RallyNorth.net

Thu, May 29, 2008 04:00 PM @ Gloucester

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Final
Playoff Game North Division 1 - Preliminary Round
Arlington	2	5	0	2	1	0	2	0	7	19
Gloucester	1	4	0	2	4	0	0	0	0	11

Fishermen fall to home run-happy Spy Ponders

Friday, May, 30 By Matt Langone
Sports editor

It's days like yesterday that make Gloucester High School baseball coach Joe Orlando wish his team's home field didn't have dimensions suited for the Little League World Series.

Hosting 19th-seeded Arlington in the preliminary round of the Division 1 North state tournament, the No. 14 Fishermen were victimized by the short right field fence at Nate Ross Field, which sits just 295 feet away from home plate down the line. The visiting Spy Ponders erupted for five home runs (all falling behind the right field wall), en route to a 19-11 football score-like victory over the Fishermen.

Three of the long balls came in the final three innings, which helped Arlington (12-9) erase an 11-10 deficit and outscore Gloucester, 9-0, in the final four frames.

"The short fence really blew up in our face in this game," said Orlando, whose team also got a pair of long balls off the bats of Zak Kendall and Ross Carlson. "A couple of the home runs were pop-ups, but we knew the wind was blowing out that way and we talked about hitting that way."

For the baseball purist, the game was not pleasing to watch, as justified by the 30 combined runs scored. There were too many errors to count and consistent pitching was difficult to come by.

However, the Spy Ponders felt like Christmas had come early, as they were able to use the more forgiving aluminum bats after playing with wooden bats all season.

"We knew there was a short porch in right," said Arlington head coach Dan Hirsch, whose team will now play No. 3 Central Catholic tomorrow. "We swing wood all year, so for us to swing aluminum is a little easier. If you put the bat on the ball, it's going to go."

Arlington jumped on top early with seven runs in the first two innings. Senior Justin Mansfield (3 for 6, two home runs, six RBIs) blasted a three-run homer in the top of the second, which chased Gloucester starter Taylor Burbine out of the game after just 1<1/3> innings of work.

However, Kendall (3 for 5) brought the Fishermen back into the game with his own three-run blast in the bottom of the second, making the score 7-5 after two.

Gloucester reliever Dylan Maki came into the game and limited the Arlington bats while his team chipped away at the lead. The Fishermen were able to gain the 11-10 advantage courtesy of a four-run fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run single from junior Mark Alves. Maki, who was also 3 for 5 at the plate, scored a run in the inning.

"They jumped on us early but I love the way we battled back," said Orlando.

In a game that was begging for a pitcher to step up and control the offensive outburst, Arlington senior Blake Yee filled the role. The righty pitched the final 4<2/3> for the Spy Ponders and allowed no runs and just two hits. He also walked just one and struck out three.

"They pitched a little bit better than us down the stretch, with more control," said Orlando.

While Yee took care of business on the hill, Arlington got all the offense it would need to win the game in the seventh inning.

With two outs, Kevin McKenzie reached on a very costly error. Junior Christian Sleeper (2 for 4, three runs) then delivered what would end up being the game-winning home run in the next at-bat with a shot to right field off Maki to make the score 12-11.

"The seventh inning was big and we really took a deep breath there," said Hirsch. "We were able to relax a little bit and that gave us a cushion. In a nine-inning game like this, it's never over."

Despite the loss, Gloucester got several large contributions. Leadoff hitter Ryan Cusick was 2 for 4 with four runs scored and Carlson was 2 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs.

It was an early end to Gloucester's tourney run, as the Fishermen closed the season with a 12-9 record, But Orlando is proud of his squad.

"We had a great season," said Orlando. "We battled hard, and I think that may have wore us out a little bit. But we had a great year and it's always tough in Division 1."