By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
In a pre-season interview, Fluco baseball Coach Joel Gray commented that his pitching staff would be good, if they didn’t allow too many walks. Twelve walks in seven innings are too many walks. The Wilson Memorial Green Hornets spoiled the Flucos home opener on March 18 by scoring ten runs to five runs for the Flucos. Seven of the Green Hornets runs were scored by players who reached base on walks and another who scored was hit by a pitch.
The Green Hornets jumped to an early lead in the first inning on a three-run home run by its clean-up hitter. Falling behind by three in the first inning is troubling but not insurmountable. Unfortunately for the Flucos, the Green Hornets were not done. They added two more runs in the top of the second inning on a walk, a hit batter, a wild pitch, a sacrifice fly and a double. Wilson Memorial went up 8-1 in the top of the fourth with three more runs on three walks, a wild pitch and a timely single. The Flucos responded with three runs of its own in the bottom of the fourth. Eight Flucos batted in their half of the inning. Junior catcher Carson Raines started the rally after one out when he singled. Junior third baseman Kyle Harris reached first on an infield error. Senior centerfielder Jayden Hoy singled to score Raines. Freshman Jacob Loving dropped a successful sacrifice bunt to move Harris and Hoy to second and third. Lead-off batter sophomore Brody Shields then singled to score two.
Wilson Memorial added two more in the top of the sixth and the Flucos plated their final run in the bottom of the seventh. The Flucos final run came in a manner consistent with the way the Green Hornets scored most of its runs. Walks to Tom Custer, Sam Loving and Cam Via loaded the bases. After a strike-out, reserve catcher, sophomore Noah Washington launched a long fly to deep right field that could have gone for a triple or a home run, but it didn’t. The Green Hornets’ right fielder hauled it in and the result was only a sacrifice fly.
Statistically this game was closer than the final score. Wilson Memorial had seven hits and ten runs. Its pitchers struck out ten and walked five. The Flucos had seven hits and five runs. Fluco pitchers struck out ten, but allowed twelve walks.
The Flucos played at Waynesboro on March 20 and at Wilson Memorial on March 21. They were home against Madison on March 25. After a break, they will play at Charlottesville on April 8 and host Albemarle High on April 10.
