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Photo by Nicole Harnishfeger
Christian Lombardi blocks the plate and makes the force out at home to prevent a run in the bottom of the first inning at Westport last Thursday. The Whalers lost the first-round game 5-1.
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By Allison Goldsmith
I&M Sports Editor
The defense faltered for the varsity baseball team last week as the Whalers were eliminated from the first round of the Division IV South sectional tournament by third-seeded Westport on the road Thursday afternoon, 5-1.
Two unearned runs in the third inning broke the tie game open at 3-1 to give the Wildcats the edge over the 14th-seeded Nantucket squad.
“Errors have definitely plagued us all year, the mental mistakes. The little things that win the ball game that we are not doing. It showed today. They should have only had two runs, but that’s the way the ball bounces,” head coach Nick Duarte said.
The Whalers, who finished the season at 9-10 overall, scored first in the game, but could not do much else against starting pitcher Nick Friar to keep pace.
“I thought they were very solid on defense. They didn’t really impress me hitting the ball, but the scouting report I had, they weren’t a big hitting team. They were going to try to nickel and dime you and that’s exactly what they did. They got people in scoring position and waited for us to make a mistake and that was the ball game,” Duarte said.
Nantucket ace Mike Molta got the start on the mound, but a lingering injury forced the junior pitcher to give way to Taylor Hughes in the second. The sophomore hurler tossed the remaining five innings, allowing four runs – two earned – on four hits and two walks, while striking out seven batters.
“He did a great job today. I brought him in under the pressure. He came right in and shut them right down. I thought he was very effective. His fastball worked. He got a change-up working and that’s all he really needed today,” Duarte said.
“They are a good team, all seniors. We just played terrible,” said Hughes, noting the errors behind him in the field. “It is so frustrating.”
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