Wildcats Win Catfight In Oakton 9-5
Junior 3B Chris Mandell laces one of his 2 hits on the night for the Centreville Wildcats. Centreville pulled into a 4th place tie with Oakton with the victory on the road.
Photo By Marc Gold \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Senior J.P. Nicholas trots around the bases in the 5th inning after his 2 run home run blast sealed the deal for the Wildcats over Oakton Friday night.
Photo By Marc Gold \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
Sophomore pitcher Taiyo Francis had a rough night on the hill for Oakton Friday night with the Centreville bats getting hot early, and often. Francis had a good night at the plate, however, going 2-2, with a 2B and 2 RBI.
Photo By Marc Gold \ Gameday Magazine | VIEW GALLERY
In Collaboration With Mike Ferrin, Gamedaymagazine.com
VIENNA, VA - When you look at this Concorde District match-up before the 1st pitch...4th place Oakton vs. 5th place Centreville...one would think this to be a futile fight with little, to no lustre. But anyone who knows anything about baseball, especially Concorde baseball, knew this would be a catfight of epic proportions, as both teams came into the night fighting for respectablility, and a possible 1st round home game in the Concorde tournament, a mere two weeks away.
The Wildcats of Centreville came into the Cougar Den of Oakton Friday night looking to stay on a roll...winning 2 out of 3 after Spring Break...and knowing Oakton was ripe for the taking...having lost 3 in a row since the break. But both teams were down to their #3 pitchers in their rotation due to the rain make-up schedules, and everyone in attendance were ready for a high scoring affair.
Oakton trotted out Sophomore RH Taiyo Francis, who earlier in April defeated Liberty District front-runner McLean, not allowing a run, scattering 3 hits and striking out 4, in the 10-3 rout. Centreville countered with Jr. RH JT Hampel, who had been tallying some quality innings of his own. Centreville's JP Nicholas went 3-4 with a homer and knocked in 3, and Jamey Collidge would escape a bases loaded 7th inning jam, as Centreville beat Oakton 9-5, to pull even with them in the Concorde District. Wildcat Sr. Will Fuka would add 3 hits, and second baseman Andy Viands finished a triple shy of the cycle and scored 4 times.
The Wildcats (5-9, 3-5) jumped on the board in the first, when Viands homered on the 4th pitch of the game from Francis.
Centreville tacked on another pair in the 3rd, but it could have been much more. David Delormier led off the inning with a double, but was picked off by Francis trying to steal third. While two batters later, Nicholas was caught trying to take an extra base on his RBI Single.
Trailing 3-0 in the home half of the 3rd, Oakton took the lead. With one out, the Cougars loaded the bases with 3 straight singles off of Hampel. Matt Chandler walked and Daniel Hanson drove in a run on a Fielder's Choice. Francis then helped his own cause by doubling home a pair to make it 4-3 Oakton.
But in the 5th, Centreville would claim the lead for good. Catcher Kyle Hall led off the inning with his second hit of the night, and Nicholas, hitting leadoff to take advantage of his current hot streak, would hit a 1-0 pitch over the Right Center field fence to make it 5-4.
Francis, who pounded the strike zone much of the night, throwing 52 of his 73 pitches for strikes, was let down by his defense, as back-to-back errors gave Centreville their second run. Two more Oakton errors helped open the door for two more Wildcat runs in the four run 5th inning, and a 7-4 advantage.
On the other side, Wildcat starter JT Hampel had near flawless defense behind him. Center Fielder Delormier robbed Oakton 1B Adam Henne of extra bases with an over the shoulder catch near the center field fence in the 5th. Left Fielder Will Fuka would deny senior Daniel Hanson of extra bases an inning later, with a full lay-out diving catch down the 3rd base line. Hampel allowed five runs in 6 innings relenting 9 hits, but walking just 1.
The Wildcats put the game out of reach in the 6th. A one out single from Nicholas, his third hit of the night, and a double from Viands, chased Francis. The lanky Sophmore allowed 12 hits, but walked just one and struck out two, in 5 1/3 innings.
Oakton 3B, Matt Chandler, now in the bump in relief,would get Chris Campbell to line out to short for the 2nd out, but Fuka doubled home two, with his third hit of the evening, scoring Viands for a 4th time and making the score 9-4.
Catcher Jakob Rakosi would get Oakton within four with an RBI single in the 6th, and the Cougars would then load the bases with one out in the 7th, and final inning, against Centreville reliever Jamey Collidge. But the Sr. right hander, would get Daniel Hanson looking, and Trevor Falk swinging to lock down the 9-5 win.
The loss is the 4th straight for Oakton, who is now tied with Centreville for 4th in the Concorde District. The Wildcats, who lost their first seven this season have now won 5 of 7. Each team is back in action on Monday, with Oakton hosting Chantilly, and Centreville hosting Herndon. Both games are slated for a 6:30 1st pitch.
BEST BUY PLAYERS of the GAME
J.P. Nicholas - Centreville, Senior Infielder
Nicholas was one of two Wildcats who went 3-4 on the night. However, it was his 2 run home run in the 5th that put the game out of reach. Nicholas ended his night with 3 RBI's, and scored twice.
Taiyo Francis - Oakton, Sophomore RHP
Although Francis took the loss on Friday night, he pitched well for the most part, getting ahead of batters most of the night, and had command of his curve ball, throwing it early in the count for strikes. He also accounted for 3 of the 5 Oakton runs on the night, tallying 2 hits at the plate with a single and double, with 2 RBI's and scoing once.
