Panthers and Vikings Share Top Spot in Cardinal

Forget championships for the moment — sometimes defense will simply win you a game. In a matchup that featured two run-saving plays at the plate, three double plays and a handful of spectacular flashes of leather, the Potomac baseball team topped Woodbridge, 5-3, to pull even with the Vikings atop the Cardinal District standings with identical 7-1 district records.

“The defense that was played to day in a high school ballgame was phenomenal,” said Potomac head coach Mike Covington. “There were a lot of times today where both of us could have gotten blown
out. If those balls tick off our glove or tick of their glove instead
of line drive double plays, it’s a different ballgame.”

Covington was happy that the game turned out just as it did, considering the Panthers’ 16-12 loss to the Vikings earlier in the year. In that April 22 game against the Vikings, Potomac used four different pitchers, walked eight batters and hit six. One of those four pitchers, senior Ryan Moriarty, got the start against the Vikings on Thursday.

“A lot of people asked how I could send him out there with the struggles that he has had,” said Covington of his senior hurler, who also started against Woodbridge in a non-district Spring Break tournament game and was unable to get out of the first inning. “He had a great week of practice and I felt confident. I had to see down
the stretch if he was going to be able to throw for us. I was confident
that he was going to get the job done and he went out and gave us a
solid three innings.”

Moriarty allowed two hits in three innings of work, striking out three. Moriarty did walk five and hit two batters, but three of those free passes came in the fourth inning after fouling a pitch off his calf muscle in a previous at bat. Reliever Tyler Vieira came relieved Moriarty in the fourth, allowing just one hit and striking out two to pick up the victory.

“Today, we still hit a few too many guys, but we didn’t bury ourselves with pitching and our defense bailed us out,” said Covington.

In a game where defense was king, it was a bloop single that proved to be the difference. With two outs in the top of the sixth inning, the Panthers got two consecutive singles off of Woodbridge freshman starter Tyler Thomas. Thomas then struck out Potomac’s Sean O’Connor but the pitch in the dirt bounced to the backstop, allowing O’Connor to reach safely at first, extending the inning. After Jeff Vaisa ripped a single up the middle to tie the game at 3-3, sophomore leadoff Kyle Vieira came up with two runners in scoring position. What followed was a 10-pitch at bat that saw the sophomore foul off six pitches before hitting a bloop single that scored two and gave the Panthers the victory.

“That was a great at bat by Kyle Vieira.” said Covington. “It wasn’t a bullet, but if found a hole. Just a great at bat. For a sophomore to be in that situation, that’s pretty impressive.”

After falling behind 0-2 in the count, Vieira’s plan was simple.

“I was trying to stay alive,” the sophomore second baseman said. “Whether he would give me a walk so I could
get on base or put the ball in play to get the lead. Just swing at the
strike and leave the balls alone.”

The victory was the Panthers’ second over the Vikings, but first to count for the district standings. Both teams, who are undefeated against the rest of the Cardinal District, have two games remaining. If both teams win out, a fourth meeting between the two squads this season would determine the regular season champ.

“We’ve beat them twice, so I feel good about it,” said Kyle Vieira about a fourth possible matchup.

But for now, Covington is going to enjoy this victory.

“That was a great high school baseball game,” he said. “It was fun to coach and it
was fun to watch. Fortunately, we come out on top. Games like today is
what you play for.”

Email: pfrommelt@digitalsports.com