ELLICOTT CITY, MD — At 5-0 in Howard County, the Mt. Hebron baseball team is off to a strong start. But after the Vikings' 4-3 walkoff win over visiting Hammond (2-4) on Thursday afternoon, Mt. Hebron is more concerned about getting better.
"We've got some work to do, especially getting the bats ready, but I think it's looking good for us," said sophomore Jack Schroeder, who drove in Jake Snyder from second base for the winning run with one out in the bottom of the seventh. "We're not exactly there as a team yet, we've got to improve on some stuff, but I think we're doing all right."
Mt. Hebron senior Mark Smith pitched six innings on Monday, striking out 13 (nine looking) and allowing three runs on five hits. But when told about the 13 strikeouts after the game, Smith — who has committed to pitch for Towson University next year — was more concerned about the four walks, two of which forced in runs in the fourth inning.
"I believe in the quality of hitters we have and our team, we're just not translating it into the games yet. We want to get better offensively and more consistent. We're getting efforts from our starting pitchers that we can win with, and we should win more comfortably than we have been," said coach Brian Culley, whose team has now won three walkoff games this spring. "They're giving me more gray hair than I already have or want.
"It's hard to complain with a win, but we're trying to play a complete game and I'd like to see the sticks come around a little bit."
The Golden Bears took a 3-1 lead on Mt. Hebron in the fourth inning when DaVonn Griffin led off with a single up the third base line, David Hutchison reached safely on a bunt single, Andy Weaver roped an RBI double, Sam Wiedorfer reached on a fielder's choice that left the bases loaded after no out was recorded, then Tyler Zamora and Ryan Ridgell drew RBI walks with two outs.
"Times were tough there for a little bit and he bared down and stopped the bleeding and allowed us to come back and win, but if we want to realize our long term goals we're going to have to make sure that we're making the other team earn everything they get," Culley said. "I'm proud of the way (Smith) persevered through it. He didn't have his best stuff but the sky is the limit for him. It's just a matter of making sure we're pitching to contact and getting ahead early in the count ... his stuff is so good that he can go to work after that."
Hammond junior Calvin Smith didn't have the gaudy strikeout numbers, but also pitched an excellent game, allowing only two earned runs on four hits and five strikeouts.
"Calvin pitched a great game," Hammond coach Casey Medairy said. "He pulled through. He gave us six very good innings which was higher than our expectations."
Mt. Hebron scored in the first inning when Snyder drew a walk, stole second base, then scored on an RBI single by Schroeder. But then Calvin Smith recorded eight straight outs, a streak that ended when Schroeder drew a leadoff walk in the fourth, advanced on a Matt Ansaldi single and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Jack Montgomery reached base on a fielder's choice, advanced on the wild pitch that plated Schroeder, and scored on a fielding error.
"We know what it's like to play good baseball, we've just got to finish ball games," Medairy said.
Ha (2-4) 000 300 0 - 3 6 1
MH (5-0) 100 200 1 - 4 6 1
C. Smith, Witt (7) and Terrasa. M. Smith, Carbonetti (7) and Broache.
2B: Ha — Weaver. MH — Trapuzzano.