Unbeaten Eagles are flying high

Thursday, April 19, 2007

Unbeaten Eagles are flying high

by Derek Toney | Staff Writer

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Bryan Haynes⁄The Gazette

High Point senior Erika Frias tosses a pitch during the Eagles’ 7-4 win against Crossland on Tuesday afternoon in Beltsville.

With her days as a member of High Point High School softball team winding down, senior Erica Frias is hoping the proverbial sand through the hour glass can go a little slower.

‘‘Out of the all the teams, this is the one I’m going to miss the most,” said Frias, a four-year starter. ‘‘Not only do we see each other as friends on the field, after practice and games, we just go and hang out. I think that brings us closer together.”

This spring has been shaping up to be a memorable one for Frias. The Eagles are unbeaten at 7-0, heading into this weekend’s back-to-back games against Oxon Hill High Friday and Bowie on Saturday.

Tuesday afternoon, in its first game since returning from spring break, High Point defeated visiting Crossland, 7-4, in Beltsville. The Eagles played without coach Ricardo Hernandez, whose wife gave birth to their second child on Tuesday.

High Point was able to give Hernandez a present, breaking open the contest with a four-run fifth inning. Frias said the Eagles were sluggish coming back from the break, as a game against Henry A. Wise High last week was postponed because of rain.

The weather conditions remained far from spring-like on Tuesday with high winds and unseasonable temperatures, but Frias battled through. The right-hander went the distance for the victory, striking out five.

Through the first three innings, Frias shut down the Cavaliers, but the Temple Hills school was able to break through in the fourth inning. LaVonda Dixon singled home Jayslee Thornton, who reached on a fielder’s choice.

Ebony Milton opened the Cavalier fifth inning with a single, then advanced to third on a Frias’ wild pitch. Milton crossed home as Bianca Wright’s grounder resulted in an Eagle error. A pair of passed balls helped bring Wright home tied the contest at 3-3.

With the wind picking up, High Point quickly snatched back momentum. Jackie Chicas opened the Eagles’ fifth with a single off Crossland starter Cherie Malone, and would later score thanks to two Cavalier errors. A ground out by Minnie Mekonen brought home Mallory Amaya, advancing High Point’s advantage to 5-3.

The Eagles added two more runs in the fifth. An error by High Point provided Crossland with its final run in the seventh inning before Frias induced a game-concluding ground out.

‘‘The game was kind of crazy with the weather,” said Frias. ‘‘Both teams played their best considering the conditions. We just wanted it a little more.”

Though Crossland stands at 3-3 on the season, coach Antoine Payne has been satisfied with his team’s progression. Dixon, Malone and Natalie Lewis are the lone returning letter winners.

‘‘We had some rough spots playing Roosevelt and Flowers, and we showed our inexperience,” said Payne, whose team has beaten Oxon Hill, Parkdale and Wise. ‘‘They’re learning to play as a team. Our goal is to win 10 games.”

High Point is hoping to have nine victories under its belt by the end of the weekend. Saturday’s game with Bowie will be for first place in the County 4A League.

‘‘We’ve got to take it one game at a time,” said Frias. ‘‘First, we’ve got to take care of Oxon Hill, then we’ll worry about Bowie.”

E-mail Derek Toney at dtoney@gazette.net.