Deuntrey Gallman strokes an RBI single into center. (Photo/Ross Burton)
BLYTHEWOOD (March 8, 2016) – Last Wednesday, the Westwood Redhawks baseball squad suffered a 1-0 loss to the Cardinals of Cardinal Newman. Monday night, still looking for their first win of the season, they were determined to even the score. The Cardinals narrowly avoided a shutout, as Westwood got their revenge, 5-1.
Westwood Head Coach Jonathan Burroughs said his team, which has dropped their first two contests of the season by a combined total of just two runs, has done everything well so far this season except hitting.
“We played well all last week,” Burroughs said before the first pitch. “We can run, we can catch, we can play deep, we just have to hit.”
Westwood did, in fact, come out hitting and playing a little ‘small-ball.’ T.J. White put down an excellent bunt for a single. The next batter, Matthew Oxendine bunted again and was thrown out at first, but White advanced into scoring position. Gavin Burroughs then got an RBI with a hit into center field, which brought in White. At the end of the inning, Westwood was ahead 1-0.
The Redhawks did more damage in the bottom of the fourth. Westwood loaded the bases without the benefit of a single hit as Cardinal pitching surrendered a pair of walks and then plunked a Redhawk batter. Two more free passes walked in a pair of Westwood runs. The easy scores for Westwood spelled the end for the Cardinals’ starting pitcher. Cardinal Newman would go through two more pitchers before game’s end.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Rashawn Green got a clean hit for a single then moved into scoring position by stealing second. Another nice swing of the bat by Deuntrey Gallman scored Green. Gallman also managed to steal second. A wild pitch advanced Gallman to third. A bunt by Kareem Wilson brought Gallman home for Westwood’s fifth and final run of the game.
It looked like the Redhawks would shut out the Cardinals, but it was not to be. The Cardinals loaded the bases in the ninth and a Cam Tringali hit for a single brought in their only run of the night.
“We got just what we were hoping for,” Burroughs said after the final out. “We hit a little bit, we threw strikes, Branden May pitched the whole game. Our first win, it’s good for the guys.”
The Redhawks travel to Richland Northeast Wednesday, then return to the roost to host Airport Friday. First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. for both games.
