Nine-Run 1st Inning Dooms Hillsborough

The baseball team lost to Watchung Hills 9-2 on Thursday afternoon at Watchung Hills High School. The Raiders surrendered all nine runs in the first inning and then held the Warriors scoreless for the rest of the game. Hillsborough is now 6-5 going into its Somerset County Tournament matchup with Somerville on Saturday.

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Final

Hillsborough (6-5)

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2

Watchung Hills (9-3)

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9

IN SHORT

The first inning was the difference in the game when Watchung Hills sent 12 batters to the plate and scored all their runs.  After that, the pitching combination of Seth Fenster and Evan Edelman combined to pitch five and one third innings of shutout baseball.  Cameron Leon had two of the Raiders six hits while scoring one and driving in another.

RAIDER OF THE GAME

Cameron Leon-The junior was 2-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored.  In the final inning, he tried to stretch his RBI double into a triple and was thrown out at third for the first out to the displeasure of head coach Norm Hewitt.

“Cameron is a very smart player but when you're down eight runs, his run means nothing.  We tried to hold him up at second on that double but he didn’t pick me up in time.  It was just a mental error and we had too many today.  You can’t win in this game when you give up nine runs and only score two.”-Head Coach Norm Hewitt

OTHER KEY PERFORMANCES

Seth Fenster-Pitched two and two thirds innings and didn’t surrender a run or a hit.  He also had two hits and two walks.

Evan Edelman-Pitched two and two thirds innings with two strikeouts, a walk and a hit batsman.  The junior also did not surrender a run in his relief appearance.

Pat Roberts-2-for-3 with two singles.

COACH’S TAKE

“I’m surprised (Mike) Villegas got hit as hard as he did today.  His last time out he pitched a one hitter, and I don’t think he threw enough changeups today.  It’s a learning experience for him because he is a very good pitcher.  I take my hat off to Watchung Hills today because they really hit the ball well today and deserved this win.”-Hewitt

THEY SAID IT

“They hit they hit they hit; that’s really all it was today.  After the first inning that was it.  I thought that the two guys that came in at the end did a really great job for us and it was good that they were able to get some work today.”-Hewitt

UP NEXT-The Raiders will play Somerville in the quarterfinals of the Somerset County Tournament on Saturday at 3 p.m. at Hillsborough high school.