BASEBALL: Rockets roll to easy win over Toppers
Cambria-Friesland junior Jose Zavala, right, throws to the infield after neither he, nor right fielder Mitchell Katze, could catch a Randolph bloop single in the top of the fifth Monday during the Hilltoppers 14-4 loss. (Kevin Morales, Daily Register)
By Kevin Morales
RANDOLPH — A glance at the box score says it all for Cambria-Friesland.
The Hilltoppers suffered 10 errors and tallied just a pair of hits Monday as Trailways North Conference foe Randolph handed Cambria-Friesland a 12-0 loss in five innings.
The Rockets, who have posted more than seven runs just once this season, scored their 12 runs on four hits. Cambria-Friesland (1-6, 1-6 Trailways North) surrendered 13 walks.
"We just struggled with fundamentals," Cambria-Friesland coach Jim Knudson said. "It's been that way most of the year. In baseball you have to be fundamentally sound."
Hilltoppers' starting right-hander Jose Zavala struggled with control, issuing six walks through the first nine batters he faced. The Rockets (2-5, 2-4) used the free passes along with three first-inning errors to take an immediate 5-0 lead.
"We made them field the ball and they had a few errors and we took advantage of those," Randolph coach Bruce Vredeveld said.
Randolph starter Franco Galvin allowed just one hit through two innings to earn the win.
Sophomore Andrew Buss relieved Galvin in the third and proceeded to fan seven Hilltoppers batters over the final three innings. He struck out the side in the fourth. Ryan Schwarz's pair of singles were Cambria-Friesland's only hits on the day.
Vredeveld noted how much a challenge it is when a team falls into an early deficit like Cambria-Friesland did Monday.
"It's really tough because we're usually on the other end of it," Vredeveld said. "We've been giving up big innings and it's tough because it changes your philosophy. Finally we're on the right side of one."
The Hilltoppers had six players suspended earlier in the year due to academic ineligibility, but Monday's loss was the first in which some of those players returned.
The loss of those players has plagued Cambria-Friesland throughout the season, particularly on the mound. The Toppers have lost their last six games after beating the Rockets in their season opener April 7.
Knudson said his team has little time to worry about its struggles this season.
"They just have to take the lessons learned today and play tomorrow," Knudson said.
RANDOLPH 12, CAMBRIA-FRIESLAND 0 (5)at Randolph High School
Randolph ....................... 520 23 — 12 4 0 Cambria-Friesland .......... 000 00 — 0 2 10
Pitchers — Galvan (W), Buss (3); J. Zavala (L), Pearson (1). SO leaders — Buss 7, Pearson 6.
Leading hitters — Huizenga (R) 2x2, Schwarz (CF) 2x3.
kmorales@capitalnewspapers.com
745-3512
