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Sports

Northwest Squanders Scoring Opportunities in Loss to Churchill

Jaguars strand six runners in scoring position, lose 7-2

The Northwest baseball team entered Monday’s contest in Potomac with a 5-1 record, its ace pitcher on the mound and a lineup coming off a 10-run performance during a come-from-behind victory over Wootton.

The Jaguars’ opponent: a 1-5 Churchill team that managed just six runs during a five-game losing streak to start the season.

While the matchup on paper favored Northwest, a sub-par pitching performance and the Jaguars’ inability to hit with runners in scoring position led to a 7-2 loss at CHS.

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Northwest trailed 4-0 at the end of the first inning and got no closer than two runs despite several opportunities. The Jaguars stranded six runners in scoring position against Churchill starter Kelby Spring; a soft-tossing left-hander who kept Northwest hitters off balance.

“It was hard for all of us to keep [our weight] back,” Northwest leadoff batter Nick Siegel said. “We got around on him but we were all out in front of it and we didn’t make solid contact. When we did, we hit it right to them.”

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Northwest scored one run in the second inning, but left runners stranded on second and third. The Jaguars cut the deficit to 4-2 in the fourth, but Jake Vogdes, who doubled home Joey Moeltner, was stranded at third.

Spring earned the victory, allowing two runs --- one earned --- and six hits while walking two and striking out four in six innings.

“I knew that Northwest has been a pretty good hitting team,” Spring said, “so I just wanted to keep the ball low. ...”

During the game, Northwest head coach Todd Varesco voiced his displeasure with the home plate umpire’s strike zone. Afterward, Varesco gave Churchill credit and said the Jaguars needed to adjust in the batter’s box.

“If we’re getting called strikes on the outside of the plate, we’ve got to adjust,” Varesco said. “If a guy keeps calling outside corner, adjust --- crowd the plate, make them throw inside on you. If they’re throwing a ball that’s bouncing in front of the plate [and] he’s calling that a strike, too bad, you’ve got to move up in the box and hit the ball. It’s not the umpire’s fault. It never will be the umpire’s fault. We have to make adjustments at the plate and if we can’t do that, then we’re in trouble.”

While Northwest (5-2) struggled offensively, starting pitcher Matt Cononie didn’t fare much better. The right-hander lasted 2 1/3 innings, allowing four runs --- three earned --- and three hits while walking two, hitting three batters and striking out four. Churchill (2-5) sent nine to the plate in the first inning, scoring four runs. After plating six runs in their first five games, all losses, the Bulldogs have scored 19 in victories over Richard Montgomery and Northwest.

“I felt great going in, I just couldn’t hit my spots, couldn’t find my pitches,” said Cononie, who suffered the loss. “Those days will come as a pitcher; you can’t always have a perfect day. I’ll come back [for my next start] very, very ready [with my] head in the game.”

Northwest’s Steven D’Amato went 3 for 4 with a pair of infield singles. Moeltner went 2 for 2 with two singles and a base on balls. Northwest coaches moved Moeltner from third to sixth in the batting order and the result was positive for the Jaguars.

“He made some adjustments today,” Varesco said. “I think down there, today, he was a little more comfortable, so we’ve got to look at that in the future.”

Moeltner had been batting third in place of Jeff Ta, a four-year starter who suffered a shoulder injury against Springbrook on March 25. Ta will be out until after spring break due to family business, Varesco said. The Jaguars’ first game after spring break is April 27 at Magruder.

Northwest is scheduled to host Walter Johnson at 3:30 p.m. today.

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