Hornets Baseball Opens Season
By Laurie-Jean B. Gauthier

It was "baptism by fire" as the Whitcomb Hornets baseball team opened the season on the road against the Blue Mountain Bucks in South Ryegate on Saturday, April 21.

Playing with just eight players the Hornets were forced to bring their outfielders in closer to cover an empty center-fielder position. They were also forced to take an out each time the ninth batter was supposed to hit. That made for tough-play in the 15-zip outing.

Loss to Chelsea

It was a much better outing on Wednesday, April 24 when Whitcomb traveled to Chelsea and faced the Red Devils for the first time this season. Although the Hornets lost this one too, they at least "were in the game." The Hornets led 3-2 before giving up seven runs in the bottom of the sixth in the 9-6 game. It was two hits apiece for Mike Ryan and Calvin Hoyt and one hit and two RBIs for George Osgood for Chelsea.

Joel Wright, Ryan Litchfield and Scott Karlen all singled and Ryan Rogler and Dan Noel both had two hits. Calvin Hoyt pitched six innings, striking out 11 and gave up seven hits for the Red Devils. Litchfield pitched the complete game for Bethel.

Overtime Tie

On Thursday, April 26, the Hornets played their first home game of the season vs. the D-III Williamstown Blue Devils. The game ended 9-9 after eight when darkness prevented the game from continuing.

Williamstown led after one inning, 1-0 and 4-0 through the top of the third before Whitcomb took a one-run lead in the bottom, 5-4.

Noel singled and Rogler walked to get on when Karlen singled past third scoring Noel to get things started in the bottom of the third. Wright loaded the bases with two outs and Hornets Deven Hill, Sam Taylor, and Joe Kill all walked to get on while walking in Rogler, Karlen and Wright. Another hit by Noel brought in Hill before the Blue Devils recorded the third out.

Williamstown and Whitcomb continued to go back and forth through regulation with a 7-7 tie sending the game into overtime. Both teams matched through eight innings, ending the game 9-9 after eight because of darkness. Rogler pitched four innings and threw six strike outs.

Big Loss

The Hornets traveled to Orford, N.H. and faced the D-III Rivendell Raptors on Monday, April 30. Unfortunately the Hornets lost the outing 20-5 in a six-inning mercy rule game. Raptors Adrian Pike and Kale Martin both went 2-for-4. Adam Carter started for Rivendell and Jesse Oakes pitched the last three innings.

Whitcomb now stands at 0-3-1. The Hornets have a new coach this year, Mike Crane.

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