'Jacks split doubleheaders with Dundalk, Essex
WYE MILLS – Chesapeake College split a pair of taut conference baseball doubleheaders in less than 30 hours, with the Skipjacks earning praise from head coach Frank Szymanski for their continued competitiveness.
"We competed out there," said Szymanski after Chesapeake's 8-6 win in the nightcap gave the Skipjacks a split of Saturday's doubleheader with CCBC-Essex. "We've played hard all season. After 29 games, I think there have been maybe two games where we weren't competitive."
Szymanski also praised Essex (7-22 overall, 2-12 league), which erased a late, 3-1 deficit to beat Chesapeake, 5-4, in Saturday's opener.
"They really battled," said Szymanski of Essex. "They had four straight two-out hits (in a two-run seventh that broke a 3-3 tie) and you've got to give them credit for the way they came back."
Chesapeake (19-10, 8-2) also split a Friday doubleheader at CCBC-Dundalk. The Skipjacks earned a 7-6 victory in the opener for their ninth straight win before Dundalk (14-15, 6-6) pulled out a 2-1 triumph in the nightcap. Winning pitcher Jonathan Otero threw a two-hitter and Brandon Almodovar singled in the game-winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh as the Lions earned the split.
Trailing 3-1, Essex tied Saturday's opener with a two-run sixth inning that featured a run-scoring groundout by Denard Davis and a game-tying single by Griffin Shirley. Kazon Godwin singled in the go-ahead run with two outs in the seventh and Ismael Reyes followed with a run-scoring single to give the Knights a 5-3 lead.
Jacob Brown, the second of three Chesapeake pitchers, took the loss. Zachery Stampley threw a five-hitter for Essex in the win.
Chesapeake bounced right back in the nightcap, putting together a six-run first inning highlighted by Blake Musser's two-run triple as the Skipjacks chased losing pitcher Dax Kirkman. J.D. Correa, who had a run-scoring sacrifice fly in the opening inning, added an RBI single in the second as Chesapeake built a 7-0 lead.
Essex pulled within 7-6 with a five-run fifth that included Stampley's two-run double and a two-run single from Reyes. The Knights put the tying run on base in the sixth when Eugene McGeeney Jr. walked with two outs, but Tyler McGovern came on in relief to retire the final four Essex batters to earn his fourth save of the season.
"He's been pretty good for us all year," Szymanski said of McGovern, who has a 2-0 record and also saved Friday's win over Dundalk.
Musser, Jordan Gowe (two doubles, two runs), Kam Stewart (two runs), and Danny Allen (run, RBI) each had two hits in Saturday's nightcap. Scott Abt earned the win, pitching four innings while allowing three runs on two hits, two walks, and a hit batsman.
Chesapeake also had a six-run first inning in Friday's opener at Dundalk as Stewart doubled in two runs, Casey Joseph contributed an RBI single, and Allen plated a run with a sacrifice fly. Dundalk pulled within 7-6 on Wilfredo Ruiz's two-run single in the bottom of the seventh, but Ruiz was picked off by McGovern to end the game.
Tyler Tobin was the winning pitcher, allowing eight hits and a walk with two wild pitches while striking out three in six innings.
Chesapeake plays at Hagerstown Community College Sunday at 1 p.m. in a single, nine-inning league contest.
Notes: Harford (25-7, 11-1) was in first place in Maryland JuCo pending Saturday's doubleheader results at Frederick (23-8, 8-2). CCBC-Catonsville (17-9, 9-1) is in second place, with Chesapeake (19-10, 8-2) currently tied for third with Cecil (20-12, 8-2) and Frederick.