Holly Springs came into this game in first place in the Tri-9, and needed a win to clinch the outright title. But Green Hope brought their bats today and pounded out 12 hits to win 7-3. Holly Springs will play Athens Drive on Friday, a win and they have the conference championship alone, a loss and they will share the title with Athens Drive, and a playoff game may be needed to determine the #1 conference seed in the state playoffs.

This season has been full of injuries for Green Hope, and the latest to the list is Adam Boghosian who is done for the season. Green Hope struggled earlier in the year when catcher Anthony Colantino couldn't play, and this year Boghosian is a leading candidate for Tri-9 POY, batting over .400 with 7 HRs and good pitching stats. Adam joins David Josam, also injured (second time this year), who has contributed as a pinch baserunner. In some ways, this has been an advantage as coach Miragliuolo is able to get Josam on base more often (running for the pitcher or catcher) and pick his spot to sub for other players.

Pistacchio (left) doubled off the wall and scored on Prevost's (right) single, Green Hope up 1-0 in the first inning

The starting pitchers featured two juniors, both of whom will represent region 3 in the state games later this summer, Green Hope's Max Povse and Holly Springs' Justin Manning. Manning was hit pretty hard tonight, as Green Hope got things going in the top of the first inning. After a leadoff bunt attempt failed, Will Yoder hit a soft liner to short center but was caught on a diving catch by centerfielder Hayden Williams for out #2, but Joe Pistacchio ripped a double off the wall in right center, and was driven in on a single by Smith Prevost, Green Hope up 1-0 after 1 inning.

Shambley (left) gets to 3rd and scored on Prevost's single (right), Green Hope up 2-0 in the third inning

In the third, Grant Shambley singled up the middle, was balked to 2nd, went to 3rd on a wild pitch, and scored when Prevost again singled with 2 outs. Prevost has really come up with some "clutch" hits in these last few games, and tonight playing on the road against the first place team, Green Hope needed to get ahead, and Prevost came through, Green Hope up 2-0 in the third inning.

Povse (left) fields a bunt and gets lead runner and Colantino (right) make a nice catch to end the inning

Meanwhile Povse had pitched very well in the first 2 innings, but ran into some trouble in the 3rd. Holly Springs' Mike Roach ledoff with a blistered grounder down the leftfield line which was destined for a double, but Prevost dove towards the bag at third, and caught the ball (a great play), but then spun around the wrong way (clockwise instead of counter clockwise) and his rushed throw was high, allowing Roach to go to second. Povse walked the next batter, for runners on 1st and 2nd, and made a nice play on a bunt attempt to throw out the lead runner at 3rd for out #1. However the next batter walked to load the bases, Povse getting a strikeout for the 2nd out, but walked Manning to force in a run. Colantino then made a nice catch on a foul popup to end the inning, Green Hope up 2-1 after 3 innings.

Grudee (left) scores on Yoder's single, and Scelsi (right) goes to 3rd, and the play was only half over

Green Hope kept the pressure on in the 4th, Jonathan Grudee started with a walk, followed by another failed bunt attempt (Green Hope was not good at bunting tonight) for out #1, then Luca Scelsi walked, a flyout for out #2, then Yoder hit a soft fly to the outfield that dropped safely for a hit, and mayhem ensued. Grudee raced home from 2nd and was safe, Scelsi tried to go to 3rd on the throw home, and also was safe. Yoder wanted a piece of this, and tried to go to 2nd on the throw to 3rd, and not only was safe, but a high throw allowed Scelsi to score and Yoder to 3rd. Joe Pistacchio singled to score Yoder, and that was it for Manning, as Green Hope had scored 5 runs on 8 hits in less than 4 innings, Green Hope up 5-1 in the 4th inning.

Joey Roach ledoff the bottom of the 4th for Holly Springs with a double to leftcenter, followed by a single to left by Carlos Rodon which was misplayed, letting Rodon reach 2nd with 1 run scored and no outs. The next batter hit an infield chopper which looked like a hit, but Povse realizing the situation, hopped off the mound and bare handed the ball which was actually past him, spun around and threw out the batter for the out. Povse made several athletic plays in this game which helped him not only get out of tough situations, but prevented them from even starting. The next batter hit a grounder to shortstop Scelsi, who may have had a play on Rodon going to 3rd, but decided to get the out at first, which given the Green Hope lead was the correct play. Povse was clearly in control of the next Holly Springs batter, but "over threw" an 0-2 pitch, and instead of the inning ending strikeout, a run scoring wild pitch resulted. The inning ending strikeout occurred on the next pitch, Green Hope up 5-3 after 4 innings.

Povse (left) bare hands a grounder and throws to first for a big out (right)

Earlier this year, Povse was not handling adversity very well, but that has changed near the end of the season, and was obviously tiring in the 5th inning, but really showed alot of determination to get through the inning. He walked the first batter of the inning, after being ahead 0-2, and went to a full count on the next 2 batters, but ended up striking out the side. He ended up only giving up 3 hits in 5 innings, 3 runs (1 unearned), striking out 8, and walking 5.

Yoder's short fly was caught (left) but Josam easily tags at 3rd and scores (right), for a 6-3 lead in the 6th inning

Green Hope added some insurance runs in the 6th and 7th innings. Wesley Clark singled to start the 6th, a failed sacrifice bunt attempt ended up in a strikeout, but a balk put Josam (running) on 2nd just the same, a Grant Shambley single moved Josam to 3rd, and he scored on a sacrifice fly from Yoder. In the 7th, Colantino singled for the third time, and with 2 outs and Zach Munz running, Grudee hit a bloop single to right which was misplayed allowing Munz to score from first. Actually Munz had no chance to score, but coach Miragliuolo sent him hoping for a Holly Springs mistake, and it happened as the throw was off line and no one cut it, else Munz was out by 30 feet.

Grudee's short fly wasn't caught (left) and Munz scored all the way from 1st (right), even while smiling for the picture

The pitching combination of Povse and Daniel Sondag has really worked out well for Green Hope, as their styles are very different, yet effective on their own. Sondag pitched the 6th and 7th innings to close out the game. He struckout 4 batters and allowed only a walk in the 2 innings pitched, and looked really good out there, certainly had the best stuff of all the pitchers tonight.

Sondag (left) came in to close out the game and Scelsi (right) looked really solid at short

Povse (3-3) gets the win, Sondag the save, Green Hope ends conference play at 10-6, and will finish either 3rd (if Apex beats Middle Creek on Friday) or 4th in the Tri-9. The team has found some confidence at the end of the season, perhaps helped by having to overcome adversities (i.e. injuries, bad fielding, etc.) this season, they are playing as good as anyone right now, heading into the playoffs.