LJ (Little Jerome) Hoes signed with the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday
Kevin Brady, who was drafted by the Orioles, is the Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year
Youse's Maryland Orioles remained undefeated and they ran their
winning streak to five with a 15-2 win over the Bethesda Big Train on
Wednesday at Bachman Park in the Cal Riken Sr. Collegiate Baseball
League. Shortstop Gerard Hall had three hits and three RBI to lead a nine
hit attack. Hall tripled home Calvert Hall's Pat Blair in the eighth
after Blair drew a walk. Center-fielder Jeff Rowland had two hits and
drove in two with a single in the eighth for coach Dean Albany's club.
Lefty Max Russell went the first four innings, and got credit for the
win. Russell didn't allow a hit until the fourth, when Big Train's
first-baseman Danny Stienstra doubled with one away. "Max is coming
off an injury, and we're trying to build up his arm strength," said
Albany. "That's why we went to Kevin (Brady) in the fifth."
Brady is the Gatorade High School Baseball Player of the Year, and he
will join McDonogh's Chris Agorsor (soccer) in Hollywood at the Espy
Awards next month where one of twelve athletes from across the country
will be chosen as the Gatorade National High School Player of the Year.
In addition to that, Brady was selected by the Orioles in the Major
League Baseball draft last week, and he was named to the Brooks
Robinson High School All-Star Game that will be played at Oriole Park
on Sunday.
He threw three scoreless innings in relief of Russell and he struck out five Bethesda hitters.
The O's scored five times in the second, added two in the fifth, three
in the sixth, and piled on five more in the eighth against coach Mike
Mooreland's club, which fell to 2-2 in the league. The O's lead the
league with a 5-0 record over the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts
(2-1).
"Bethesda is one of our best rivals," said Albany. "We got some timely hits early, and everything fell into place."
Brady was 7-0 for Gaithersburg High this past spring, where he compiled
a record of 19-2 over a three year varsity career. He also plays short
and first, and he hit .397 with four homers and 18 RBI last season.
"It's a big thrill to be drafted by the hometown club," said the
right-hander, who will not turn 18 until September. "Winning the
Gatorade award and then being drafted are dreams come true," he added.
Brady is a life-long resident of Gaithersburg, where he attended Strawberry Knoll Elementary, and Gaithersburg Middle School.
Brady wasn't the only player n Albany's club making news on Wednesday.
Second-baseman L.J. Hoes, who the Orioles drafted last week signed with
the club before the O's-Bethesda game.
Hoes will be introduced to the crowd before Saturday night's game
against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and on Sunday he will report to the Gulf Coast
League in Sarasota, Florida.
"If I do well there, I'll have a chance to
go to short-season Aberdeen or Bluefield, which are both 'A' ball,"
said the promising infielder from St. John's in D.C.
"I thank God for this opportunity, and I thank my father for helping me to become a baseball player," he added.
Youse's Orioles have a return match with the Big Train at Povich Field in Bethesda on Saturday night.
Bethesda 000 000 011 2 8 5
Maryland 050 023 05x 15 9 1
Allen, Murphy (6), Hiserman (7), Feldman (8), and Mulligan
Russell, Brady (5), Toth (8), Jacob (9), and Hicks
WP-Russell LP-Allen
2B- B- Stienstra, Adkins; M- Natoli
3B- B-Leach M-Hall