Panthers Win Big in Opener

Potomac Falls 12, Manassas Park 3

By Matt Brooks (Contact)

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Potomac Falls picked up where they left off last season in Friday's opener at Manassas Park. The defending Dulles District tournament champions got a solid outing from ace Jake Kline and delivered clutch hits as they pounded the Cougars 12-3 to start their 2008 campaign with a victory.

The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead with three hits from their first four batters, including an RBI single from Aaron Sweger and a double from third-baseman Robert Malan.

Potomac Falls (1-0) continued its offensive onslaught in the third when catcher Michael Spring drilled a fastball from Manassas Park pitcher Brandan Settles, clearing the bases with a three-run double. The Panthers scored four runs in the inning and sent Settles to the dugout after giving up six runs on seven hits in just 2 1/3 innings.

Kline (1-0) kept the Cougars' bats in check, allowing two runs on five hits in five strong innings of work. Both runs came in the third inning when the Panthers' infield committed two costly errors, but the junior hurler limited the damage and allied two of his five strikeouts.

"We got clutch hits in RBI situations, which is important, but I think we need to work on just staying focused for seven innings," Potomac Falls coach Joe Terango said. "There were a couple innings in the middle there where we lost focus in the dugout, we lost focus on the field defensively. I think if we can just continue to keep that focus for 21 outs, I think we'll be fine."

Spring led the Panthers with two hits and six RBIs while Malan had three hits in five plate appearances, scoring three times and picking up an RBI. Sweger, the reigning Dulles District Player of the Year and one of only three seniors on the roster, reached base in all five of his plate appearances, scoring three runs with a double and an RBI single.

"Coming out here and winning our first one is just a big step," Sweger said. "To come out here and win like this it just shows that ... we're a pretty good team."

Brian Griffin pitched two solid innings after relieving Kline, striking out the side to get out of trouble in the sixth and surrendering one run on two hits in the seventh before closing things out. The Panthers had 13 hits and took advantage of five defensive miscues by the Cougars, including three in the four-run sixth inning.

Thirteen Potomac Falls players saw action in a total team effort that impressed Terango.

"To be honest with you, we haven't spent a lot of time outside," he said. "We've actually just come together in the last three days. Three days ago we were worried where we stood as a team. And in the last three days we put our heads together in practice and really came together. So I'm proud of the boys tonight, and I'm also proud of Manassas Park. They played a nice game tonight."

Notes: The Panthers flirted with the 10-run mercy rule in a four-run sixth inning that put them up 11-2, but they couldn't push the margin high enough to call the game early.

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