With 10-4 win, baseball is over and out

Blair baseball dominated Walter Johnson High School by a score of 10-4, finishing the regular season with a record of 10-8.

Senior pitcher Will Fassett pitched a complete seven-inning game, the fourth by a Blair pitcher in the past two years. Fassett consistently induced playable grounders and weak pop-ups, allowing six hits and walking just one batter.

In addition to excellent pitching, the Blazers were hitting well tonight, according to Coach John Macdonald. "We played a more complete game tonight than [we have] all year," he said.

Walter Johnson scored on a pair of singles in the second inning, accounting for Fassett's only earned run.

Blair broke out with a seven-run third inning, "the best offensive inning of the year," according to Macdonald. Wildcat pitching, which struggled throughout the game with control, hit Fassett to lead off the third. Sophomore left fielder Thomas Foley advanced him with a single, then junior shortstop Josh Richardson and senior second baseman Thomas Kaufman were walked, loading the bases and walking in a run.

Senior third baseman Mike Coe ripped a double down the third-base line to drive in two runs. With men on second and third, senior first baseman Nick Cope smashed a fly ball to left field for the first out of the inning. Kaufman and Coe both tagged on the play, and Coe was even able to score from second base, helped by a throwing error by the left fielder.

Cope cleared the bases but not the atmosphere. Junior catcher Max Eckert reached on an error and scored on junior center fielder Mike Cozy's single to right field. Fassett, up for the second time of the inning, drove in Cozy with a single to left but got caught as he tried to stretch his single into a double.

Tonight's performance was a welcome relief from last night's embarrassing 12-0 loss to Gaithersburg High School. That loss and the fact that tonight's was the last game of the regular season made the win over Walter Johnson all the more crucial. "I wanted to end the season on a good note," said Macdonald.

The Blazers begin the playoffs this Friday, May 10, at Sherwood High School at 3:00 p.m. Blair lost to Sherwood on April 13 by a score of 5-7, but the Blazers should derive confidence from a solid win tonight.