BASEBALL: The Rams were competitive with perennial state contender Steinert, but dropped a 6-3 decision Monday.
By: Neil Hay
In John Mariano’s book, there is no such thing as a moral victory.
That said, on a day when his Hightstown High School baseball team did not play at its best, the home team Rams were competitive with a talented Steinert nine that was probably happy to get out of town with a 6-3 opening day win Monday.
"Overall, I can never be pleased with a loss," said the Hightstown coach. "There is no such thing as a moral victory. We did not play as well as I know we can play and lost 6-3. In that respect, it is a positive."
There were other positives in this game. Although the Spartans outhit the Rams 11 to 6, the Rams had three extra base hits to one for Steinert. The Rams played errorless baseball and turned one double play, the same as Steinert. And Kurt Rodgers pitched well in relief of starter Paul Reyes to keep the Rams in the game.
Reyes’ problem was control: in two and one-third innings, he walked five batters with five hits and one strikeout, allowing four (all earned) runs. He also threw a wild pitch.
"Paul didn’t pitch poorly, but walks killed him," said Mariano.
Steinert scored three runs in the top of the first inning on four hits and two bases on balls. A fly ball that should have been caught but was not helped prolong the inning for the visitors. In the top of the third, with the score 3-1 and one out, Reyes walked the bases loaded. Mariano called for Rodgers, who gave up a run-scoring hit, then induced a double play to end the inning.
After a scoreless fourth inning, the Spartans reached Rodgers for two runs on two hits and a walk in the fifth. But it was three up and three down for the Spartans in the sixth and seventh innings.
"Rodgers pitched real well. A great game, actually," said Mariano of Rodgers’ 48-pitch performance. "It was a good outing."
Rodgers finished with four and two-thirds innings, six hits, two earned runs, one walk, no strikeouts. Many of the outs were harmless fly balls.
Hightstown finished with six hits and eight strikeouts against two Steinert pitchers. Said Mariano, "We didn’t hit the ball very well."
Greg Milesnick had a double, single, and scored a run. Derek Kichula (run batted in) and Reyes each had a double. Chris Luberto added an RBI-single.
The Rams squandered a big opportunity in the second. With one run in, one out, and the bases loaded the next two batters were unable to deliver a hit that would have scored another run or two and kept the inning going. Kichula’s hard liner to the center fielder was caught for the final out.