Baseball: Huskies Earn Tight Win Over Sidwell Friends

With the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference baseball standings still in flux, Flint Hill's matchup against Sidwell Friends on Tuesday held weight beyond redemption for the Huskies' 13-9 loss earlier in the season.

The Huskies' 5-3 victory Tuesday keeps them in contention for first place in the MAC, vying for at least a tie for the top of the standings heading into the conference tournament. 

The Huskies took the lead in the bottom of the first inning after Felix van der Vaart scored on a throwing error after a David Belt single. Rick Armstrong drove in the Huskies' second run with a suicide squeeze in the same inning. Belt also hit a solo home run over the left field wall in the third inning to put the Huskies up 3-0.

Sophomore pitcher Tommy Doyle held the Quakers scoreless through 4 2/3 innings, while giving up just one hit in five innings of work. The Quakers scored one run in the fifth inning on a passed ball with bases loaded.

"I thought Tommy had command of his fastball, curveball and changeup. When he has command he's a soft one, but he's really good," Coach Tom Verbanic said. 

The Huskies relieved Doyle in the sixth, and the Quakers loaded the bases with their first three batters. Then a line drive single scored two runs to tie the game. With runners on second and third with two outs, van der Vaart made a diving catch behind second base to rob the Quakers of an RBI single and end their rally. 

Daniel Giguere, who went 3 for 3, started the Huskies' sixth-inning rally with a single to center field. Van der Vaart followed with a line drive single to advance Giguere to third base. Nick Bazzarone hit an RBI single to right field to score Giguere for the game-winning run. The Quakers then walked Belt intentionally to load the bases, and they scored their last run on a passed ball.

"I thought we had some clutch hits all around," Verbanic said. "The one that may go unnoticed is Daniel, our nine hitter, went 3 for 3 and that was huge. He was a big part of everything offensively. I just think he's a big part of why we won today."

Coming off two disappointing losses last week in games they were the favorite to win, the Huskies knew the game against the Quakers was important for their confidence as well as their record.

"We were pretty hyped today. We've had a couple tough losses, so our seniors really put it on their backs and brought up the intensity," Bazzarone said. "Yesterday in practice we did a lot of situational hitting, and so I think that helped us today after they came back."

The team has started a new mantra to help emphasize the importance of each play rather than looking too far ahead: Win each inning. 

"I think it helped us a little. It got our focus back to where we need to be," Verbanic said. 

MAC Standings:

1. Maret: 9-2
2. Flint Hill: 8-3
3. Sidwell Friends: 8-3
4. Potomac School: 7-4
5. Georgetown Day: 2-9
6. St. Andrews: 1-9