Taylor Launches Titans Back Into Dulles Race
STERLING, VA - Junior Chris Taylor pitched and batted the Dominion Titans to a big 6-2 Dulles District win over the Park View Patriots in Titan territory on Friday night in a game webcasted by Gameday Magazine.com. The win
allowed the Titans to strengthen their hold on third place in the Dulles District and kept them very much in contention for the District Championship.
Taylor drove in 3 of the 6 Titan runs with a double and single. On the bump, he pitched a complete game, scattering 6 hits, striking out 5, 1 earned run, and walking no one in spearheading the Titans. The Titans gained a measure of revenge for their loss to the Patriots on Friday night when they were shut out and only had 2 hits, in a 3-0 loss.
It should be noted that Titans starting pitchers have gone 5+ innings in 13 of their 16 games. They have also had 8 complete games from their starters.
The Patriots jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Dylan Smith started things off with a base hit, Adam Foltz followed with a bunt moving Smith to second. A base hit by Drew Mason moved Smith to third and he scored on a Titan throwing error.
The Patriots added another score in the third inning on doubles by Bill Bradley and Jonathan Mason to make the score 2-0. Patriot starter Ben Rosado cruised through the first 3 innings, blanking the Titans and giving up 1 hit while striking out 5.
The wheels began to come off the Patriot express in the fourth inning. Matt Sherrill drew a walk, Taylor ripped a double down the third base line, driving in Sherrill. Taylor moved to third on Anthony Bartolotti's ground out and Geoff McCowat tied the game with a sacrifice fly to center field.
In the fifth inning, the Titans broke the game open with 4 more runs. Steve Smucker began the inning with a ground out. Bubba Noro walked, and Ryan Doyle was safe on a fielder's choice. Jonathan Knight singled to load the bases. Chris Taylor drove a ball up the middle to score 2. Anthony Bartolotti reached on an error scoring Knight, and McCowat reached on a strike out error, allowing Taylor to come home. This made the score 6-2 after 5.
Jonathan Mason had his second hit of the night to lead off the 6th and Drew Mason reached on an error in the 7th but that was all the Patriots could muster. This was Taylor's 5th win of the season.
The win moves the Titans to 11-5 overall and 7-3 in the District, enhancing their hold on 3rd place and giving them a shot at the top spot. The Patriots are 11-7 overalll and 6-5 in the Dulles District and currrently in 4th place.
The Titans will host the Potomac Falls Panthers in a home and home series beginning Monday night in Titan Territory. This series will have major Dulles District ramifications. Game time is 6 pm on both
nights.
