring 1 run and now a runner at third. Another walk, same situation, same result, this time a bad throw to third trying to get the runner before he went home resulted in another run scored, and again a runner on third. A single scored that runner to tie the game, 3-3 after 4 innings.

Will Yoder (left) doubles to deep right center (right) to score Shambley

Green Hope broke the game open in the 6th inning, helped by some Apex miscues. Munz ledoff the inning reaching on a throwing error by the shortstop, putting Munz at second. After a flyout and walk to Wesley Clark, Shambley singled to center, and the centerfielder with memories of Josam scoring from second earlier, made a bad hurried attempt to scoop the ball on the run and throw home, but missed it completely, allowing both runners to score and putting Shambley on third. Yoder then ripped a double to the gap in right center, scoring Shambley, followed by a single from Brandon Lynch to score Yoder, followed by a double by Pistacchio to deep left center (I thought it gone when he hit it) scoring Lynch, then a couple of hit batters but no more scoring, Green Hope up 8-3 in middle of the 6th inning.

Pistacchio's double (left) scores Lynch (right) as Coach M. does NOT want to see another runner thrown out at home

Pistacchio had pitched 6 innings (over 100 pitches) on Monday, so he was tiring fast. But Boghosian was out, and Sondag and Povse had both pitched 4 innings on Tuesday, so there was a little concern in the bottom of the 6th, but Pistacchio hung in there, gave up two tired walks, but came back with 2 strikeouts to end the inning, Green Hope up 8-3. Daniel Sondag came in to close out the game in the 7th inning, and in hindsight, he could have come in to pitch the 6th because he had his good stuff going tonight, as he easily struckout the the side to close out the game, Green Hope winning 8-3.

Pistacchio (left) gets psyched to pitch the 6th with an 8-3 lead while Sondag (right) struckout the side in the 7th

Pistacchio (6-1) gets the win, Green Hope moves to 9-6 conference and 12-9 overall. With this win, Green Hope is in the state playoffs and is playing it's best baseball of the year.