Cambridge Offense Overpowers Sprayberry in 15-10 Victory, Friday, April 8th

Posted: Apr 11, 2016

The Cambridge Bears bats came to life in a Friday afternoon tilt against Sprayberry, connecting for seven extra base hits on a windy day at Cambridge field. The win concluded the region schedule and moved the team's region record to an impressive 15-3, 17-3 overall. The two teams combined for 25 runs and ten extra base hits in a back and forth affair.

As has generally been the case during their 15-game winning streak, the Bears drew first blood. Davis Dasher led off the game with an infield single. Brett Hawkins got hit by a pitch next. They would advance a base on a groundout by Pete Gottschalk. Dasher scored on a wild pitch and Hawkins would later score on a passed ball to make the score 2-0. The Bears would push across three more in the second. Sophomore Teddy Egan led off with an infield single. A stolen base and a Dasher bunt single put runners on the corner. A Hawkins sacrifice fly scored Egan. A Gottschalk walk set up a triple to right by Conner Young, which drove in two more to make the score a comfortable 5-0.

However, Sprayberry would not be deterred. Three hits in the third led to two runs and a 5-2 score. The Bears could not push across anything in their half of the third, which led to a crazy fourth inning. For their part, Sprayberry connected on six consecutive hits to score five runs to take a 7-5 lead in the top of the inning. As has often been the case in recent weeks, however, the Bears would strike back quickly.

The wind was a factor this game and never more so than in the fourth. Davis Dasher lofted a fly ball to center over the head of the center fielder for a triple. Brett Hawkins then doubled to left center in similar fashion to score Dasher. Gottschalk reached base on a deep fly ball to right that was mis-played by the right fielder. An infield single by Young drove in Hawkins to tie the score. Bradley Wiedman singled to right move the Bears back into the lead at 8-7. A Luke Foote sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position. Sophomore Jacob Cabe stepped to the plate and took a 1-0 pitch and smashed it over the right field fence for a 3-run home run and an 11-7 lead. A bunt single by Egan and a Cameron Moore walk set the stage for a towering home run to right by senior Brett Hawkins to finish out the scoring in the inning at 14-7. The Bears scored nine runs on nine hits in the inning.

Hayden Onorato entered the game on the mound in the fifth, relieving starter Jon Hirschland. Sprayberry pushed across three unearned runs resulting from a pair of Cambridge errors to make the score 14-10. Conner Young moved to the mound in the sixth and pitched a 1-2-3 inning. The Bears added a run in the bottom of the sixth as Dasher tripled and scored on a groundout by Hawkins. Young pitched another scoreless seventh and the high-scoring game ended 15-10 in favor of the home team.

For the game the Bears offense accounted for 16 hits in 32 at bats. Leading the way was Davis Dasher who had four hits, including two triples, with four runs scored. Brett Hawkins knocked in a season high six runs on his two hits and a sac fly. He had a home run and a double. Jacob Cabe had a pair of hits, including a home run, and 3 RBI. Conner Young had three hits and three RBI, including a triple. Pete Gottschalk and Teddy Egan had a pair of hits. On the mound, Conner Young got his first career win with two innings of scoreless relief.

The Bears have two non-region games set for next week. They play at Pace Academy on Tuesday, April 12th at 5:55 PM and on Thursday, April 14th at Creekview at 5:55 PM. Sub-region playoffs begin the following week.

Go Bears!