By COACH MICHAEL SCANNELL
The HMHS freshman baseball team doesn’t get a break in their tough schedule hosting Clearview Regional High School. This was a classic freshman baseball pitchers duel, hits were few, defense was strong and runs were fewer. Clearview took a one run lead in the forth inning. Carter Fichter got the start for the Haddons and was dealing, throwing seven dazzling innings, allowing only one run on three hits while collecting 13 strikeouts. He had total command of all his pitches; fastball, curveball, change-up and knuckle curve while not allowing a single walk. The Dawgs first serious threat was not until the sixth inning when Mark Ostbye and Matt Cassell reached base with lead off walks. John Alemi executed a perfect sacrifice bunt and beat it out to load the bases with no outs. But after an infield fly, Clearview turned a nifty double play to end the threat keeping the score at 1–0. In the bottom of the seventh inning, JD Popp got another threat started with a lead-off base hit and promptly stealing second base. Eric Kaulback squared to bunt and has a great at-bat, working a walk to make the situation first and third with nobody out.
Sean Funke, who did another fabulous job behind the plate, stepped up and tied the ball game with his second base hit of the day and advanced Kaulback to third. Fichter had an opportunity play the heroes role and did not disappoint with a walk-off line drive single, his second of the game, to win the game for the Dawgs.
What an afternoon, a beautiful day and a wonderfully played baseball game.
After playing three demanding non-Conference opponents, the HMHS freshman baseball team played their first Conference game versus the always tough West Deptford High School. West Deptford jumped out to an early lead with a huge third inning. Matt Cassell got the start on the mound and pitched well, collecting six strikeouts while surrendering only two walks and three earned runs.
But the typically reliable Dawgs defense did not give him the support necessary to keep a quality baseball team in check. After four and a half innings, West Deptford had a commanding 8–2 lead. But this freshman group can never be counted out and roared back with their own big inning and cut the lead to 8–6 after five innings.
JD Popp pitched in relief and pounded the strike zone, allowing the Dawgs score a run in the sixth inning and another run to tie the game at 10–10 in the bottom of the seventh inning, sending the game into extra innings. John Alemi just crushed the ball all day, collecting three hits — including two doubles — while Justin Skiba was equally impressive, collecting three hits on the day. Cassell also helped himself with two hits and Tommy Brophy, Nick Gangemi, Popp and Eric Kaulback each had keys base hits.
Sean Funke was on base all day while collecting three walks, scoring all three times. But in the end, West Deptford had enough offense to win the game in the eighth inning. Julian DiNoia got a chance to pitch late in the eighth inning and was very impressive.
Too little, too late but what an exciting ball game.
