Heritage Edges Out Broad Run

By Matt Brooks (Contact)

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

A year ago, Heritage starting pitcher Andy Zarobila was a hard-luck loser in a one-run loss at Broad Run. He pitched well enough to win the game but several errors allowed the Spartans to continue their march toward a Dulles District title.

This season, Zarobila has earned his fair share of revenge. With his second complete game effort against the Spartans this season, the junior lefty led the way on the mound and at the plate as the Pride snapped a four-game skid and swept the season series with Broad Run with a 3-2 victory on senior night in Leesburg.

Zarobila was a bit shaky early on, allowing a leadoff double to opposing pitcher Shane Vlasic, but on this night, his defense was solidly behind him from the start. After getting Ryan Johnston to ground out to third, Zarobila induced a ground ball to short from Patrick Murphy. Pride senior shortstop Brenton Peters fielded the ball cleanly and threw to third to get Vlasic sliding into the bag for the second out. After Murphy stole second and then third, Spartan senior Chris Jessop walked and stole second to put runners on second and third with two outs. But Zarobila got Zach Rawson on a grounder back to the pitcher to end the threat.

"My sophomore year I pitched a pretty good game against them," Zarobila said. "We had a pretty good chance to beat them so that gave me a lot of confidence coming into this year. And just having a great defense behind me really helps."

In the bottom half of the inning, Heritage's hurler helped himself, driving in Peters with an infield single. The Pride tacked on another run the following inning when junior Ross Alcorn singled, advanced to third on an errant throw by Vlasic and scored on a wild pitch to make the score 2-0.

The Pride (7-8, 5-5 AA Dulles) got another highlight-reel play from senior third baseman Trey Reed to end a Broad Run threat in the top of the third. With runners on first and second and one out, Murphy ripped a line drive right at Reed who gloved it for one out and then alertly threw across the diamond to double up Ryan Johnston at first.

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Pride Best Broad Run on Senior Night

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Heritage senior shortstop Brenton Peters is recognized along with his family on senior night in Leesburg before the Pride's Dulles District game against Broad Run. (Matt Brooks)

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Heritage seniors Brenton Peters (3), Peter Harbolick (12) and Trey Reed (13) are recognized prior to the Pride's Dulles District game against Broad Run. (Matt Brooks)

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Heritage Coach Ryan Price and Broad Run Coach Pat Cassidy chat with the umpires prior to their game in Leesburg on Tuesday night. (Matt Brooks)

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Heritage junior Andy Zarobila pitched a complete game in a 3-2 victory over Broad Run. (Matt Brooks)

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Heritage's Andy Zarobila scattered six hits over seven innings, allowing two runs while walking two and striking out four in a 3-2 win over Broad Run. (Matt Brooks)

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Heritage senior third baseman Trey Reed was outstanding against Broad Run, recording five assists and two putouts. (Matt Brooks)

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Heritage pitcher Andy Zarobila works through a jam in the top of the sixth inning against Broad Run. (Matt Brooks)

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Broad Run senior Patrick Murphy scores the Spartans' second run of the game on an RBI single by Chris Jessop. (Matt Brooks)

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Broad Run freshman Connor Jessop is called out after falling on a bunt off his bat and senior Chris Jessop (crossing the plate) is sent back to third base. (Matt Brooks)

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The Spartans (7-7, 6-4) chipped away at the lead in the fourth, when Chris Jessop got on with a leadoff double, Rawson followed with an infield single and junior designated hitter Chris Lane drove in Jessop with a groundout. But again, the Pride escaped with minimal damage. Zarobila's third pitch to Broad Run junior catcher Johnny Meier was in the dirt and bounced to the backstop, but Pride catcher Danny Klemm hustled to the ball and tossed it to Zarobila who got the tag down on Rawson just in time to save a run and end the frame.

Zarobila tallied another RBI single in the fifth after Brenton Peters tripled to the wall in right center, giving the home team a 3-1 lead. But the Spartans rallied in the top of the sixth. After Johnston grounded out to the pitcher to start the inning, Murphy singled to left and stole second base. Jessop got his second hit of the game on a single up the middle that scored Murphy to make it 3-2. With Rawson batting, Jessop stole second and then third. Rawson drew a walk and stole second to put runners on second and third with one out. Then, on a strange play, freshman second baseman Connor Jessop tried to lay down a bunt with two strikes and made contact with the ball in play. He was called out on strikes and Chris Jessop, who slid across home plate for the would-be tying run, was sent back to third. Zarobila got pinch-hitter Tyler Small to pop out to end the inning and essentially seal the victory.

"Andy's grown up," Peters said. "I've been playing with him since Little League and he's really come into his own. He's definitely delivering. I try my best to get on base so he can get me around. Whatever I can do to help him out when he's on the mound, I'm going to do it."

Reed, who finished with five assists and two putouts, made one more spectacular play for the final out of the game, diving to his left to stab a hard-hit grounder from Vlasic. He quickly picked himself off the infield grass and fired to first to get the out and clinch a much-needed victory for the Pride.

Chris Jessop went 2 for 2 with a walk, three stolen bases and a run scored for the Spartans, who had won four straight coming into Tuesday night's game. He also pitched an inning of scoreless relief, striking out two of the three batters he faced. Vlasic was nearly as good as Zarobila, scattering six hits over five innings, allowing three runs – two earned – and striking out five while walking one. But the junior right-hander didn't help himself in the field, committing two errors and throwing a wild pitch that led to a run. The Spartans stranded five runners in scoring position on the night.

"Zarobila is tough, we know he's a tough arm," Broad Run Coach Pat Cassidy said. "We're just disappointed with the fact that we had some opportunities tonight – men on second and third and a first and third – and we didn’t get the runners across. With a pitcher like that on the mound you've got to capitalize on those opportunities and we didn't do that tonight."

Relying heavily on a nasty curveball that fooled Spartan hitters for much of the night, Zarobila pitched a complete game, scattering six hits and giving up two earned runs while walking two and striking out four. He also led the offense with a pair of RBI singles. Peters was also 2 for 3 with a single, a triple, two stolen bases and two runs scored. Next up for the Pride is a rematch with Briar Woods – the team they fell to by one run in extra innings the first time around.

"Traditionally, we've been able to hit but haven't pitched very well," Heritage Coach Ryan Price said. "We've got pitching now and we've benefitted from that when we're not swinging the sticks all that well. We're looking to pick up a game on Briar Woods next time out and the kids want that game pretty bad."

Extra Points

By Paul Tenorio and Matt Brooks