Around the Diamond: News & notes from F-F baseball
The second week of baseball season rekindled some old rivalries and set grounds for fresh hostility throughout Franklin and Fulton counties.
Check out everything you missed this week.
One-hitters
We saw two one-hitters thrown this weekend in Fulton County.
Forbes Road's pitching staff put up a one-hitter against Everett thanks to combined work from Brycen Hohman and Waylin Mitchell. Hohman threw the first six innings while allowing just one hit and no runs. He also walked five. Mitchell came in for relief in the top of the seventh and allowed three runs, but no base hits. Forbes Road won 6-3 in the SHL/ICC clash.
Southern Fulton's Trent Rider threw a one-hitter in his complete game shutout over McConnellsburg for his second win of the season.
Waynesboro streak ends
The Indian baseball team started the season on a 4-0 stretch, outscoring opponents 40-13 in their opening games. Friday afternoon, Waynesboro's streak ended with a 9-7 loss to Cedar Cliff.
But the Indians did not go down without a fight.
Waynesboro eliminated a 4-0 deficit by scoring six runs between the fourth and fifth innings to take a one-run lead heading into the top of the seventh.
The final inning doomed the Indians, who allowed Cedar Cliff to score four runs in the top of the inning, but responded with just one run before striking out to register their first loss of the season.
But despite the end to Waynesboro's undefeated start, coach Greg Chandler sees the challenges from a tough road slate as a learning experience.
"We knew we were facing an uphill battle," Chandler said. "One thing about this team is they have a family feeling. They all know how we have to play to win and I think they are on board and they are fully committed to what we are trying to do here. We have a group that believes in what we are doing and so far they've proved that."
'Boro baseball field gets facelift
Friday, Waynesboro played in its home opener with a bit of a different look, thanks to a $35,000 donation to build a new backstop.
Donations from a slew of local businesses contributed funds to build a 150-foot brick wall in front of the dugouts and a suspension netting system to protect fans in a new section of stadium seating behind home plate.
The first pitch against Cedar Cliff was thrown by Todd Clopper from the Eagles Club, one of the many groups who donated funds to update the field. Daryl Warrenfeltz, from GRC General Contracting, and father of former Indian Cole Warrenfeltz, also threw out an opening pitch.
"We wanted to make the field look as nice as possible," Chandler said. "We created a little Camden Yards. It turned out a lot better than I expected. It gives you the 'wow' factor when you walk in, and the generosity that went into making it happen was off the charts."