One Hitter

After winning their first four games by an average margin of 13-1, the Hooks were shut out 3-0 Tuesday night. DuPont’s pitcher fired a one-hit, seven inning shutout, striking out ten Hooks hitters. Will had one of the hardest hits of the evening, a line drive that the centerfielder tracked down.

Playing centerfield in the first inning, Will fielded a single up the middle. The runner from second rounded third and headed home. Will’s throw was caught by the catcher in the air, beating the runner by ten steps, for the first out of the game.

Down 0-1, Will came on to pitch with one out and two on in the 5th, and struck out the first batter he faced. He then picked the runner off second to end the inning.

As he often does, Will tried too hard in the next two innings, hitting two batters (one in the head!). Still, he only allowed one earned run. I think he struck out four or five in the 2-2/3 innings he pitched. In addition to pitcher and centerfield, Will also played third and shortstop, where he threw out a runner at first on a tough grounder.

The game showed how far Will has come as a pitcher. Another pitcher had warmed up to relieve the starter, a senior looking for a college team to play on. But since the game was close, with runners in scoring position, Coach Tamucci brought in Will.

The Hooks didn’t go out of their way to try to win, batting all 13 players in attendance. DuPont only had eleven players, so they turned around their order quicker. Had the Hooks only played their best nine or ten, it might’ve been a different game.