Chargers Athletics

Chantilly High School

Varsity Baseball

Game Summaries & Headlines.

Boys Varsity Baseball vs. BATTLEFIELD HS

Game Date: Mar 27, 2012
Score: CHARGERS: 4
BATTLEFIELD HIGH: 2

Kevin Johnston and Tom Wood led Chantilly to a 4-2 win over host Battlefield on Tuesday night. Wood started the game and picked up the win for the Chargers, allowing just 1 earned run through 5 2/3 innings pitched. Chris Fraser closed the game out strong by retiring all 4 batters he faced, including 3 strikeouts. But, the player of the game had to be catcher Kevin Johnston, who was on base 3 times, hit a clutch double to deep center, and killed two Bobcat rallies by throwing runners out trying to steal 2nd base.

The Charger offense was led by Eason Recto (2 1B, RBI) and Johnston (2B, walk, RBI). Also contributing were Jake Acosta (1B, walk), Sonny Romine (1B, walk, run), Tommy Vance (1B), Sam Hellman (HBP, RBI, run), Cory Donovan (2 runs), Daniel Speed (walk, RBI) and Mike Sciorra (HBP, RBI).

Chantilly loaded the bases in the 1st on a Tommy Vance single and walks to Johnston and Hellman. But, the Bobcats got out of the inning without surrendering a run. Battlefield left 2 runners on base when the 1st inning ended on a Wood strikeout, and Johnston ended the bottom of the 2nd by throwing out a Bobcat runner attempting to steal 2nd.

The offenses for both teams came to life in the 4th. Chantilly sent 8 batters to the plate in the top of the inning, finally pushing across Hellman and Romine, who had singled earlier in the inning. Battlefield countered in the bottom of the 4th with a long Home Run to left field, followed by a clean single with 0 outs. The home team was on the verge of grabbing control of the game when Wood got a ground ball to short which resulted in a Vance to Acosta to Gittings 6-4-3 double-play. Wood got the next batter to pop out and Chantilly ended the 4th with a 2-1 lead.

Chantilly scratched out a big run in 5th. With Cory Donovan (courtesy running for Kevin Johnson) on 2nd base and 0 outs, Sam Hellman did his job by battling deep into the count, fouling off multiple pitches, and then putting a tough 2-strike curve ball into play to move the runner. Hellman’s ball was then misplayed which allowed Donovan to round 3rd and score. After 5 ½ innings, Chantilly led 3-1.

With two outs and nobody on in the bottom of the 6th, Battlefield hit a double and single to put runners on 1st and 3rd. Chris Fraser entered the game for Wood, who battled hard all night against the dangerous Bobcat lineup. Fraser’s 4th pitch got away from the catcher and allowed Battlefield to score from 3rd base, making the score 3-2. With the tying run at 2nd base, Fraser’s next pitch fanned the Bobcat batter swinging and the inning was over.

Chantilly pushed the score to 4-2 in the top of the 7th. Johnston led off with a double, and Hellman again moved his runner - this time with a long fly ball out to deep center. With 2 outs, Eason Recto drove in the final run of the night with a clean single up the middle.

Fraser closed out the game with 2 strikeouts in a 3-up 3-down 7th inning. Once again, Chantilly’s pitching and defense (including steady work from outfielders Daniel Speed, Sonny Romine, and Mike Sciorra) kept the team in a position to win a tough, hard fought game.

Chantilly next plays in the Woodbridge Spring Break Tournament, starting with a double-header on Saturday against host Woodbridge and Mt. Vernon.

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