Boys Baseball

In an away game on a sunny, but windy April 22, River Hill put on a pitching and hitting clinic against a young and hard playing, but overmatched, Oakland Mills team. River Hill exploded early in the first inning when, following back to back walks to Ben Trapuzzano and Dan Konapelsky, Brian Heinz lofted a letter high 3-1 fastball over the right field fence for 3 quick runs. Then in 6 of the next 8 at bats, singles by Wes McCoy, Justin Bilohlavek, Dave Marquart, Ken Gilliam, Jeff Marquart, and Dan Konapelsky, accounted for 5 more runs.

In the second inning, Brian Bednarczyk drew a lead off walk, stole second, and scored on a home run by Wes McCoy deep over the left field fence. In the third inning, Curt Gilliam replacing Trapuzzano at short, drew a walk. Shawn Ward, batting for Konapelsky, reached first on a fielder's choice. Then, Mike Anton who replaced Heinz in center field, singled; Scott Curtin, in for Bednarczyk at second, singled; Greg Roach, replacing McCoy at first, walked; and Kevin Marrie, replacing Dave Marquart in the lineup, doubled. All this produced 3 more runs.

The Hawks continued to pound the ball in the fourth when Curt Gilliam singled, Ward was hit by a pitch, Anton doubled to score Gilliam, Curtin singled in Ward, and Greg Roach drove in Anton with a grounder to second. Nick Madiou, in as catcher, then drove in Curtin with a single. In the fifth and final inning, Jeff Marquart led off with a walk, Curt Gilliam was hit by a pitch, Ward, now playing left field, drew a walk, and Anton drove in two with a single, his third hit of the game. Roach got his second RBI with a fly to center, Madiou drove in another with a single, Marrie drove in a run on a ground ball error, and Ken Gilliam drove the Hawks final run in with a sacrifice fly. All told, the Hawks scored 23 times on 17 hits. The Hawks played all 17 players, and every player scored one or more runs or drove in runs.

Defensively, River Hill looked sharp too. Starter Steve Cornelius pitched 4 great innings, giving up just 2 hit and striking out 6. Jeff Marquart closed out the fifth with a strikeout and 2 ground outs.