Brocke, Spartans Get Revenge On Raiders 9-3
(May 2, 2008 Leesburg, VA) The Spartans sought redemption from an early season loss to the Raiders and Senior Trey Brocke led the way on both the mound and at the plate helping the Spartans earn a hard fought 9-3 victory.
The game started out as a rematch on the mound between the Spartans Brocke and the Raiders Conor Courtney with both teams committing errors behind their pitchers yet hanging by their nails to keep a 0-0 tie through the first two innings.
In the 3rd inning the Spartans scored first as Sophomore Shane Vlasic reached on a throwing error. Two batters later senior Andrew Mann laced a single scoring Vlassic and putting the Spartans up 1-0. Courtney was able to get out of a bases loaded jam by getting catcher Tommy Meier to ground out to end the threat. In the bottom half of the 3rd, the Spartans committed back to back errors putting both Kyel Pratt and Andrew Walzack in scoring position. Courtney was able to walk to load the bases and Junior Chris DeMarco singled in Pratt. The Spartans were able to limit the damage to a single run and the score was knotted at 1-1 at the end of the 3rd.
In the 5th inning the Spartans jumped back on top as OF Bubba Bernstein singled to lead off the inning. Mann then hit his second single of the night creating a 1st and 3rd situation. The Raiders were able to get SS Chris Jessop to hit into a double play however Bernstein scored putting the Spartans up 2-1. The next batter, Ryan Diviney, then laced a deep shot to left field in which a diving Raider was unable to reach the ball. Diviney would score on an in the park home run putting the Spartans up 3-1. In the bottom of the 5th the Raiders Spencer Johnson would lead off and reach on a Spartan throwing error. Courtney would the drive a deep shot to right center for a double advancing Johnson to 3rd. Raider catcher Nick Veschi would score Johnson on a sacrifice fly putting the Raiders within 1 run. The next batter, Kelly Drews would then hit an RBI single scoring Courtney and tying the game at 3 apiece.
In the 6th inning the Spartans would again tag Courtney for runs, this time Kurt Rietzel reached on a lead off walk and then Meier singled, putting runners on the corners. An errant throw by the Raiders would allow Vlassic to reach safely and Rietzel to score from 3rd. OF Patrick Murphy would then drive in pinch runner Billy Rocca on a sacrifice fly putting the Spartans up 5-3. In the bottom half of the 6th, the Spartans were able to get out of trouble when Brocke picked off Walzack and then struck out Pratt to end the inning.
The Spartans then put the game away in the 7th as Jessop would reach on an error. Diviney then singled in Jessop who also scored on the next at bat by an RBI single from Meier. Brocke then singled as well as JP Delvin to load the basis. Cole Shain then drove in Meier and Brocke on a double to right center putting the Spartans up 9-3. Courtney would then be replaced by Kelley Drews. Drews was able to end the onslaught by getting the final two outs of the inning. In the bottom of the 7th, closer Chris Jessop was able to get all three Raider batters to fly out, thus securing the Spartans victory.
Trey Brocke picked up his 5th win on the season. Courtney took the loss.
At the plate the Spartans were led by Trey Brocke (3-4), Andrew Mann (2-3), and Ryan Diviney(2-3). The Raiders were led offensively by both Veschi and Courtney who both had doubles on the night.
The Spartans (14-3) travel to Park View High School to take on the Patriots. The Raiders travel to Briar Woods High School as they take on the Falcons.
