Pitching and Defense Leads the Way for Kennedy Catholic Baseball En Route to 3-0 Win

3/26 Game Recap: Lancers vs. Decatur Gators; Next Game Tonite at 4pm

by Jake KnightBurien-News Sports Writer.The Kennedy Catholic Lancers took the first lead of the game over the Decatur Gators in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring three runs which proved to be plenty for starting pitcher Coleman Hollabaugh to secure the 3-0 victory.[caption id="attachment_15367" align="aligncenter" width="504"]

Hollabaugh on the mound.[/caption]Tuesday was the first of back-to-back games between the Lancers and the Gators, this one at Kennedy Catholic’s home ballpark Faccone Field, and the first district game for the Lancers.Hollabaugh came up big to give Kennedy Catholic an undefeated start in district play. The senior right-hander went the distance, allowing six hits, two walks, and tallied 10 strikeouts in his shutout performance.Nine of Hollabaugh’s 10 punchouts were by way of the swing and miss, largely because of his slider. His breaking ball usage seemed to match his fastball usage, slowing down and speeding up hitters with ease. Hollabaugh had the same confidence to use either pitch in any count, providing a challenge the Decatur lineup was unable to overcome. Many Gator hitters walked back to the dugout, shaking their heads with plenty of comments praising the slider as they entered the dugout.[caption id="attachment_15368" align="aligncenter" width="467"]

Opposing head coach Derrick Flavel embracing Hollabaugh and showing the pitcher respect for his performance.[/caption]This is not to say Decatur never threatened to break through. The leadoff batter reached base in five of the seven innings, including the first four. Strikeouts were a major help in escaping jams, but the Lancers played error-free baseball in the shutout win.Some of the defensive highlights include a 1-6-3 double play that erased the leadoff walk in the fourth, Harvey Lieberman fielded a ground ball in right field and fired a bullet to first base to get the rare 9-3 putout in the fifth, and in the last inning, shortstop Liam Rhoads ranged to his right, backhanded a roller deep in the six-hole, and flung a sidearm throw right on the money to first base with all his weight moving away from the play.Hollabaugh is credited with the complete-game shutout, but the defense played a substantial role in it.Decatur’s starting pitcher Brayden Larsen made a strong effort to match Hollabaugh, keeping the game scoreless through four innings. A Will Cahill double followed a one-out walk in the fifth to put runners on second and third. Jaxon Fitzgerald grounded a ball to second base, scoring Rhoads from third as the second baseman’s attempt to nab him at home was a step late. After reaching first base on the fielder’s choice, Fitzgerald stole second, and Cahill scored from third on the throw down.Double steal video:[videopress OIOUKGNC]To drive in the last insurance run, Hollabaugh called on himself, belting a chest-high fastball to the wall for an RBI-double.The victory marks win number six on the young season for the Lancers and extends their current win streak to five. The team looks for a season sweep over the Gators in the rematch 4pm tonight at Decatur High School.

NEXT GAME:Kennedy Catholic v. Decatur HSDecatur HS 4:00 pm Wed, March 27

(photos and video courtesy of Jake Knight, Burien-News)