Chris Wagenheim, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
TRINITY — In a game loaded with stranded runners, passed balls, wild pitches and errors, Mitchell was able to squeeze out a run in the third inning and edge Ridgewood 1-0 Tuesday.
"I did not expect one run to cover it, not with the way Ridgewood plays," Mitchell coach Scot Wilcox said. "They are a tough team to beat on any night and we are not built for the close, one-run games."
Although the Mustangs' winning run got on base with a walk and was advanced by a passed ball then eventually came in on a Gavin Hunt single, they were unable to capitalize more than once. The Rams (2-2) struck out only two batters, walked four and committed two errors.
Mitchell (3-1) helped the Rams stay in the game with a number of its own defensive foibles, but made solid stops in tight jams. The Mustangs had three passed balls, two wild pitches and two errors. An error at first put the tying run on base in the last inning and a passed ball advanced it, but it was a clutch 6-3-5 double play that ended the inning and the game.
"I trust in my defense. I still think that defense is one of our strengths," Wilcox said. "Like I was telling my guys, we will make an error here and there, but then we go out and make a play."
And while Mitchell stranded four runners, Ridgewood stranded seven — two on first, two on second and three on third.
"We have to get the young kids to swing," Rams coach Larry Beets said. "All the third call strikes were sophomores and freshmen."