Whitman Edges Magruder In Extra-Inning Affair

While the weather may not have seemed like it, this week marked the first week of baseball season for Maryland high schoolers. On Wednesday afternoon, Magruder and Whitman received their first big test of the season when they faced each other at Magruder.

After several lead changes, extra innings, and a six-run ninth inning, Whitman came out on top, edging the Colonels 11-10.

“I told our guys coming in that this was first real test for both teams,” Whitman coach Joe Cassidy said after the game. “We both had easy wins in our first games...and we knew this would be a real tough game.”

A back and forth struggle ensued in the first inning, with both teams scoring two runs in the first. Errors made it difficult on Whitman, as the Colonels would pick up runs in each of the next two innings. Whitman committed six errors in the game overall.

Whitman starter Gabe Steinberg had a little bit of trouble, giving up four runs in three innings, most of them unearned. However, the bullpen came in and limited Magruder's offense. Michael Flack came in with runners on second and third with nobody out in the sixth inning and only gave up a single run, and then wouldn't give up another run until the ninth inning.

Zach Lawhorn paced the Colonels for much of the game. He pitched five strong innings as a starter, giving up just four runs, and also adding 3 RBIs at the plate.

It came down to extra innings, and in the ninth the Vikings exploded for six runs, including the go ahead run by Flack himself. Whitman didn't make it easy on themselves though, as the Colonels fought back to score five in the bottom half of the inning, and ended up stranding the tying run on third.

“Usually you don't have a six run inning in an extra inning game and then give up five runs,” Cassidy said. “We were able to hold on, and fighting through that was huge for us. It wasn't conventional, but it was a win.”

Flack ended up picking up the win and also went 3-for-5 with three RBIs. Many of Whitman's runs were scored off of small ball, hits that found their way through the infield and bunts to move the runners around. The Vikings had just one extra base hit in the game, a double in the ninth.

“We were quick and we have speed,” Cassidy said. “We can't hit it to the gaps like they [Magruder] did...we're going to play to our strengths this season.”

Whitman moves to 2-0 on the year and will play Quince Orchard at QO on Saturday. Magruder falls to 1-1, and they will face Churchill at Churchill on Saturday.