Cullen and Fetters Homer as Gaithersburg Blasts Damascus

On Tuesday, May 3, the surging Gaithersburg Trojans used a powerful offense and excellent pitching and defense to defeat the Damascus Hornets 10-2 at Damascus High School. 

The Trojans got off to a fast start in this game.  After Seniors Max Heldman (#2) and Mike Toomer (#12) walked, Senior Billy Cullen (#17) hit a home run over the left field fence to give the Trojans a 3-0 lead.  Starting Pitcher John Hallock (#10) then helped his own cause by hitting a single. 

Hallock’s pinch runner, Senior TJ Painter (#8), scored on a hit by Senior Tyler Knight (#7) to make it 4-0 Trojans after the top of the first inning. 

The Hornets answered with a run in the bottom of the first to trim the Trojans’ lead to 4-1.   

In the top of the second inning, Heldman hit a double and later scored on a wild pitch.  Toomer walked again and later scored when Cullen hit a double.  The Trojans led 6-1 after the top of the second.   

In the top of the fifth inning, Sophomore Conner Mitton (#4) doubled and Senior Zack Fetters (#15) reached first base on a bunt.  Heldman then drove in Mitton with a sacrifice bunt and Toomer drove in Fetters on a base hit.  Cullen then hit a double to score Toomer, increasing the Trojans’ lead to 9-1 heading to the bottom of the fifth.   

Freshman Nick DeCarlo (#9) replaced Hallock on the mound in the bottom of the sixth inning.  DeCarlo struck out the first batter he faced, and, while the Hornets later scored a run, the Trojans executed a double play to end the rally and take a 9-2 lead to the seventh inning.   

In the top of the seventh, Fetters hit a home run over the fence in left center field to give the Trojans a 10-2 lead.   

Painter pitched the bottom of the seventh, holding the Hornets scoreless thanks to a beautifully executed double play by Senior Matt Kaufmann (#6) and Heldman.   

The Trojans improved to 12-6 on the season.  They next play Thursday, May 5, 2011, at Paint Branch High School.