Sports

Baseball: Huskies Defeat Rival Potomac to Top MAC

Flint Hill celebrates Senior Night before final game of season

The Huskies entered Monday's game against Potomac knowing two things: The No. 1 spot in the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference stood within reach, and Potomac handed them one of their two conference losses earlier in the season.

But the pressure did not weigh them down. The Huskies prevailed in a 3-2 win over the Panthers, guaranteeing they'll at least be tied for No. 1 in MAC.

"I had butterflies in my stomach all day," said Jared Knoll, the starting pitcher. "It's Senior Night and a big game. I had butterflies until the end."

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Knoll may have been nervous, but it did not show. Throwing 3 2/3 no-hit innings to start the game, the senior pitched a stellar game to end the regular season, striking out six and allowing four hits.

"Jared pitched a great game." head coach Tom Verbanic said. "He did a beautiful job on the mound. And their pitcher pitched a great game, as well, and both teams made some great plays."

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Despite getting a runner on third base in the first two innings — both times with one out — the Huskies would not score until what would be a rough third inning for Panthers' pitcher Matt Giordano. He walked the first three batters to load the bases, then a fielder's choice ground ball from cleanup batter Nick Bazzarone knocked in David Belt to score the first run of the game. With runners on second and third, Giordano again loaded the bases with a walk to Knoll. But a hard hit ground ball from Harrison Gray allowed the Panthers to turn a double play to end the inning.

The Huskies added their last two runs in the fifth inning after a two-run line drive single from Michael Palma would score Belt and Calvin Baxter.

The Panthers threatened a comeback a few times. In the fourth inning, Johnny Read got Potomac's first hit in the form of a triple on two outs, but Knoll squelched their scoring opportunity after his first pitch to the next batter resulted in a popout to right fielder Baxter just behind second base.

Then in the sixth, Potomac's Patrick Morris led off with a single and would score on a two-run homer from Conor McNerney in the next at-bat. But Knoll and the Huskies recovered, getting a lineout, popout and groundout in 11 pitches to the next three batters.

But perhaps the most tense part of the game came in the seventh. All game the Huskies had displayed outstanding defense, from a tough over-the-head catch from center fielder Bazzarone to fancy footwork on groundouts from Knoll, Belt at shortstop and Gray at third. Then two errors started the seventh. And a sacrifice advanced Potomac runners to second and third.

In an effort to prevent more fielding errors, Verbanic gathered his team at the mound to calm them down.

"I talked to them about how hard we worked in the weight room when we got together in December and what it took to figure out how we were going to achieve things this season," Verbanic said. "I was sure we were going to be able to do it here."

For Knoll, the strategy was simple: "Throw strikes and get ground balls," he said.

Bhendari Moore, catcher, remembers the last two at-bats of the game being a bit more nerve-wracking.

"It was crazy," Moore said. "I just kept wondering what pitches I'd be catching. I'm calling pitches and he's shaking me off. I wanted to start with a fastball to loosen him up, but he wanted the curve. And it worked."

Six pitches, a strikeout and a groundout later, the Huskies won.

"We played very good on defense all game," Verbanic said. "Yes, we made some mistakes in the seventh, but we came back and made plays. It was just a well-played game all around, one of those games you like to play for a championship. It was very enjoyable, to be honest with you."

Though the Huskies won't know if Maret will be joining them at the top of the MAC until the Frogs play Potomac on Thursday, they won't be waiting idly. Verbanic will continue his tough practices to prepare the team for the MAC tournament and possibly the state one, as well.

Huskies stats:

Hits: David Belt (single), Bhendari Moore (single), Calvin Baxter (single), Michael Palma (single)
RBI: Nick Bazzarone (1), Palma (2)

SENIOR NIGHT

The win over rival Potomac not only capped off the regular season, but honored the seniors on a night that began in celebration of them.

Each senior walked out of the dugout with his parents, handed his mother a rose and posed for pictures. And, of course, there was a bit of ribbing from their underclassmen teammates who looked on.

Coach Tom Verbanic said a few words about each of the seven players and thanked the parents for the support they've given their sons and the team.

"Folks, this is a very special group. They've done a tremendous job," Verbanic said. "We hope Flint Hill baseball will be on the up and up as we go, and if it is, it's because of this group of seniors."

Verbanic admitted there's always a worry about what you're going to get out of seniors when a coach comes on to a new team.

"It could go a lot of different ways. They wanted to play and have been great," Verbanic said after the game. "It's been a pleasure to have them."

Two of the seniors will be playing baseball in college next year. Bhendari Moore, catcher, will take his skills to Shenandoah University and Jared Knoll, pitcher, will head to Marshall University.

After the victory, the batterymates talked about their senior year under a new head coach.

"Coach Verbanic is so motivated, it's great to play for him," said Knoll, who has played at Flint Hill for three years. "I've learned more this year than any year I've played. He teaches you how to deal with everything, play harder and how to be a better man on the field and off. It's great."

Moore, who has played for the Flint Hill varsity team his whole high school career, enjoyed the structure Verbanic brought to the team.

"He wanted things differently than my old coach," Moore said. "He likes to get to the point and is like 'Let's get work done now and have fun after,' which I like more. He's a legend, so it's great to play for him."

But as much as they could gush about the new coach, it's the teammates they'll miss the most.

"These guys are the best," Knoll said. "Just a lot of fun to play baseball with."


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