Blake rallies late to defeat Gaithersburg 7-2.

By Kyle Wannen
For DigitalSports.com

In the fifth inning of their playoff game against Gaithersburg Friday, Blake's baseball team ran themselves out of a possible comeback attempt when they were caught in a unassisted double play by Trojans' shortstop Robbie Shanley which seemingly killed all their momentum.

The Bengals (5-9) did not dwell on the missed opportunity as they bounced back in the next inning to score three runs to take a 4-2 lead and then added three more runs in the seventh as they defeated Gaithersburg, 7-2, in the first round of the playoffs.

"We've had games this season that we've lost after we got down," pitcher Tommy Cunningham said. "This game we knew this could have been the last game for a lot of our seniors so we wanted to go out with a bang."

"We got down early but we didn't panic," Blake coach Steve Murfin said. We stayed patient, waited for our opportunities and then we got the lead but the most important thing is we capitalized on that lead."

In the sixth inning, Cunningham led off with a bloop down the left field line that fell in for a stand-up double. Two batters later, right fielder Jimmy Smith drove him in with a single to tie the game at two. Two batters after Smith, second baseman Taylor Miller drove in two runs with a single between second and first past a drawn-in infield to give the Bengals the lead after they blew their chance the inning before.

"We had to pick ourselves up just as teammates," Miller said. "I was just thinking I needed to get some runs scored. It was a close game. I didn't want my seniors to go home."

Cunningham helped keep the Bengals in the game as he pitched a complete game and gave up two runs, one unearned, while striking out four and getting out of some key jams. He also drove in Blake's only run before the pivotal sixth inning when he doubled home shortstop Jake Lorber.

"Tommy Cunningham is obviously our best player, he's the one we look up to and he's had a lot of pressure put on him by himself because he wants to perform," Murfin said. "When it comes to crunch-time, he's going to come through almost every time."

After their sixth inning explosion, the Bengals scored three unearned runs in the seventh to increase their lead to five runs. With the win Blake moves on to play Wootton on Monday.

Gaithersburg (9-10) got a strong performance by pitcher Nick Riley who went seven innings while striking out nine batters with a tough sidearm delivery. Shanley drove in a run in the fourth inning with a single and center fielder Matt Monroe scored on a throwing error in the second.

"You got to give them credit," Trojans coach Jeff Rabberman said. "They put the bat on the ball. Their hits found the holes and they executed. We kept them in the game too long."