Wildcats Lose Another Close One

If close losses were currency, the Arundel baseball team would be filthy rich.

But instead, the Wildcats simply reached another level of frustration Thursday, losing 3-2 to South River and dropping their fifth one-run game of the season.

"We’re always in the game, but we need to get over that hump,” Arundel head coach Jason Lively said.

Sophomore Scott Mitchell pitched all seven innings for South River, striking out 11 Wildcats and giving up seven hits. 

The low score belied the fact that Arundel and South River were among the highest-scoring in the county. The game featured just four extra-base hits between the two teams.

“It was a good high school game,” South River head coach Ken Dunn said. “Both teams can swing the bat fairly decent, and I think our kid did a good job on the mound.”

Mitchell appeared to take advantage of a large strike zone by the home plate umpire, as five of his punchouts came with the batters looking at a called third strike. Arundel starter Rob Warwick gave up six hits and struck out four in five innings of work.

South River got on the board first in the game in the second inning, when second baseman Joe Scott doubled and then scored on an overthrown pickoff attempt. Sophomore shortstop Gabe Vertucci tripled and scored on third baseman Craig Sheridan's single. The Seahawks added a run in the fifth inning on an RBI single by first baseman Brian Shore. 

Arundel seemed to grab some momentum in the bottom of the fifth, when second baseman Matt Shin drove in a run on a dribbler down the first base line that traveled about ten feet but stayed fair. Leftfielder Keith Grassel drove in Shin with a scorching double to right-centerfield.

Dalton Durocher led off the bottom of the sixth with a single, but was doubled off on Chad Confer's liner to the pitcher. 

Keith Grassel single with two outs in the seventh, bringing the potential winning run to the plate. But Michael Coombs grounded out to shortstop to end the game. 

Coaches for both teams acknowledged the home plate umpire was calling a large strike zone, but said he was consistent.

“He pitched a great game, and when you’re down in the count you can’t let pitches like that go by," Lively said. "We need to get better at that and be better situational hitters.”

For Arundel, the loss comes after a 7-6 extra inning loss to Broadneck on Monday. Last month, the Wildcats lost a road game to South River by one run, and has also lost in one-run games to Chesapeake and Glen Burnie in county. The team's eight losses have come by a total of 11 runs. 

Arundel now plays at Southern on Friday, and finishes up the regular season hosting Severna Park on Monday. Lively said he hopes his players have some time to rest, as several are dealing with nagging injuries.

Coombs has been battling a sore knee, while pitcher Chris Vazquez has not started on the mound in several weeks due to arm trouble. Centerfielder Mike Williams also did not start Thursday due to sore ribs.

“We’re a little banged up overall as a team,” Lively said. “The next two games, we’re going to try and compete and will try to win, but maybe save some guys arms here and there and be as healthy as we can be heading to the playoffs.”

Notes: Durocher and Grassel each had two hits for Arundel ... Devon Vallely pitched two scoreless innings in relief of Warwick ... there were a total of four hit batsmen in the game ... South River's Nick Sia went 2-4 with a triple. 

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