Sports
Loss of Talented Left-Hander Doesn't Dim Highland Baseball's Success
The Tartans have won an impresive 10 of 11 since losing top pitcher Tyler Hinchliffe, who should resume baseball activities early this summer.
Back on April 11, Highland’s highly regarded senior left-hander Tyler Hinchliffe tossed a no-hitter that helped lift his team to a 2-0 win over Kingsway. The victory marked the Tartans’ third in a row to open the season and seemed to validate Highland’s status as a Group 3 preseason favorite.
Everything was unfolding exactly as planned for coach DJ Gore’s team. But, as is usually the case in baseball, plans often quickly change.
Only a week after experiencing the euphoria that accompanies such a rare feat, Hinchiffe suffered a devastating season-ending injury in a 6-5 loss to Gloucester, a loss that no doubt tempered some of the team’s enthusiasm surrounding its hot start.
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The torn tendon in Hinchliffe’s right ankle could have been a devastating blow to the Tartans, but they’ve since shown incredible depth and resiliency by winning a remarkable 10 of their last 11 games. Their latest win came in a 10-0 rout of Deptford Friday afternoon, a game that locked up the top-seed in the South Jersey Group 3 playoffs.
“It was tough for us because he’s so good,” Gore said. “It forced a few players into different roles, but they’ve all stepped up.”
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Among those players in new roles is sophomore Matt Miniconzi, who has replaced Hinchliffe at first base, and senior Ryan Pavlik who made the jump from closer to starter for the Tartans.
“These guys have came up big for us”, Gore said. “Ryan has started some games for us and has done a really nice job in that role.”
In fact, Pavlik has done such a nice job that Gore and the Tartans will turn to Pavlik to start their first game in the Joe Hartmann Diamond Classic today at 1 p.m. when they travel to Washington Township High School to take on the Minutemen (15-3).
As for Hinchliffe, the latest indications are that he will be ready to return to baseball activities early this summer—important because it will not cause him to miss any time as he prepares to play baseball at Boston College next year.
“From everything I’ve heard at this point, it looks like he should be ready to go sometime in the beginning of July,” Gore said.
