A good game played between two evenly matched teams, but Wakefield ended up on top to move on in the state playoffs.

Unfortunately for Green Hope, and I hate writing this (and have never done this before in my 3 years doing these writeups), the home plate ump had two very distinct and consistent strike zones tonight. A very good high school strike zone for Green Hope batters, and a MLB strike zone for Wakefield batters. It would be hard to fault either zone, if it was the same for both teams, but that clearly wasn't the case tonight. There was not 1 ball/strike call all night that went against Wakefield, and there was not 1 groan uttered by a Wakefield player, coach, fan, or parking attendant, for any pitch call, which is the first time I've seen that in a high school game ever !!!

Not surprisingly, there were plenty of groans from Green hope players, coaches, and fans (no Green Hope parking attendants were present). And not surprisingly, Green Hope pitchers tied their highest total walks given up in a game this year with 8, and also for only the second time this year Green Hope didn't have a walk given to their batters.

All this "groaning" is not to be taken as a slight to Wakefield, as they may have won the game regardless. But since their batters only needed to swing at MLB strikes (i.e. nothing over waste high), they were patient and just took the walk. If they were "forced" to swing at those high school strikes, as was Green Hope, they very possibly could have gotten hits, there is just no way to know.

Patel (left) and Pistacchio (right) both had good games on the mound tonight

Wakefield started Ravi Patel against Green Hope's Joe Pistacchio, and Patel went the distance for the win, striking out 8, and not allowing a walk (can't get off this issue not matter how hard I try !!!). Patel had a nice slow curve, and good sinking changeup, to go along with a sneaky fastball. Meanwhile Pistacchio also pitched well, but was not feeling 100%, and just wore down by the 5th inning, throwing alot of pitches (90) in those 5 innings.

Colantino (left) singles but doesn't try for 2nd and Munz (right) drives in Boghosian for the first run of the game

Green Hope opened the scoring in the top of the second, Anthony Colantino hit a 1 out single down the left field line (I think he should have tried for a double), with Adam Boghosian in to run. A past ball, and a ground out had Boghosian on third with 2 outs, and Zach Munz singled to score Boghosian, Green Hope up 1-0 after 2 innings.

Josam (left) is going to be an easy out at home, but as catcher Josh Abshire (right) makes the tag ....

Josam disappears over Abshire, but is called out by the home plate ump and temporarily thrown out of the game

Green Hope's best chance to take this game came in the third inning, David Josam ledoff with a single, moved to second on Grant Shambley's infield single, and to third on Will Yoder's sacrifice bunt with Shambley to second and only 1 out. Pistacchio followed with a grounder to 3rd, Josam tried to score but was thrown out as he jumped over Wakefield's catcher, a highlight effort. Orginally Josam was thrown out of the game by the home plate ump for the effort, but later reversed that call as Josam never contacted the catcher. NOTE - Josam was never tagged out either, but he had flown over the plate, and would have been eventually tagged out had not the ump called him out for the jump. A strikeout ended the inning, Green Hope up 1-0 after 3 innings.

Vizcaino's double (left) scores 1, as #9 batter Isaacs (right) singles to score a 2nd, Isaacs had a single, 2 walks, 2 RBIs

Pistacchio had shut down Wakefield, only allowing 1 single in the first three innings, but after striking out the first two batters in the 4th, he didn't get a 3-2 strikeout call and walked Tyler Chestnutt. Vance Vizcaino followed with a hard hit to left, unfortunately not judged very well, and managed to make it to the wall for a double. Chestnutt scored all the way from first, but in my opinion Green Hope had a shot to get him at home, but Munz was told to hold the ball so no throw was made home. Landon Isaacs hit the next pitch up the middle for a hit to score Vizcaino from second, Wakefield up 2-1 after 4 innings.

Bottom of the 6th inning, in a 2-1 game, with bases loaded and 1 out, and the shortest player on the field at bat ... these 4 pitches were thrown, ALL CALLED BALLs, to walk in the 3rd run - again I have never been so critical of an ump

In the 6th, Daniel Sondag came in to pitch for Green Hope, his first pitch to Alex Starnes was hit to right for a single, then two walks to load the bases with no one out, and in came Max Povse to pitch. Povse struckout Vizcaino, but walked Issacs on 4 straight pitches, and then walked the next batter Josh Abshire on 5 pitches. A strikeout and flyout ended the innings, but Wakefield had scored 2 runs on 1 hit and 4 walks to extend the lead to 4-1 after 6 innings.

Last inning, Colantino (left) homers (his first), followed by Grudee (right) going to 3rd on Josam's bloop single

Credit Green Hope for not giving up, Colantino ledoff the 7th inning with a solo home run down the left field line, but was followed by 2 strikeouts and probably the worst strike calls made all night by the home plate ump, who as I said was very consistent to Green Hope batters, except for those two batters who both got bad calls against them. But Grudee followed with a bloop single, and Josam followed with another one, for runners at the corners and 2 outs. Josam then stole second, the throw getting away to score Grudee from third and moving Josam, the tying run, to third. Shambley hit the ball good, but it was a easy fly for the centerfielder, Wakefield wins 4-3.

"Free" swingers like Josam had good games tonight, while others struggled

Tough loss for Green Hope, interesting that the free swingers like Josam (3-3) had good nights, while the hitters with a good eye for the strike zone like Wesley Clark and Will Yoder, who are used to getting walks, struggled tonight. Green Hope definitely would have benefitted by being a little more aggressive at the plate given the situation.

Pistacchio (6-2) takes the loss. Interesting that once again good Green Hope and Middle Creek teams go down early in the playoffs, but an average at best Apex team advances. Hard to figure out. Green Hope ends up 13-11 overall, certainly performing below than how good the team talent was, but key injuries certainly had alot to do do with some of those losses, as even tonight Green Hope didn't have their best player, Adam Boghosian, on the field except as a pinch runner.

At the risk of ticking off coach Miragliuolo, I'd like to give out my own "awards" as the season is over.

• Player of the year - Adam Boghosian - will be a leading candidate for Tri-9 POY with Athens Drive's Blair Betts and Holly Springs' Carlos Rodon. Would win "hands down" if sentimental factors were considered, as last year was diagnosed with diabetes, and this year summer will have to undergo "Tommy John" surgery. He has a baseball scholarship at UNCG, hopefully he will have a full recovery and be able to continue his career at UNCG in 2012.
• Pitcher of the year - Joe Pistacchio - was clearly the best pitcher for Green Hope this year, and again was one of the top 3 pitchers in the Tri-9 with Athens Drive's Blair Betts and Holly Springs' Carlos Rodon. Is going on to pitch for App. St. next year, and would also win any award given for "best attitude" or "most dedicated".
• Offensive player of the year - Will Yoder - would also be in contention for "most improved" or "biggest surprise" awards. Don't think Will is as athletically gifted as some other players on the team, yet he ended up leading the team in batting average at .419. He never got into a slump this year, and with others having injuries or slumps, he carried the team with his bat during the middle of the season.
• Feel good player of the year - Anthony Colantino - gave me sleepless nights last year as my posting of the hittings stats made him look bad, when in fact he was hitting hard shots, just not getting the hit. Anthony is as good a catcher as there is in the Tri-9, and has proven he is just as good a hitter, ending up 2nd on the team with a .417 average. Of all the injuries the team had this year, his had the most impact.