Knights Get Another Sweep, Taking Two From The Lions

By Austin Johnson

Rosedale, Md.— The Knights hosted the CCBC Dundalk Lions in a Saturday double header. Both games went in the Knights' favor, winning the first game 4-2 and the second game 5-3.

Starting game one on the mound for the Knights was Harry Fegan. He earned his first win of the season pitching five innings, giving up two runs on seven hits with one strikeout and two walks. Danny Padilla would relieve him in the sixth inning allowing no hits, no runs, three walks, and one strikeout. Todd Murphy would close the game and earn his first save of the season.

A big part of the Knights win in game one was patience at the plate. The team drew ten walks, which was double their team total five hits. The Knights would score two of their four runs off a throwing error by Dundalk catcher Sam Ritchie, scoring Liam Bowers and Manuel Jackson. The other two runs came from a ground out by Logan Leasure and a double by Mitchell Haywood. All the Knights runs were scored in the bottom of the fourth.

In game two, the Knights rotated through seven pitchers, each pitching one inning. Entering the game in the fourth inning and earning the win for the Knights was Joey Galloway. He would only allowing one hit and struck out two Dundalk batters in his appearance. Closing the game and earning his second save of the season was Reed Adams. 

The Knights offense would provide two more hits in game two than in game one, ending the game with seven. Leading the Knights in hits was Likeiry Taveras Jimenez with two, including a solo home run to center field in the bottom of the first to tie the game before the Knights would take the lead later that half inning. Waskar Vicente Martinez led the Knights with two RBIs, resulting from the go-ahead two-run single in the bottom of the fourth. 

Martinez talked about his approach at the plate that led to the go ahead two-RBI single in game. He said, "I would get in, approach, and just hitting one pitch, anything in the middle."

Speaking with Haywood about both games and what he was looking at during his at-bats he said, "I'm just trying to look for something in the heart of the zone. The guys in front of me did a good job getting on base and getting me in good positions up there at the plate, and I was able to come through in both games and I attribute that to my teammates."

Both players mentioned how amazing it was to earn victories over their rival Lions and appreciated their teammates for sticking together and getting the job done after going down early in both games.

While listening in to Head Coach Sean O'Connor as he spoke to his team after both games, he praised them for their effort. "We battled through it, we pitched two good games, but more importantly we got two wins and that's what really matters at this point in the season. Wins matter!"

The Knights will next play in a late added, single game against Bucks County on Monday, April 4th at 3pm in the Kingdom before hosting a huge Region XX double header matchup against Frederick Community College on Tuesday, April 5th.