Things made a quick turnaround Monday afternoon in non-district baseball at John Edwards Field on the Patrick Henry High School campus.
The Patrick Henry nine, looking for an early-season win, appeared to be in good shape after the Patriots used a three-run first and single tally in the bottom of the third to overcome an early 1-0 Hidden Valley lead, and forge a 4-1 advantage heading to the Hidden Valley fourth.
Then, the bottom fell out.
Hidden Valley plated five runs in the fourth to take a 6-4 lead, and after keeping PH off the scoreboard in the bottom half of the frame, erupted for eleven more runs in the top of the fifth.
Patrick Henry fought back with three in their half of the fifth, but the final out with a runner at third ended the contest at 17-7 due to the 10-run rule.
Hidden Valley’s rebound in the fourth came after a PH error and Walker Brand bunt single got things going for the Titans. Jack Moore followed with a 2-RBI single, with PH miscues in the field leading to the final three runs and ending the day for Patriot starter Corey Hayth.
The Titan 11-run fifth was keyed by a pair of doubles into the left field corner by Hayes Nelson and Jonathan Richmond, both coming with runners in scoring position. But, the Patrick Henry defense aided the Hidden Valley cause and was its own worst enemy, committing nine errors in the contest.
Matt Scribner, who came to the mound for Hidden Valley in relief in the third, picked up the win for the Titans.
Hidden Valley was fresh off a spring break showcase tournament in Rock Hill, SC that saw the Titans finish third in the 11-team field. Hidden Valley completed the four-game event with a record of 3-1.
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