Prep Baseball Report

Mozoki Leads Dulaney to the 4A North Section I Title


Ryan Silcott
PBR Maryland

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No. 5 Dulaney hosted No. 6 Howard on Tuesday afternoon in a highly anticipated matchup in this year's 4A State Playoffs. Following already one postponement due to rain, both teams were eager to get back on the field in hopes of continuing their quest for a championship. Dulaney came into the game as one of the hottest teams in the state, winning eighteen games in a row while Howard has picked up big wins down their stretch as well.

Dulaney applied the pressure right away in the first inning. Following a leadoff walk, Bryce Frederick and Todd Mozoki hit back-to-back singles to load up the bases before recording an out. Clean-up hitter, Finn Drew, stepped up and knocked in two runs with a line drive just over the reach of the second baseman. The first out of the inning came at the expense of a run when Jack Felt laid down a sacrifice bunt to extend their lead to 3-0 after the first.

Mozoki started on the hill for Dulaney and kept opposing hitters in check all afternoon. Howard found ways to get guys on base but were never able to force many threatening situations. And when they did, he got the big out to put those worries to rest.

Brian Jakubek came on in relief for Howard after the first and pitched three consecutive scoreless innings before Dulaney found a way to score on him. Following a walk and single, Bennett Musselman drove in one run on a single to left, giving Dulaney a 4-0 lead going into the sixth.

Howard finally broke through putting up two runs of their own in the top half of the inning. After a walk and hit batter, Mozoki's afternoon on the mound was finished and responsible for the two runners on. Following a passed ball, Howard had two guys in scoring position with just one out. Jerras Murray then worked an eight pitch at-bat and drove them both in with a line drive single to left.

Just as Howard thought they cut the deficit in half, Mozoki once again delivered in a big moment. After a leadoff walk, he launched a homerun to left, reclaiming a 4-run lead for Dulaney. Wilson Farlow came in to shut the door in the seventh and did so in order, leading to a 6-2 victory. With the win, Dulaney advanced to the 4A North Region Final and extended their winning streak to nineteen games.

Mozoki picked up the win on the mound, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and three walks, while striking out three in five and one-third innings. He also led the offense (3-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI's, 2 R's) along with Drew (1-for-3, 2 RBI's). Mussleman (1-for-3, 1 RBI).