Kline Out-Duels Shain In 2-1 Panther Win
POTOMAC FALLS, VA - Tuesday's contest between Potomac Falls and Broad Run showcased two of the area's best in the Dulles District on the mound. Senior left hander Cole Shain took the hill for the Spartans and junior Jake Kline got the start for the first place Panthers. Both pitchers have been dominant this season thus far, and nothing changed on Tuesday evening as both scattered 5 hits a piece. However, when the dust settled, the Panthers got the upper hand on their home turf with a huge 2-1 win over Broad Run to increase their lead in the Dulles District title race. In a match between 2007's tournament and regular season champions, the game lived up to the hype.
Kline and Shain kept all the hitters off balance through the night as Kline struck out 6 Spartans on the night. Shain allowed no earned runs, while striking out 3 Panthers.
The Panthers scored in the first inning as lead off batter Greg Woodlief singled to right. Rob Malan then reached on a fielding error by the Spartans. Woodlief then moved to 3rd on a fielder's choice from Aaron Sweger and scored on a fielder's choice RBI by Chad McMichael. McMichael was then picked off by Shain to end the 1st inning.
The Spartans threatened to tie the game in the top of the 3rd as Spartans SS Chris Jessop blasted a double to deep left center. Jessop was stranded in scoring position as Kline was able to retire the remaining Spartans.
The Panthers second run came in the bottom of the 4th as McMichael reached on another Spartan fielding error, and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Patrick Nightingale.
The Spartans lone run came in the top of the 5th as Patrick Murphy led off with a single to right field and stole 2nd base. Murphy scored on an RBI single from Andrew Mann to move the Spartans to within 1 run. The Spartans only other threat came with 2 outs in the top of the 6th as Shain singled to right but Kline was able to get a ground out from Spartan's pinch hitter, Kurt Reitzel.
With the 2-1 victory, the Panthers sit alone atop the Dulles District, with a 5-0 record. The Spartans now slip into 3rd place with a league record of 2-2.
The Spartans (8-3) will play host to the Dominion Titans on Friday as the Panthers (7-1) travel to Briar Woods to take on the Falcons. Both games are scheduled for 6:00 start times, with the Broad Run\Dominion game slated for the Gameday Radio Network. The pregame show will air at 5:45 pm.
