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On a beautiful Memorial Day Monday afternoon, Concord District rivals took the field as Oakton took on Chantilly as the season winds down. Oakton started 2023 righthander Zach Danielczyk and Chantilly started senior lefty Marcus Dux (Virginia Tech). 

The game was ultimately the Marcus Dux show. In the first inning, Danielczyk hit the leadoff batter with a pitch, and two batters later Dux blasted a two-run home run to right-center to give the Chargers an early 2-0 lead. 

Dux controlled the Oakton offense early, carrying a no-hitter into the fourth inning and striking out 6 batters in a row at one point. Senior Nick Morgan (George Mason) broke up the no-hitter with a 1-out single in the fourth, but even after that the Cougars still went quietly in the fourth and fifth innings.

Danielcyzk settled in as well after the home run, and held Chantilly off the scoreboard until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Owen Pierce lined a single to left to drive in an insurance run for the Chargers.

In the top of the sixth, Oakton was finally able to get to Dux. One out singles by Spencer Schwartz and Morgan put two on, and a double steal moved both runners into scoring position. Oakton scored its first run on an RBI groundout, and then Dux ended the threat with a fly out and Chantilly clinging to a 3-1 lead.

In the top of the seventh, Chantilly brought Pierce into try and close out the win. He was welcomed quickly by a booming double to deep center off the bat of Ethan Jones. After a strikeout, he allowed a one-out single which put runners on the corners and the tying run on base. After a meeting at the mound, Pierce got a shallow pop out and a comebacker to end the game and secure the 3-1 win for Chantilly.

For Chantilly, Dux was the winning pitcher, going 6 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 10 K, 1 BB while also going 1-1 with a HR and 2 BBs at the plate. Pierce picked up a save with a scoreless inning and was 1-2 with a BB and an RBI. For Oakton, Danielcyzk threw well in taking the loss, going 6 IP, 3 R, 7 H, 3 K, 3 BB. Morgan was 2-3 with 2 SB. Schwartz went 1-2 with a BB and Jones was 1-3 with a 2B.

 

 

 

Chantilly

 

 

Marcus Dux LHP / Chantilly , VA / 2021 Dux is a Virginia Tech commit and is 6-1 with an athletic frame that has strength present. He throws from a three-quarters arm slot, short loose arm action with some effort. Hides ball well, some crossfire in his delivery, shoulders are uphill and closed, lands on line with a slight fall off finish and recoil. Fastball was 84-88, touching 89, pitch got some downward angle and a bit of sink and late armside run. Slider was 73-74 with good armspeed and sharp 2/8 break. Showed good command of both pitches, spotting the fastball to both corners and moving it up and down. Umpire was giving him a bit off the outside corner and he kept dotting it. Showed ability to come in on righties when he wanted to. Can throw breaking ball for a strike or as a finisher to righties and lefties, including ability to back foot it to a righty. Completely overmatched Oakton's lineup aside from Morgan in the first five innings. Fastball did start to tail off a bit, working 84-86 and touching 88 in the fifth, where as he was more 86-88, touching 89 early. Showed some pop and a short swing at the plate, hitting a home run in the first inning.