No. 15 Highland Continues Delaney Dominance

A warmer and windy Wednesday saw Fredericksburg Christian travel to Delaney Athletic Conference rival No. 15 Highland. The Eagles jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, but Highland scored six runs in the first two innings to put the game out of reach early, and juniors Blake Fisher and Adam Dressler combined to hold FCS to just three hits for the game.

Highland ace Fisher was tabbed with the start and got off to a shaky one, walking leadoff hitter Joel Tarrh and then giving up a smashed double to right center off the bat of sophomore JT Carter. Sabin Roane drove in the game's opening run with a groundout. Fisher forced a botched squeeze attempt and a groundout to escape the inning with only a 1-0 deficit.

In the bottom of the first, Eagle junior lefty Josiah Hyde got the first out of the game before senior Joe DeBardi (Mt. St. Mary's) mashed a double to deep center. Fisher helped his own cause and tied the game up with a sharp single to right. Fisher stole second and a Luke Burner (West VA Wesleyan) single to short put runners on the corners before a sacrifice fly by Blake Cuddington gave the Hawks the lead. Eddie Gimbel drilled a triple to right to add another run and he scored on an infield single by Ty Gravett before the first inning ended with Highland leading 4-1.

The Hawks added two more in the bottom of the second on a DeBardi RBI triple and a sacrifice fly by Fisher. Fisher settled in after the first and cruised through the second and third before he worked out of a jam in the fourth. He exited the game after the fifth inning and was replaced by Dressler, who worked a scoreless last two innings. 

Highland tacked on two more runs later when Cuddington opened the sixth off with a double to deep center and Gimbel had his second RBI triple of the game, with Gimbel scoring the final run of the game on a sacrifice fly later, with the game concluding at 8-1.

For Fredericksburg, Hyde threw a complete game in the loss, and did string together some strong innings in the middle of the game. Roane finished the game 1-2 with a HBP, SB, and RBI and Carter ended up 1-3 with a 2B.

For Highland, Fisher was the winning pitcher with 5 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 2 BB, HBP, 3 K while also going 1-2 with 2 RBIs at the plate. Dressler went 2 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 0 BB, 3 K. DeBardi was 2-3 with a 2B, 3B, and an RBI. Cuddington was 1-2 with a 2B and an RBI. Gimbel was 2-3 with 2 3Bs and 2 RBIs.