CCBC Essex Drops Second Game to Harford, Looks to Bounce Back Against Cecil

EL AIR, MD — The CCBC Essex baseball team ran into a hot Harford Fighting Owls lineup Sunday afternoon, falling 15-1 in the second game of a non-region doubleheader. The Knights have now dropped four straight contests and sit at 14-16 overall heading into a key Region 20 matchup.

Harford jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on a catcher's interference call, a hit-by-pitch, and a sacrifice fly before Danny Witters delivered a momentum-swinging double to clear the bases. The Owls would go on to plate seven runs in the frame.

They struck again for seven more in the second, using five hits and disciplined approaches at the plate to extend their lead. CCBC Essex pitchers struggled to contain Harford's aggressive baserunning, as the Owls stole 13 bases and drew 10 walks over the course of the game.

Sophomore Mitchell Hineline (Mount Wolf, PA / Northeastern) took the loss for Essex, falling to 2-1 on the year. Freshman Logan Castro (Brantford, Ontario, Canada / Brantford Collegiate Institute) and Freshman Diego Garcia (Bradenton, FL / Manatee) worked in relief.

The Knights tallied three hits in the game, coming from Sophomore Brody Carroll (Church Hill, MD / Queen Anne's), Freshman Evan McCray (Waldorf, MD / North Point), and Garcia. Sophomore Rafael Castillo (Queens, NY / High School for Construction Trades, Engineering, and Architecture) drove in the lone run for Essex with a sacrifice fly.

Despite the loss, the Knights will have an opportunity to right the ship this coming Sunday, when they travel to Cecil College for a critical Region 20 doubleheader starting at 12:00 PM. The season series between the two programs is currently tied 1-1, with postseason implications on the line.