Prep Baseball Report

Mountain View Rallies Late in Showdown of Aces



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By John Nolan
Virginia Assistant Director and Content Manager

Stafford-On a cold St. Patrick’s Day, 5A Mountain View took on 6A northern Stafford County rival Colonial Forge in both teams’ 2017 openers. Both teams feature Division I bound senior pitchers, and both were tabbed to start the game on limited pitch counts.

In the first inning, both Colonial Forge’s Logan Barker (Liberty) and Mountain View’s Justin Pearson (William & Mary) worked around some trouble to strike out the side and put up goose eggs. Barker stranded two runners and Pearson left the bases loaded.

In the bottom of the second, Forge junior Kennard McNeal worked a two-out walk and stole second. The next batter chopped a ball to second and was able to reach on an error at first base, with McNeal hustling all of the way around from second to give Forge a 1-0 lead after two.

Pearson and Barker were in control for most of the early part of the game, as both of them worked quick innings with the score remaining 1-0 Colonial Forge through five innings.

In the top of the sixth, Wildcat junior centerfielder Garrett Reams flared a leadoff single into center and used his speed to hustle into second. Up next was junior second baseman Nolan Johnson, who stroked a single to right center, driving in Reams to tie the game and ending Barker’s evening. Barker’s relief was able to keep the game tied. Pearson also ended his night after five innings, with senior Eric Smith firing a scoreless sixth.

In the top of the seventh, Forge turned to senior Kyle Keenan to keep the game tied. Keenan got a strikeout to open the inning and then lost a tight strike zone in the rain for a few batters, walking the bases loaded. Junior pinch hitter Sean Leeks grounded into a fielder’s choice to the right side, driving in the go-ahead run for Mountain View. Two batters later, Johnson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, driving in another run, headed to the bottom of the seventh, Mountain View had a 3-1 lead.

Brooks Corbett entered the game to pitch and issued a leadoff walk in the bottom of the seventh, but Wildcat middle infield combo Josh Menders and Harrison turned a slick double play to erase the runner. Two batters later, Corbett got Barker to fly out to right to end the game with Mountain View winning, 3-1.

For the Wildcats, Pearson worked 5 innings, allowing 1 R, 2 BB, 3 H, and 6 K. Smith earned the win with 1 IP, 0 R, 1 BB, and 0 H. Corbett earned a save with 1 IP, 0 R, 1 BB, and 1 H. Johnson was 2-3 with 2 RBI and a HBP. Menders was 2-4. Reams was 1-3 with a R and a HBP.

For the Eagles, Barker threw 5+ innings, allowing 1 R, 5 H, 1 BB, and 7 K. Keenan was 1-2 with a walk. McNeal was 0-2 with a BB, SB, and a R. Senior Jack Wallingford (New River CC) was 1-2 with a BB.

For scouting information and player analysis from this game, tune in to the Virginia/DC Scout Blog later today.

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