By COACH MICHAEL SCANNELL
The HMHS freshman baseball team played their second game of the season vs. Paul VI and the game began as a closely played pitchers duel. Sean Funke got the start and was dealing, getting key strikeouts with his change-up and knuckle curve ball and he took a 2–0 lead midway through the game. Unfortunately, the Haddons did not defend for him and give up five unearned runs all in the forth inning and Paul VI finished the contest with a 9–2 victory. Offensively, Funke contributed with a three for four day, including a double. John Alemi had a two hit day, including a ball he crushed, the longest hit ball of the freshman season, just missing a home run, that went in the books as a triple. Carter Fichter added a double and JD Popp had a base hit.
The Haddons travel to Gloucester Catholic for the second of their home and away series. Julian DiNoia gets the start and threw a spectacular game versus probably South Jersey’s best freshman line-up. DiNoia threw five strong innings, leaving the game with the Dawgs trailing 5–3. His performance brings to mind the saying, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” This Dawg battled, only allowing two extra base hits keeping a great hitting team off balance with his control and off speed pitches. The key point of the ball game came in the sixth inning, with the Haddons trailing by two runs, they get the first two runners on base with no one out and the top of the order coming to the plate. But the Haddons were not able to execute a sacrifice bunt situation and the Dawgs end the inning without scoring a run.
G.C. finished with a strong sixth inning to win the game, 9–3. Defensively, the Haddons played their “A” game keeping the game close and within striking distance. Offensively, the Haddons hung with G.C. mounting several threats. Carter Fichter had three hits and stole a key base, Sean Funke had a two hit day including a one hop bomb to the fence, DiNoia helped himself with a two hit day and John Alemi continued to swing a red hot bat with a double down the left field line.
