Baseball snaps losing streak by beating Bulldogs

MAY 3, BLAZER STADIUM–

In their home finale, the Blazers recorded a much-needed 9-7 victory over Churchill High School today, the team's first win in their last six games. Over the five game stretch, Blair only scored one more run than it did today. The Blazers improved to 5-9 as Churchill fell to 4-10 for the season.

The Blazer offense was well-rounded as seven different Blazers scored and eight recorded at least one hit, including all five seniors on their senior day. Richardson led the team by going 3-3 with two runs and two RBIs.

The Bulldogs sprinted out of the gates, scoring three first inning runs, suggesting that Blair could lose its ninth game out of its last ten. But eight Blazer runs in the first three innings produced the team's best offense since their 14-3 win against Northwest on Apr 14.

Unfortunately eight consecutive Blazers were retired in a stretch from the third to sixth innings as the Blazer lead decreased to 8-7, until senior shortstop Josh Richardson's sixth inning single ended the streak. He then stole second and third bases before senior outfielder Mike Cozy's ensuing double to left scored Richardson, putting the game out of reach.

Richardson attributed the Blazers' offensive success to timely and assertive hitting. "We were a little more aggressive offensively and had clutch hitting. We haven't really produced offensively, but we did that today," he said. "Hopefully that will carry on into the playoffs."

Junior Jonas Wilson threw his worst game of the year statistically, allowing seven runs and eight hits in the first four innings. Ironically, he received his first win of the season for his only disappointing performance of the year. Junior Ian Scroggs obtained his third save of the season by shutting out the Bulldogs while permitting only two hits in a superb relief performance.

The Blazers will have a day off tomorrow before four critical games in a three day stretch, against Rockville, Springbrook, Damascus and Walter Johnson.