There is an old sports cliche that says you can throw the records out the window for rivalry games.
That adage certainly held true for the Atholton baseball team on Tuesday, as the Raiders defeated visiting Reservoir, 3-1.
Last year, led by Player of the Year Brady Acker, the Raiders defeated Reservoir in late April en route to the county title. Reservoir got its revenge three weeks later in the regional semifinals and eventually won the program's first 3A state title.
Atholton (6-4 in Howard County) had lost five of seven to start this season — including four losses by seven runs or more — but has now won four in a row to move into fourth place in the county standings.
Reservoir (8-2), on the other hand, was riding a nine-game winning streak, including a nine-inning, 2-1 win over previously undefeated Mt. Hebron on Saturday.
"Especially for the kids who have been on the team for the last few years, this was a big deal for them," Atholton coach Jon Dupski said. "It was a big win. Reservoir is a great team."
Junior Blake James hit a solo home run in the first inning on Tuesday, then allowed one run on one hit through five innings, striking out six and minimizing the impact of seven walks.
"He had his change-up, he had his curve ball, and he went after them," Dupski said.
Atholton senior leadoff man Jordan Patterson singled, doubled and scored runs in the first and third innings on sacrifice flies by fellow senior Nick Raulin.
The Gators scored their only run in the top of the fifth, when No. 9 hitter Leo Estevez drew a one-out walk, advanced on a Jon Mierzwa single that broke up James' no-hitter, moved to third on a walk by Jack Barry, then scored on a bases loaded walk by No. 3 hitter Cody Morris.
James got out of the jam with back-to-back strike outs, then handed the ball over to Patterson, who earned the save by pitching two innings of one-hit ball, walking two and striking out three.
"Jordan, our shortstop, cooled me down a few times. I was getting a little frustrated" with all of the walks, said James. "He's a great all-around player and he came in and got the job done (in relief)."
Mierzwa also had the Gators' only other hit, a double in the top of the seventh.
Barry pitched a fine performance in the loss, going the distance while allowing only four hits and four walks and striking out seven.
Atholton will face league leader Mt. Hebron on Wednesday, while Reservoir will try to bounce back against Wilde Lake.
"We have some young guys who are stepping up. We just needed game experience," James said. "We're going to try to keep this streak going right into the playoffs."
Re (8-2) 000 010 0 - 1 2 0
A (6-4) 201 000 0 - 3 4 1
Barry and Harris. James, Patterson (6) and Feuerman.
2B: A — Patterson. Re — Mierzwa.
HR: A — James.