Tigers still on top of District 26-2A

By Gene Schallenberg
The Huntsville Item

March 26, 2008 12:36 am

— NEW WAVERLY — Not only was Tuesday’s baseball game between Trinity and New Waverly a rivalry game as it always is, but it was for first place in District 26-2A.
After struggling at the plate to start the game, the Tigers (14-1 overall, 6-0 in district) finally got going in the middle innings and built a lead they would not relinquish, defeating the Bulldogs 10-3.
For the Bulldogs (5-1 in 26-2A, 15-4 overall), things started out well enough. After allowing three runs in the top half of the first inning, they answered with two timely hits and two runs. But fielding errors, five total, ultimately did the Dogs in and the Tigers capitalized.
“We just made too many mental mistakes and physical mistakes,” New Waverly head coach Tommy Bohannon said. “Naturally, when you’re doing those things against a team like Trinity, they’re going to take advantage of you. That’s what happened to us today.
“Hopefully, the next time around we’re a much better challenge than we were today.”
The missteps began for the Bulldogs in the first inning. With two Tigers aboard, Trinity pitcher Jamie Drake hit a hard-hit grounder to third that was bobbled by Matthew Gray, allowing the first run to score. The next batter, Jonathan Austin, hit another low line drive down the third-base line that was mishandled, allowing another run to score. On the next pitch, Bulldog catcher Gary Bielamowicz tried to catch Drake stealing third but overthrew Gray and Drake scored.
Just like that, the Dogs made three errors and three runs scored.
Even though Trinity started the game with three runs in the first inning, because of two hit batters, the Tigers had yet to record a hit off New Waverly senior Zach Bowen.
“(Bowen) really tried to establish the inside part of the plate,” Trinity head coach Eugene Lafitte said. “I think it kind of hurt him because he hit us. We started to adjust later in the game. We tried to make things happen instead of waiting for things to happen.”
The Bulldogs managed to pull within a run, but their fielding mishaps continued.
After scoring a run early in the fourth inning, Trinity was threatening again with runners on second and third with two outs already in the books. Micah Hoevelman hit a slow grounder to Bowen. Instead of getting the easy out at first, Bowen tried to tag out Chris Ellison, who sprinted home from third.
Ellison avoided the tag and the inning continued. By the time the inning was over, the Tigers held a 6-2 lead.
Things started to unravel for New Waverly after that as Trinity put up another three runs in the sixth to provide solid separation. Drake held New Waverly at bay, giving up only four hits in the win.
“I was relying mostly on the people behind me,” Drake said. “I didn’t have to worry about anything because I had really good defense.”
Matthew Roberts led the Bulldogs with two hits and brought home two runs with a liner that bounced of the pitcher’s mound into the outfield.
Hoevelman and Joe McCown each had two hits on the day. Hoevelman had one RBI and McCown drove in three.
With the win, the Tigers now hold sole possession of first place. Trinity hosts Lexington on Friday, while the Bulldogs travel to Franklin for another big district game.
“It’s pretty exciting,” McCown said. “I’m real proud of the guys that stepped up that replaced the guys we lost last year. At this point, I’m pretty confident in our team.”