McCann Can't Break Through in Season Opener
SHEFFIELD, Mass — The pitching was just a little ahead of the hitting in Tuesday afternoon's game between the McCann Tech and Mount Everett baseball teams. Hornets' starter Mike Chappell matched Eagles' hurler Erik Derwitsch for five scoreless innings before Everett broke through for a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth to earn a 2-0 win at home.Derwitsch struck out four on the afternoon and worked his way nicely around the nine hits he surrendered to the McCann offense. Chappell was even more impressive, scattering five hits while striking out 11 batters. He ran into trouble in the bottom of the sixth, however, when Colby Rueger reached on an error and stole second base. Dylan Walker then drove him home with an RBI single before Derwitsch added an insurance run with a long double.
"I thought we played very good," new Hornets head coach Pat Ryan said after coaching his first game with the program. "It was a tight game inning for inning. Mike was solid for five innings until he gave up a couple of hits with runners on in the sixth. It's a tough loss for the first game, but I am pleased with the effort offensively and defensively."
Kyle Crosier, Nate Gutmann and Sean Davis had two hits apiece for McCann, which only made one error in the field in their first outing of the 2012 season. Overall, seven different players reached base for the Hornets. Unfortunately, none of them ever made it across home plate.
"We hit the ball hard and right at them," Ryan said. "We just could not find the gaps in the field. With only five strikeouts and three walks, we played a very aggressive offensive game swinging the bats. Defensively, we were solid. We just could not seem to put a couple of hits together to have the opportunity to squeeze in a run or two. The game is behind us and now, though, and we now move forward."
McCann next hosts Dean Tech at 5 p.m. on Thursday in game being held at Joe Wolfe Field.