The Bradwell Tigers hosted two different Wildcat teams on Monday and Tuesday, but ended with the same result against each.
On Monday the Tigers hosted the Richmond Hill Wildcats in a non-regional, rescheduled game that was rained out Saturday. After waiting three hours for the junior varsity squad to end, the varsity Tigers took the field hoping to avoid the same loss suffered by the JV (8-13).
The varsity soon fared worse as they were downed in 5 innings (5-21) by the varsity Wildcats.
Richmond Hill took 3-0 lead when they hit a home run with runners on first and second. The wildcats then gave the Tigers a quick 3 and out.
In the second inning the Wildcats put up 6 more runs but Dominic Materne had a homer for the Tigers, which started a rally that led to 5 runs.
Daniel Materne started pitching in the first but was quickly replaced by Dominic. By the third inning it was Alton Malpass for a few throws and Juwan Hill finishing the game. Hill found a groove for a brief period and got 3 consecutive strikeouts but it was not enough. The wildcats kept bringing in the runs and by the fifth inning it was 5-18. The Wildcats hit another homer bringing in 3 runs for the final score.
Hoping to recoup against a regional opponent, the Camden County Wildcats, the Tigers held a bit stronger, despite losing 3-6 the next day. With the Wildcats up 0-3 in the second, the Tigers started to swing the bat. Jeff Polk hit a triple to bring in Kentrell Hargrove in the third. In the next play Polk tried to steal third. The Wildcat catcher threw the ball over the third baseman's head and Polk scored, bringing the Tigers within 1 run.
Camden scored three more runs off Tiger errors in the fourth. Hargrove scored another run in the bottom of the fourth for the Tigers. Hoping to hold on and grab a lead the Tigers' turned on the defense and had three innings of 3 and outs against the Wildcats.
With bases loaded and 2 outs, Dominic Materne stepped up to the plate, facing a full count he hit the ball deep into mid field but it was caught, closing the Tigers' opportunity to take the lead. The Wildcats won 3-6.
"You always have to come out and play the game and our kids have not played up to their potential this year," Tiger coach Rhett Hellgren said. "We are a good ball club, but we have not proved it yet. We had 19 great outs in a row but 2 of those 4 errors really hurt us and allowed 4 runs scored in their favor. Errors will kill you every time. When you out hit a team 10-3 you expect to win. We're hitting the ball well but there is more than just hitting in a game."
The Tigers had 3 runs, 10 hits and 4 errors against Camden.
By losing to Jenkins on April 1, Groves on April 4 (2-4) and Camden on Tuesday (3-6) the Tigers fall to 3-4 in 3-AAAAA.
The Tigers were scheduled to play Johnson Thursday night. It's a battle to make a playoff spot in the region and a must win for the Tigers.
"We need to come out and be ready to play and hit well," Hellgren said. "Hopefully the defense and pitching will come through. We can make the playoffs and possibly surprise somebody, but we need to concentrate on Johnson first."
On Monday the Tigers hosted the Richmond Hill Wildcats in a non-regional, rescheduled game that was rained out Saturday. After waiting three hours for the junior varsity squad to end, the varsity Tigers took the field hoping to avoid the same loss suffered by the JV (8-13).
The varsity soon fared worse as they were downed in 5 innings (5-21) by the varsity Wildcats.
Richmond Hill took 3-0 lead when they hit a home run with runners on first and second. The wildcats then gave the Tigers a quick 3 and out.
In the second inning the Wildcats put up 6 more runs but Dominic Materne had a homer for the Tigers, which started a rally that led to 5 runs.
Daniel Materne started pitching in the first but was quickly replaced by Dominic. By the third inning it was Alton Malpass for a few throws and Juwan Hill finishing the game. Hill found a groove for a brief period and got 3 consecutive strikeouts but it was not enough. The wildcats kept bringing in the runs and by the fifth inning it was 5-18. The Wildcats hit another homer bringing in 3 runs for the final score.
Hoping to recoup against a regional opponent, the Camden County Wildcats, the Tigers held a bit stronger, despite losing 3-6 the next day. With the Wildcats up 0-3 in the second, the Tigers started to swing the bat. Jeff Polk hit a triple to bring in Kentrell Hargrove in the third. In the next play Polk tried to steal third. The Wildcat catcher threw the ball over the third baseman's head and Polk scored, bringing the Tigers within 1 run.
Camden scored three more runs off Tiger errors in the fourth. Hargrove scored another run in the bottom of the fourth for the Tigers. Hoping to hold on and grab a lead the Tigers' turned on the defense and had three innings of 3 and outs against the Wildcats.
With bases loaded and 2 outs, Dominic Materne stepped up to the plate, facing a full count he hit the ball deep into mid field but it was caught, closing the Tigers' opportunity to take the lead. The Wildcats won 3-6.
"You always have to come out and play the game and our kids have not played up to their potential this year," Tiger coach Rhett Hellgren said. "We are a good ball club, but we have not proved it yet. We had 19 great outs in a row but 2 of those 4 errors really hurt us and allowed 4 runs scored in their favor. Errors will kill you every time. When you out hit a team 10-3 you expect to win. We're hitting the ball well but there is more than just hitting in a game."
The Tigers had 3 runs, 10 hits and 4 errors against Camden.
By losing to Jenkins on April 1, Groves on April 4 (2-4) and Camden on Tuesday (3-6) the Tigers fall to 3-4 in 3-AAAAA.
The Tigers were scheduled to play Johnson Thursday night. It's a battle to make a playoff spot in the region and a must win for the Tigers.
"We need to come out and be ready to play and hit well," Hellgren said. "Hopefully the defense and pitching will come through. We can make the playoffs and possibly surprise somebody, but we need to concentrate on Johnson first."