Spartans Take Dulles Baseball Crown
ASHBURN, VA - The Broad Run Spartans and the Potomac Falls Panthers squared off Wednesday night in an atmosphere that resembled an extreme fighting championship, with the potential Dulles District championship as the prize.
Both teams sent their aces to the mound as the Panther's Jacob Kline and the Spartan's Cole Shain would face off for the second time this season. In the first contest, both pitchers combined to limit hitters to only 1 earned run and 9 hits over 7 innings. The rematch would end up slightly different as the batters from both teams brought their hitting sticks and each coach worked different pitching strategies with a high and wide strike zone dictated by the plate umpire.
The Panthers jumped on the board first as Panther 1B Aaron Sweger would score on an RBI double from catcher Mike Spring. The Spartans struck back with 2 runs in the bottom half of the inning on RBI hits from catcher Tommy Meier and pitcher Cole Shain putting the Spartans up at the end of the first round bell 2-1.
In the 3rd inning the Panthers' "Murderers Row" combination of Rob Malan, Greg Woodlief, Sweger and Spring would land blows again, this time on 3 hits, and 1 hit by pitch to score 3 runs and regaining the lead 4-2. Like a fighter swaggering in the corner, the Spartans landed blows of their own in the bottom half of the frame as Chris Jessop reached on a dropped 3rd strike passed ball and scored on Meier's 2nd RBI of the night putting the Spartans within 1.
In the 4th inning Shain settled in and did not allow another run on the night as he retired 4 Panthers in a row on strike outs. In contrast the Spartan batters game a live with 5 singles in the bottom of the 4th to regain the lead as they scored two runs putting the Spartans up again 5-4. Kline was able to work out of a bases loaded jam by getting Meier to pop up and from a web gem in deep left by Chad McMichael on a Shain rip to the gap.
Both defenses rallied behind their pitchers as Panther 3rd baseman Malan made a spectacular one handed field and toss on a bunt from Spartan 2nd baseman Trey Brocke. Brocke in turn made an off the fence catch of a foul ball deep behind first base. Spartan outfielder Andrew Mann also made a diving catch on a Texas leaguer robbing Kline of a base hit.
At the plate the Spartans were led by Jessop (3-4), the Panthers were led by Malan (2-4).
Both pitchers went the distance with Kline taking the loss as he was tagged for 5 runs on 10 hits but striking out 9 Spartans. Shain upped his record to 7-1 on the season, avenging his only loss on the season to the Panthers as he let up 4 runs on 7 hits while striking out 6 Panthers. Neither pitcher let up any walks.
Spartans travel to Dominion on Thursday to try and clinch the District title. The Panthers much watch as their fate lies in the hands of the Titans. A Dominion win would force a one game playoff on Friday for the district title. A Broad Run win would give the Spartans their second consecutive Dulles District title.
Note: Two incidents in the game pave way for the continued debate for replacement of aluminum bats with wood bats. In the second inning PF pitcher Kline took a line drive off the leg and was able to work through the pain. In the 5th BR pitcher Shain took a line drive to the midsection and required about 15 minutes to recover before retaking the mound.
