Sweger Shines; Panthers Prevail Over Titans 3-2
POTOMAC FALLS, VA - Potomac Falls and Dominion High Schools hooked up Monday night, in a game that pitted cross town rivals with, the difference being too much Ben Sweger. On a night when Eric Dimsey of the Panthers would give up 2 runs on 7 hits and Austin Behr of the Titans would give up 3 runs on 6 hits, the difference was the Panthers lead-off man who went 3 for 3, scored 2 runs, and had 2 stolen bases, in the Panthers' 3-2 Dulles victory.
Dimsey started off the 1st inning with two quick strikeouts before Ryan Doyle laced a single to center. Chris Taylor followed with another single to center and the Titans had runners on the corners. Dimsey then struckout Greg Smucker to end the threat. The Panthers got on the board in their half of the inning when Behr walked Sweger and Mahoney. They advanced on Malan's groundout and Mike Spring then hit an RBI single to left. Ryan Miller then ripped the next pitch to center and the Panthers were up 2-0.
The Titans came right back in the 2nd with a lead off single by Matt Sherrill to right. He proceeded to steal second before Dimsey struckout Nick DeMott and induced Ryan Skeffington to hit a fly ball to right for the second out. Steve Smucker then hit an RBI single to left and Jonathon Knight followed with a triple to right field to tie the game. Dimsey then struckout Anthony Bartolotti, leaving Knight stranded at third.
Both pitchers then settled into a rhythm with Behr keeping the Panther hitters off balance with an array of off speed pitches and Dimsey living on the corners. Finally, in the 6th inning, after a Sherrill single, the Panthers brought in Jacob Kline for relief. Kline then got Skeffington to pop out to end the inning.
In the 7th inning, after Kline recorded a strikeout, Knight collected his 2nd hit of the night on a double to right field. Kline then proceded to strikeout the next two batters to end the inning. Sweger then stepped to the plate and laced the first pitch down the left field line for a double. He was then safe at third when Ryan Mahoney 's sacrifice bunt was fielded by Behr who tried to make the play to third. With Rob Malan at the plate the Titans infield was drawn in to make the play at the plate. Malan hit a ground ball to short but Ryan Doyle briefly bobbled the ball allowing Sweger to beat the throw to end the game.
Potomac Falls (8-0) comes right back with Park View (5-4) on Tuesday at Panther Park. Dominion, which now falls to a tie with Briar Woods, in 4th place in the Dulles at 4-4, next travels to Loudoun County on Tuesday.
