Baseball: Huskies Dominate at Home Once Again

The Flint Hill Huskies continued their undefeated home record with an 11-0 mercy-rule win over Bishop Ireton on Monday.

The Huskies (6-2) dominated offensively, with six different players notching nine hits off four pitchers in four innings — including a solo home run from Michael Palma, a two-run shot from Calvin Baxter and a three-run homer from Nick Bazzarone.

Baxter, right field, and Bazzarone, center field, tied with shortstop David Belt to lead the team with two hits each. Bazzarone and Baxter also led the team in RBI with four each.

Though not known for their home run hitting, Verbanic saw the performances from Bazzarone and Baxter as evidence that hard work pays off — even if it may have been aided a little by heavy winds blowing balls toward right field.

"We're working hard at hitting and we're getting better and better," said head coach Tom Verbanic. "We expect all our guys to hit the ball hard."

Pitcher Jared Knoll kept the Cardinals to one hit in four innings and struck out six. Bazzarone pitched the fifth inning, striking out one and giving up the Cardinals' second and final hit.

Bishop Ireton put pressure on Flint Hill in the third inning, loading the bases after Sean Boldaji reached on an error from second baseman James Abrahamsen. Knoll struck out the next two batters, but gave up a single to shortstop Brian Lewis and walked center fielder Andrew Selby to load the bases. Catcher Corey Phillips then hit the ball straight to third baseman Harrison Gray, who tagged third to end the inning.

"The thing we work very hard at is finishing innings. So bases loaded, our whole goal is to never give up a big inning. If we give 'em one, we don't want to give 'em two, that sort of thing," Verbanic said.

Verbanic did not expect his team to defeat the Cardinals so handily.

"I think [Bishop Ireton] is better than that," Verbanic said. "They got behind early, and we had a good day. I do think they're a better team than what we saw today."

The Huskies look to continue their home win streak Tuesday against Georgetown Day School at 4:15 p.m.