Park View Holds Off Dominion

By Matt Brooks (Contact)

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

For the second time in two weeks, the Dominion Titans found themselves in position to win an extra-inning game on their home field with a walk-off hit on Tuesday night. Trailing visiting rival Park View and down to their final out, the Titans had their best hitter at the plate with the game on the line.

On March 20, senior Chris Taylor blasted a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie a game against Freedom that the Titans would go on to win in 11 innings. Taylor entered the batter’s box on this night with runners on first and second and a freshman pitcher on the mound. But right-hander Bobby Mason got one of the most feared sluggers in the Virginia AA Dulles District to pop out to the second baseman, securing a potentially pivotal 5-4 come-from-behind victory for the Patriots.

"We couldn't have asked for a better situation there at the end," Dominion Coach Jay Raines said. "He's been the guy for us and it would've been nice if he had been able to do it again, but we just didn't play defense and didn't hit tonight. We should have gotten the job done a lot sooner than that."

After a rough first inning on the mound by senior starter Ben Rosado and uninspired defense behind him, Park View quickly fell behind 3-0 and through two innings they trailed their hosts 4-1. Despite another strong outing from Taylor – a second team all-Dulles District pitcher last season – the Patriots (2-4, 2-3) were able to chip away at the lead with and unearned run in the third inning and another unearned run on a booted groundball in the sixth.

Still chasing a run in the top of the seventh, Mason beat out a groundball to second base to get the potential tying run on with one out. Senior leftfielder Trevor Scales followed with a slow roller to third that Dominion first baseman Austin Behr couldn't dig out, putting runners on first and second for Andrew Mason. The junior center fielder delivered with a single up the middle to plate pinch runner Jance Shine and the Patriots knotted things up at 4-4.

The Titans (3-2, 3-1) looked like they might avoid extra frames when they loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batsman by Bobby Mason in the bottom of the seventh. But with two outs, Park View shortstop made a great play on a Nicholas DeMott grounder, flipping the ball to second baseman Josh Carter just in time to get the final out of the inning.

In the top of the eighth, with Taylor out of the game, Park View’s senior catcher Johnny Mason drew a lead-off walk from Anthony Bartolotti, moved into scoring position on Rosado’s sacrifice bunt and ended up on third base on a passed ball by backup catcher Jonathan Knight – who had replaced Bartolotti behind the plate.

After Bartolotti struck out Carter swinging, Park View sophomore first baseman hit a ground ball to third where Demetri Austin was playing too deep to charge it and get the ball across the diamond in time to get the out. Instead, Mason crossed the plate for the go-ahead run and the Patriots had their first lead of the game and the final margin just five days after suffering a humbling 10-0 loss to district frontrunners Potomac Falls.

"This is a big step forward for us and helps us gain some confidence," Johnny Mason said. "We've got one of the best Dulles District pitchers out there against us and we got some key hits off him. That's a big thing for the young guys that got hits and for our pitchers, too."

Bobby Mason picked up the win for Park View with two innings of scoreless relief, allowing one hit while walking three and striking out one. Rosado allowed four runs in five innings on seven hits while walking two and striking out eight. Sophomore lefty Sam Ryan pitched a scoreless sixth inning for the Patriots. At the plate, Andrew Mason led the way with two hits and an RBI and Rosado was responsible for the only other earned run.

"Our pitching staff has thrown the ball well all year, we just haven't supported them," Park View Coach Mickey Leap said. "Sam threw a nice inning there to keep us in the game and then Bobby – he's just got the most poise of any freshman I've ever seen. I told him there, ‘Call me crazy, but I do not want to pitch around the first two batters to get to Chris Taylor with a man in scoring position in the eighth inning of a one-run ballgame…but I guess he knew what he was doing."

Taylor scattered seven hits over his seven innings of work, walking only one and striking out nine Patriots. Of the four runs he surrendered on the hill, only one was earned. Knight had two singles in four at-bats for the Titans who visit their other Sterling rivals, first-place Potomac Falls on Friday night. Meantime the Patriots get ready to co-host a spring break tournament with Freedom over the weekend. After a slow start similar to last year's, the Patriots have now won two of three and hope Tuesday win turns the tide for their season.

"We're hoping this can turn the tide for us," Leap said. "We've got a couple days off where we can get out onto the field to try to shore up our infield a little bit, and then we've got our tournament starting up Saturday. Maybe we'll make some noise in there and turn this thing around before we get back into the district schedule."

Extra Points

By Paul Tenorio and Matt Brooks