Patriots ‘step up,’ get back on track

Old Mill ends losing streak, earns 1st win at home this season

Snapping a losing streak is never easy.

For the Old Mill baseball team Thursday night, ending a threegame skid would require not just some good hitting, but also plenty of luck with the weather. Despite facing wet conditions and a tough Glen Burnie team, the Patriots pulled off their second win of the season, holding on late for a 7-4 victory.

Patriots starter Deven Maurer took command early, pitching four shutout innings while allowing just four hits and one walk. Shortstop Shane Ladia and second basemen Brandon Rzepkowski backed up their pitcher early on, working together to scoop up any ground balls in play.

While the Patriots’ pitching was on point early, their hitters were also up for the challenge of getting their first home win of the season. They also received a bit of luck in the first inning after loading the bases. Gavin Wagner hit a sharp ground ball directly at Glen Burnie second basemen Peyton Ingle, whose throw to first went wide of the mark. The resulting error allowed for Isaiah Howard and Koby Thompson to score, giving Old Mill the 2-0 lead.

The Patriots added a third run in the inning when Rzepkowski lined a single into the outfield, scoring outfielder Ayden Burton.

Old Mill continued to pummel the Gophers’ pitching staff with its small-ball style. In the fourth inning, Cayden Witcher singled in the Patriots’ fourth run of the game on a line drive to left field, bringing in Leo Gruber. Russell Stratman continued the hit parade, burying a hard ground ball into center field that scored Ladia and Witcher.

Witcher gave the Patriots an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth, lining a double to left field that scored Ladia. Witcher, one of four seniors on the roster, also stole two bases.

“Our pitching has been good all season and was good tonight again,” Patriots coach Charlie Chaffin said. “We have been focused mostly on throwing strikes and now we are trying to get our hitting going. We have been a little inconsistent with our hitting so far throughout the season so it is good to see guys starting to step up.”

Although down late, Glen Burnie did make a comeback bid and give the home fans a bit of a scare. After loading the bases, pinch hitter Zachary Hayes belted a single to center that scored Jacob Pfeifer and Jordan Dailey. A sacrifice fly from Adam Sexton trimmed the

Patriots’ lead to 7-3 heading into the seventh inning.

While Glen Burnie would get one more run off of a single by catcher Joey Portera, Old Mill closer Trey Martini held on to record the save and give Maurer and the Patriots the victory.

“Right now we have six games in seven days,” Chaffin said. “So everyone who can pitch is going to pitch over the next couple of days. So it was great to see our guys go out there and take care of business.”