Cougars not pretty, but still perfect

Wednesday, April 5, 2006

For the first time this season, Quince Orchard High baseball coach Jason Gasaway received a shaky performance from one his starting pitchers. It worked out OK, because the Cougars still won to remain perfect for the spring through Monday.

Facing a hot Blake squad, senior right-handed pitcher Matt O’Keefe walked six batters and allowed two runs on two hits in 3 2⁄3 innings Friday evening. But instead of faltering through the unfamiliar situation, the Cougars cranked up the bats and received a solid three innings of relief work from junior right-handed hurler Kyle Judson for the 9-4 victory.

QO’s top five batters went a combined 10 for 18 with four doubles and two home runs, while Judson allowed two earned runs on five hits in three innings to earn the win on the mound.

Offensively, O’Keefe went 2 for 4 with a double, two runs and a run batted in. Senior center fielder Kevin Collins had two hits, two runs, a double and an RBI. Senior first baseman Mike Celenza compiled three hits, two doubles and two RBI and senior catcher Eric Weller smacked his second home run in two games. Sophomore left fielder Kevin Johnson added a hit and senior Andy Moldawer belted a three-run home run for the Cougars (5-0) for an 8-3 lead in the fifth inning.

‘‘They are a very good team,” said Blake coach Steve Murfin, whose team tagged Whitman for its first loss of the season, a 14-4 decision, last Wednesday. ‘‘We hung with them, but made a few mistakes and they didn’t make any.”

Quince Orchard opened the week with a 10-0 shellacking of Poolesville in five innings. Celenza picked up the win on the mound, striking out seven, while allowing three hits in the complete-game effort. He also went 2 for 3 at the plate with two runs.

Weller blasted a three-run home run in the first inning and also drew a walk and was hit by a pitch.