Baseball: Amid Freezing Rain and Sleet, Catonsville Washes Away New Town, 19-6

Wednesday afternoon’s rain, sleet and occasinal hail soaked contest between Catonsville and New Town began with the Comets Zack Hall getting plunked in the ribs on the very first pitch.

After that, it was Catonsville that did most of the hitting—on offense.

The Comets (now 2-0) tallied eight runs in the first two frames (including six in the second inning) and added six more in the fourth before coasting to a 19-6 road victory in five innings via the 10-run mercy rule.

Eight different Catonsville players recorded at least one RBI, led by senior first baseman Robert Hopp who batted in four while going 3 for 4 with two doubles and a walk. Theo DiPace and Ian Baker plated three more apiece and seniors Eric Crum and Will Hunt each added two RBIs, as well.  

Although he was satisfied to earn a win, Comets head coach Rich Hambor was even more delighted to finally get a complete game in—even if it was only five innings.

“What we are really trying to do—not being outside much and playing much at all because of this weather—we just want to be consistent, whether we jump out early or we don’t, we just want to get our at-bats in,” Hambor said. “We’re trying to get everybody some at-bats and innings and it’s more about getting into a repetition and a groove right now without having any time outside, really.”  

Junior Austin Dixon allowed just two runs over three innings, while striking out strike four, and fellow junior Daniel Schneider surrendered four runs in the final two frames to close out the game. 

After allowing the big inning early, New Town hurler Dion Roche did manage to blank the Comets in the top of the third as the Titans (2-1) did their best to chip away.

Senior Steve Wasner’s infield single in the bottom of the second plated Roche (who had led off the inning with a triple) for New Town’s first run and Andre Johnson scored run number two from third when Shawheem Dowdy induced a throwing error while stealing second.

However, after cutting the margin down to 8-2, the Comets responded with their six-run fourth inning to widen the gap and knock Roche out of the game mid-inning before he could record any outs. Relief pitchers Kelly Talbert and Shaquille Bryan didn’t fare much better, but with No. 1 starter Jason Terry having pitched the day prior, New Town head coach Chad Zamarron didn’t have any bullets left in the chamber.

It being early in the season coupled with the horrendous weather conditions, Zamarron is more than ready to look past today’s game.

“We had one bad inning and we didn’t put the bat on the ball,” Zamarron said. “They were hitting the holes. They placed it in and we need to do the same. Today was just our worst batting day. Runs won’t be a problem. I’m not even looking at this game.”  

BOX SCORE

C 260 65 ---- 19 13 2

N 011 13 ---- 6 8 3

Pitching

                                IP            R             H             BB           K

C-Dixon               3              2              4              0              4

    Schneider        2              4              4              0              2

N-Roche              3              11           6              3              4

    Talbert              1              3              3              6              1

    Bryan                 1              5              4              3              3

Hitting

RBI: C-Hopp (5), Baker (3), DiPace (3), Crum (2), Hunt (2), Hall, Schmidt, McTaggart

           N-Short (2), Wasner, Scott, Terry

2B: C-Hopp (2), Hunt, Crum, Baker, Schmidt

          N-Scott, Terry

3B: C-DiPace

         N-Roche  

SB: C-Hall, Baker

         N-Dowdy