By COACH MIKE SCANNELL
The HMHS freshman baseball team continued their challenging schedule with a game versus the loaded Gloucester Catholic High School baseball team who just returned from a successful trip to Las Vegas and an early season eight game schedule.
The Haddons were playing only their second regular season ball game. To compete, the Haddons had to play their “A” game. What resulted was freshman baseball at its very best. Gloucester Catholic took advantage of a two out error to take a first inning 2–0 lead. The Haddons responded with first inning base hits and RBI’s by Mark Ostbye and Dan Leverick to tie the score.
Ostbye got the start for the Dawgs and threw five innings of one hit baseball and Carter Fichter threw the final two innings of no hit baseball against South Jersey’s best line-up in a dominating effort. The pitching was so dominating, only two balls reached the outfield, all others were kept in the infield where the Dawgs played error free baseball over the final six innings, including a fabulous 6–4–3 double play turned by Fichter to Eric Kaulback to Justin Skiba.
Sean Funke did a marvelous job behind the plate managing the one hit effort and keeping the G.C. running game in check that includes a key runner being thrown out at second base. In the second inning, following a filthy curve ball for a strike from Ostbye, he challenged the G.C. second hitter with a nasty fast ball in on the hands, which the batter just squeaked a slow hit ball between first and second base that proved to be Gloucester Catholics only base hit of the day, but scored an important run.
The rest of the day the Haddons threatened, with Matt Cassell starting the third inning with a lead off base hit smashed up the middle and advancing to second base. The threat ended when John Alemi drilled a ball to the left side where the shortstop made a fabulous play to end the inning.
Ultimately Gloucester Catholic was very fortunate to escape Farwood Field with a well played 3–2 victory. In the end, the Haddons did bring their “A” game, outplaying their opponent but coming up just one run short.
