Quince Orchard defeats Whitman 3-2 in 10 innings

By Kyle Wannen
For DigitalSports.com

Freshman are often not prepared for major clutch situations, especially in baseball where the margin of error between success and failure is so minuscule, but Quince Orchard freshman Danny Mars spent the final three innings of his team's game against Whitman Saturday hoping he would get to bat.

With his team trailing by one in the bottom of the tenth inning, with the bases loaded and two outs, Mars did not disappoint. He hooked the third pitch he saw for a line drive down the left field line to score two runs and automatically win the game for the Cougars (10-3).

"I really wanted to hit the inning before and I was thinking about it in the field," Mars said. "When I got up there I just knew I had to come up big for my team because we really wanted this win."

"I asked him in the huddle after the game, I was like, 'Are you sure you're a freshman?'" Quince Orchard coach Jason Gasaway said. "So it was nice to see him come up clutch there for us."

Before Mars came up to bat, pitcher Mike Ryan missed a ball in the dirt for what should have been a strikeout and game-over for Quince Orchard, but he hustled down to first base and reached safely on a throwing error to keep the inning alive. Ryan also pitched all 10 innings for the Cougars and only gave up two runs while striking out five.

"I was not going to give up on any play in this game," Ryan said. "There's not quitting on this team."

"I told everybody that was the biggest play," Gasaway said. "That was the game-changer right there. Anybody in that situation could have hung their head and pouted and he got right out of the box and hustled down to first."

In the top of the tenth, Whitman loaded the bases with one out and then pitcher Ethan Thompson scored on a passed ball to give Whitman (8-3) it's first lead in the game. Thompson also pitched 10 innings while giving up three runs and striking out three.

"You give good teams more opportunities, they will finally come through," Whitman coach Joe Cassidy said. "I told my kids keep your heads up. We had many chances to score earlier but they always seemed to come up and make a good play."

Immediately after third baseman Dan Williams hit a sharp drive up the middle but was robbed by a diving stop and throw from Cougars second baseman Frank Barkanic, which saved two runs from scoring.

"That was unbelievable right there," Gasaway said. "Without that we don't have an opportunity really to win that game. It's going to cost us three runs in the inning if he doesn't make that play."

"I got a little nervous when that guy hit that ball but I wasn't doubting it," Ryan said.

Before Saturday the two teams played to a 1-1 tie through seven innings before a sever thunderstorm delayed the game and ruined Quince Orchard's field to force a postponement. Both teams had four days to build up the intensity and hype to what would surely be a thrilling finale. Before the game each team played a separate game as Quince Orchard defeated Magruder and Whitman beat Kennedy.

On Tuesday Quince Orchard scored their only run in the third inning when catcher Peter Bowles drove home third baseman Greg Price with a sacrifice fly. The Vikings scored their only run in the fifth when second baseman Mike Flack scored on a fielder's choice.