Hoyas Hold Home Field 11-7 and Hand Bears Second Straight Setback

 A beautiful sunlit spring day stood in stark contrast to Wednesday’s cool damp conditions on Wilson Lane as the Hoyas and Bears hooked up for their home and home IAC contest.  Looking to split the series, the Bears found themselves down 6-0 before the first inning ended and although they battled back, “winning” the last six innings, the score stood 11-7 at the end of the contest.  Prep used four pitchers on the day, and the Bears countered with Kyle Colgain and Lee Schellhammer in relief.  Colgain, who was on the winning side of two Prep wins last year, was hit hard in the first inning but settled down allowing two hits over the next four innings.

Ian Kelso, Kyle Colgain, and Jay Graham all had two hits each, with Max Kra leading the offensive attack with three hits on the day.  The Bears were 13 for 31 on the day with a “batting average for the day” of “.419”, however frustration mounted as scoring opportunities were cut off by double plays, or base running mistakes.

On the day, the Bears outhit the little Hoyas 13 – 9, but gave back too many outs on five errors and found themselves squandering opportunities with runners in scoring position, including hitting into two double plays with the bases loaded.  Although two baggers were recorded by Lee Schellhammer, Jack Falvey, Ian Kelso and Nick Murray, it was getting thrown out twice at third base and being picked off at first that hurt the Bears chances to rally back and gave back outs to the Little Hoyas.

Lefty Lee Schellhammer had two scoreless innings in relief and pinch runner Max Lehrman scored in the final inning after being inserted to run for catcher Ian Kelso.  Kelso also stood like a wall at the catcher’s position, not allowing a passed ball throughout the game while blocking numerous off-speed pitches.  Left fielder Marty Bednar made a headlong diving catch off a screaming line drive to take away a sure Hoya extra base hit.

The game ended with the bases loaded and the Hoyas beginning to feel the pressure of walking three runners, an infield hit and Max Kra at the plate with the Kyle Colgain and Jay Graham on deck and in the hole.  Unfortunately, although Kra hit a screaming “worm burner:, it would not be his fourth hit of the game but instead was turned into a rally ending, game concluding, double play that many saw could have gone either way at first base. 

Next up:   SSSA away    4:30 Tuesday, April 19^th, 2011.