Wildcats Let One Get Away Against Rival Hawks

With the game tied at two in the top of the seventh inning, ’s Trevor Jones made a mistake he’s probably never made before, and most likely will never make again.

The 2010 all-Suburban North Conference centerfielder, who recently accepted a scholarship to join one of the nation’s top Division II baseball programs next fall, dropped a routine fly ball that allowed the leadoff runner to advance to third with nobody out.

That uncharacteristic gaffe by one of the best prep outfielders in the area, sparked a two-run rally for Hazelwood Central, which proved to be the difference in a 4-2 loss for the host Wildcats.

“Trevor normally makes plays like that,” Matt McClellan, West's varsity baseball coach, said after the game. “But that wasn’t the only thing. There were a few other instances in the game, where we had opportunities and didn’t capitalize.

"It was just one of those things, everybody makes mistakes, even Trevor.”

The lazy fly ball came off the bat of Hazelwood Central’s Matt DeZort, who must’ve thought he was going to be out as well, because he almost turned and started walking towards the Central dugout, until Jones misplayed the pop.

That’s when DeZort took off, racing all the way to third before West could get the ball back into the infield. Central’s DaJuan Maul walked, setting up a first-and-third, nobody out situation for the Hawks starting pitcher and No. 3 hitter, Jonathan Harris.

And Harris, the 2010 Suburban North Conference Player of the Year, delivered, stroking an RBI double into the leftfield corner that gave the Hawks the lead for good.

Harris then made that two-run lead stand up in the bottom of the seventh, retiring West’s Aaron Lohman, with two runners on, for the final out of the game.

“He just did what he always does,” Central coach Van Vanatta said. “He’s a bulldog on the mound. He has confidence in himself.

"We struggled a little bit-- didn’t make some plays for him there, but he kept his composure and hung in there.”

Central had the lead for almost the entire game, despite not getting its first hit until the sixth inning.

The Hawks picked up a run in the second inning when they drew four walks from West starter Shane Olmstead, including catcher R.J. Eberhart's  bases loaded, base-on-balls.

Central then added a run in the fifth, when DeZort walked, then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Maul. The Hawks stole third, then came home when West third baseman Paul Chavez mishandled catcher Joe Napoli’s throw on the stolen base attempt.

“It’s just one of those things,” Vanatta said. “Their pitcher had a no-hitter through five innings, (and somehow) we had two runs.

"Offensively, we’ve got to get going, but I’m excited about what (Harris) is doing, and he’s only a junior," he said. "It’s a beautiful thing.”

West managed to get to Harris in the bottom of the fifth.

Chavez and Jones each drew two-out walks to bring up second baseman Aaron Lohman who drilled a double into the right-centerfield gap. That scored both runners to tie the game at two.

“I was glad to see that they came out with some intensity,” McClellan said, “and came out and battled against a good team and a good pitcher.”

Harris, who’s now 3-0 on the season, after going 8-0 last year, picked up the complete game win, while West freshman Jordan Yakel (1-1), who came in as relief took the loss.

But the best pitching effort of the day might have come from West starter Shane Olmsetead, who tossed five innings of no-hit ball for the Wildcats, allowing the two runs, while striking out eight, and walking eight.

“Shane has been a big surprise for us this year,” McClellan said. “We didn’t know (much about him) coming in.

"He’s a sophomore, a young guy, (but) he has pitched like that, for the most part, every time he’s gotten ball," he said. "That was nice to see.”

With the victory, Central was able to grab sole control of first place in the Suburban North standings. The Hawks are 6-1 on the season, and 4-0 in conference play.

West fell to 3-4 overall, and 3-1 in league games.