Thursday, April 27, 2006
Girls' Lax Scores Big Win over Springbrook
On Tuesday evening, the Lady Bengals lacrosse team registered an impressive 12-6 victory over Consortium rival Springbrook. Blake opened up a three-goal lead in the first half, scoring on 9 of 12 shots. In the second half, the Lady Bengals controlled play, scoring 3 goals and shutting out the Lady Blue Devils behind strong defense and goalkeeping. Springbrook was held scoreless despite being awarded 5 free shots in the second half, and 9 for the game.
The Lady Bengals were led by Sammy Allen's 6 goals and 2 assists. Rachel Schnexnayder added 2 goals and 2 assists, and Molly Wannen chipped in 1 goals and 3 assists. Lauren Yang, Jessica Stewart and Nicky Wannen also contributed a goal each to the winning effort, with Nicky also adding an assist.
This Friday, the Lady Bengals travel to Magruder to face the Lady Colonels.
On Tuesday evening, the Lady Bengals lacrosse team registered an impressive 12-6 victory over Consortium rival Springbrook. Blake opened up a three-goal lead in the first half, scoring on 9 of 12 shots. In the second half, the Lady Bengals controlled play, scoring 3 goals and shutting out the Lady Blue Devils behind strong defense and goalkeeping. Springbrook was held scoreless despite being awarded 5 free shots in the second half, and 9 for the game.
The Lady Bengals were led by Sammy Allen's 6 goals and 2 assists. Rachel Schnexnayder added 2 goals and 2 assists, and Molly Wannen chipped in 1 goals and 3 assists. Lauren Yang, Jessica Stewart and Nicky Wannen also contributed a goal each to the winning effort, with Nicky also adding an assist.
This Friday, the Lady Bengals travel to Magruder to face the Lady Colonels.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Blake Lacrosse Scores 2 Big Wins
Blakes boys' and girls' lacrosse teams hit the long road to Damascus last night to play the always-tough Hornets. The trip back was shorter and sweeter, as both teams rallied from early deficits to win.
The boys found themselves down 5-1 at the end of the first quarter, then roared back to win by an 18-14 count.
The Lady Bengals were down by the same score, and came back to win by a score of 8-7. Sammy Allen and Rachel Schnexnayder each scored 3 goals, and Molly Wannen contributed 2 goals and 2 assists. Sammy also added 2 assists.
The lax teams return to action tonight, at home, against Springbrook.
Blakes boys' and girls' lacrosse teams hit the long road to Damascus last night to play the always-tough Hornets. The trip back was shorter and sweeter, as both teams rallied from early deficits to win.
The boys found themselves down 5-1 at the end of the first quarter, then roared back to win by an 18-14 count.
The Lady Bengals were down by the same score, and came back to win by a score of 8-7. Sammy Allen and Rachel Schnexnayder each scored 3 goals, and Molly Wannen contributed 2 goals and 2 assists. Sammy also added 2 assists.
The lax teams return to action tonight, at home, against Springbrook.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Rainouts Delay Second Half of Lacrosse Season
Heading off to Spring Break after a thrilling 14-13 overtime loss to Sherwood, the Lady Bengals lax team was scheduled to open the second half of the season with tough games against Damascus and Consortium rival Springbrook.
The Blake-Sherwood game was covered by a nice article in The Gazette (http://www.gazette.net/stories/041206/burtspo174724_31947.shtml). Coming off a tough win on the road against Gaithersburg, the Lady Bengals give the undefeated Lady Warriors all they could handle, despite missing several key players.
The Springbrook game is scheduled for Tuesday, April 25th. The Damascus game was postponed by Saturday's rain and has yet to be re-scheduled.
Heading off to Spring Break after a thrilling 14-13 overtime loss to Sherwood, the Lady Bengals lax team was scheduled to open the second half of the season with tough games against Damascus and Consortium rival Springbrook.
The Blake-Sherwood game was covered by a nice article in The Gazette (http://www.gazette.net/stories/041206/burtspo174724_31947.shtml). Coming off a tough win on the road against Gaithersburg, the Lady Bengals give the undefeated Lady Warriors all they could handle, despite missing several key players.
The Springbrook game is scheduled for Tuesday, April 25th. The Damascus game was postponed by Saturday's rain and has yet to be re-scheduled.
Blake Baseball Starts Second Season with Two Wins
Beat League Rivals Sherwood and RM on complete game victories by Tarner and Rehman
The Blake Bengals got off to a roaring start to the second half of the season with convincing wins over league rivals Sherwood and Richard Montgomery.
The Bengals beat Sherwood 7-2 on a seven-hit complete game from Senior Zack Tarner on Wednesday. And Sophomore LHP Ryan Rehman bested Tarner with a five-hit complete-game victory over RM on Friday.
Zack Tarner and Ryan Rehman each pitched complete games against the league rivals as the Bengals' record moved to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the Montgomery 4A East.
The Bengals, had lost three games in a row coming into the second half of the season after the Spring Break to finish the first half with a 3-3 mark. During their three-game winning streak to start the season, Blake batted .434 as a team. But they batted only .250 during the three-game skid.
Blake opened up 4-0 leads after two innings in both victories this week, scoring two runs in each of the first two innings of both games. The team batted .352 collectively in both games.
Defensively, the Bengals had a mixed week, but turned several key defensive plays in both games to ensure the win. The Bengals had no errors for their second straight game against Sherwood in the dominating victory. The defensive effort included several outstanding plays by the Bengal outfield that took away potential run-scoring hits.
Against RM, Rehman pitched a 5-hitter and allowed no earned runs. A flurry of errors enabled RM to get back into the game and tie the score in the 5th 4-4. A diving catch by left fielder Will Messett to rob RM from two potential runs in the 5th stopped the threat and swung the momentum back to Blake as they scored three runs in the top of the 6th to win pulling away.
BLAKE 7, SHERWOOD 2
The Bengals jumped on starter Brian Moran for two runs in each of the first two innings and Sherwood never threatened as the Bengals played their most complete game of the season.
Moran, who pitched Sherwood to a 6-3 victory over Blake in the first round of the playoffs last year, never was on track. The first three base-runners reached on hits. But the crafty Moran, known for his effective pick-off move, tried to get Taylor Schallhorn leaning off first with the bases loaded. Sherwood caught Schallhorn in a run down, but two runs scored. Moran had picked off four Blake runners in last year's playoff game.
The two-runs off of Moran's pickoff attempt in the first seemed to shake him. Seventeen more batters reached base in the game, but Moran was unsuccessful in picking off any more runners. And the Bengals continued to pound out a 14-hit attack and take a 7-1 lead after four innings.
Tarner contributed from the mound and the plate. And Senior Matt Schrader stretched his hitting streak to 16 games with two hits.
Tarner struck out seven in moving his record to 3-0 and his ERA to 2.80. He has pitched in all seven games leading up to that point. He also set the Blake record for most career pitching appearances with 25, breaking the previous mark set by All-County star Kevin Cunningham. At the plate, Tarner went 2 for 3 and scored a run.
While Schrader continued his hot bat, the rest of the lineup produced, too. Eight of Blake's nine batters had at least one hit.
Tarner was helped in the field by some outstanding defense as outfielders TJ Deane (CF) and Ryan Rehman (RF) made several outstanding running catches in the deep outfield. Middle infielders Jake Lorber (Fr. SS) and Taylor Schallhorn (Jr. 2b) also contributed several defensive stops with acrobatic plays that stopped potential Sherwood rallies.
BLAKE 8, RICHARD MONTGOMERY 4
For the second straight game, the Bengals opened up a 4-0 lead with two runs in each of the first two innings.
Sophomore LHP Ryan Rehman helped himself early with a two-run inside-the-park home run to deep CF in the first inning, scoring Taylor Schallhorn who walked with two outs.
The Bengals got two more in the second on an RBI single by Matt Schrader, who continued his hitting streak to 17 games, and Jake Lorber who doubled in Schrader.
Rehman was dominating on the mound. He retired nine of the first 11 batters he faced on 33 pitches in the first three innings including seven in a row. But the trademark of Blake's team - defense - let RM back into the game in the middle innings as the Rockets tied the score 4-4 on four unearned runs.
Coming into the game, the Bengals had committed only nine errors on the season and had no errors for two straight games (Damascus and Sherwood). However, five errors over the 4th and 5th innings contributed to the RM cause.
An outstanding defensive play by left fielder Will Messett (Jr. OF/P) halted the RM rally and prevented two runs from scoring after RM tied the game and turned the game back to Blake's favor. Messett dove to his left and snared a bullet in the LF gap by Nick Khan with runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out. Neither runner advanced. Messett got to his feet and fired to cutoff man Lorber as the runners, who took off on contact, returned to the bag.
"Every game has one or two key moments that decide the outcome," said Blake coach Steve Murfin. "If Will doesn't make that play, RM takes a 6-4 lead into the 6th inning and we may not come back. That one play seemed to pick us back up."
The Bengals then answered by scoring three in the top of the 6th. Zack Tarner stroked a double down the 3b line past the diving Khan to plate DH Frankie Poulous (Fr. DH/OF/P) and give the lead back to Blake, 5-4. Anthony Hanagan (So. 1b/P), got the second of his three hits on the season to knock in Tarner, who stole third, and Blake pulled away.
The Bengals added another run in the seventh when Tarner, who singled with two outs, came around on Hanagan's double.
Every Blake batter reached base via a hit, walk or an error.
BENGAL NOTES:
Despite five errors vs. RM, the Bengals are on track to have the best defensive team in their history. Currently, team fielding percentage is .934.
Blake's back-to-back games with no errors is the fifth time in three years they have done that. Last year the team had 11 errors over the last 9 games including four games with no errors in that stretch.
The team batting average of .352 is just one point off where it ended last season (.353).
Eight players are batting .300 or better (Schrader, Tarner, Hanagan, Schallhorn, Rehman, Flores, Deane, Lorber).
The Bengals have been thrown out stealing only four times in 26 attempts.
The team ERA of 3.50 is the lowest ERA at any point in a season since 2003 when the Blake staff ended the season at 3.04.
Blake pitchers have three complete games this season.
Starters have gone to at least the sixth inning in five of the eight games.
Schrader's hitting streak is now 17 games. He is batting .634 during the hitting streak.
BENGAL QUOTES
On the wins this week vs. Sherwood and RM: "We got back to playing Bengal baseball. We played good defense overall, out pitching was phenomenal and our hitters got back on track by getting good at bats and putting the ball in play."
On the defensive lapse vs. RM: "We really grew from the experience. If we don't make the plays, good teams will take advantage. RM did that and tied the game. The same thing happened to us against Springbrook when we blew two three-run leads and let them back in the game with fielding mistakes. Only this time, instead of folding, we stayed focused and won the game."
More on defense: "We preach to the team that they when the make plays, the pitch count goes down, our pitchers can go longer in the game and you take away at bats from the other team. They now have seen what happens when you don't make the plays."
On Will Messett's diving catch against RM to help halt a rally: "Every game has one or two key moments that decide the outcome. Will doesn't make that play, RM takes a 6-4 lead into the 6th inning and we may not come back."
On the overall team hitting: "Our batting order is deep and very good. Each player on the team has full confidence in his teammate that someone will always drive them in if they get on base. Or someone will always get something started."
On the pitching: "The real secret to our success is our catcher Jose Flores (Sr.). He calls masterful games. Our pitchers trust his judgement on how to pitch and it enables them to get the pitches they need to get outs."
On the depth of the team: "Every game has a new hero and they come from all over the field and from all parts of the lineup. One day a player who is hitting over .400 doesn't get any hits, but, but makes outstanding plays with his glove. On another day, a player who is outstanding with the glove, but hasn't been hitting, gets three hits. They all know that they have to do whatever it takes."
More on the depth: "Coming into the season we knew we had a young team and challenged them to step up. To have your whole lineup, including players off the bench, contribute in games is very comforting to know. They all can trust each other to deliver."
BENGAL STATS:
Hitting:
Average: Schrader ..600; Tarner .478; Hanagan .429; Schallhorn .417; Rehman .414; Flores .320; Deane 318; Lorber .310
Runs: Tarner 12, Schrader 11; Schallhorn 11
Hits: Schrader 15, Rehman 12; Tarner 11; Schallhorn 10
RBI: Schrader 11, Rehman 11
Slugging: Schrader .920; Rehman .793; Tarner .783; Schallhorn .625
OBP%: Schrader .677; Tarner .586; Schallhorn .531; Rehman .469; Hanagan .429; Deane .423; Lorber .412
Pitching
Wins: Tarner 3; Rehman 2
Appearances: Tarner 7, Rehman 6
Innings: Tarner 30; Rehman 20
ERA: Tarner 2.80
Strikeouts: Tarner 30 (1.00 per inning); Rehman 17 (.85/inn)
Beat League Rivals Sherwood and RM on complete game victories by Tarner and Rehman
The Blake Bengals got off to a roaring start to the second half of the season with convincing wins over league rivals Sherwood and Richard Montgomery.
The Bengals beat Sherwood 7-2 on a seven-hit complete game from Senior Zack Tarner on Wednesday. And Sophomore LHP Ryan Rehman bested Tarner with a five-hit complete-game victory over RM on Friday.
Zack Tarner and Ryan Rehman each pitched complete games against the league rivals as the Bengals' record moved to 5-3 overall and 2-3 in the Montgomery 4A East.
The Bengals, had lost three games in a row coming into the second half of the season after the Spring Break to finish the first half with a 3-3 mark. During their three-game winning streak to start the season, Blake batted .434 as a team. But they batted only .250 during the three-game skid.
Blake opened up 4-0 leads after two innings in both victories this week, scoring two runs in each of the first two innings of both games. The team batted .352 collectively in both games.
Defensively, the Bengals had a mixed week, but turned several key defensive plays in both games to ensure the win. The Bengals had no errors for their second straight game against Sherwood in the dominating victory. The defensive effort included several outstanding plays by the Bengal outfield that took away potential run-scoring hits.
Against RM, Rehman pitched a 5-hitter and allowed no earned runs. A flurry of errors enabled RM to get back into the game and tie the score in the 5th 4-4. A diving catch by left fielder Will Messett to rob RM from two potential runs in the 5th stopped the threat and swung the momentum back to Blake as they scored three runs in the top of the 6th to win pulling away.
BLAKE 7, SHERWOOD 2
The Bengals jumped on starter Brian Moran for two runs in each of the first two innings and Sherwood never threatened as the Bengals played their most complete game of the season.
Moran, who pitched Sherwood to a 6-3 victory over Blake in the first round of the playoffs last year, never was on track. The first three base-runners reached on hits. But the crafty Moran, known for his effective pick-off move, tried to get Taylor Schallhorn leaning off first with the bases loaded. Sherwood caught Schallhorn in a run down, but two runs scored. Moran had picked off four Blake runners in last year's playoff game.
The two-runs off of Moran's pickoff attempt in the first seemed to shake him. Seventeen more batters reached base in the game, but Moran was unsuccessful in picking off any more runners. And the Bengals continued to pound out a 14-hit attack and take a 7-1 lead after four innings.
Tarner contributed from the mound and the plate. And Senior Matt Schrader stretched his hitting streak to 16 games with two hits.
Tarner struck out seven in moving his record to 3-0 and his ERA to 2.80. He has pitched in all seven games leading up to that point. He also set the Blake record for most career pitching appearances with 25, breaking the previous mark set by All-County star Kevin Cunningham. At the plate, Tarner went 2 for 3 and scored a run.
While Schrader continued his hot bat, the rest of the lineup produced, too. Eight of Blake's nine batters had at least one hit.
Tarner was helped in the field by some outstanding defense as outfielders TJ Deane (CF) and Ryan Rehman (RF) made several outstanding running catches in the deep outfield. Middle infielders Jake Lorber (Fr. SS) and Taylor Schallhorn (Jr. 2b) also contributed several defensive stops with acrobatic plays that stopped potential Sherwood rallies.
BLAKE 8, RICHARD MONTGOMERY 4
For the second straight game, the Bengals opened up a 4-0 lead with two runs in each of the first two innings.
Sophomore LHP Ryan Rehman helped himself early with a two-run inside-the-park home run to deep CF in the first inning, scoring Taylor Schallhorn who walked with two outs.
The Bengals got two more in the second on an RBI single by Matt Schrader, who continued his hitting streak to 17 games, and Jake Lorber who doubled in Schrader.
Rehman was dominating on the mound. He retired nine of the first 11 batters he faced on 33 pitches in the first three innings including seven in a row. But the trademark of Blake's team - defense - let RM back into the game in the middle innings as the Rockets tied the score 4-4 on four unearned runs.
Coming into the game, the Bengals had committed only nine errors on the season and had no errors for two straight games (Damascus and Sherwood). However, five errors over the 4th and 5th innings contributed to the RM cause.
An outstanding defensive play by left fielder Will Messett (Jr. OF/P) halted the RM rally and prevented two runs from scoring after RM tied the game and turned the game back to Blake's favor. Messett dove to his left and snared a bullet in the LF gap by Nick Khan with runners on 2nd and 3rd and one out. Neither runner advanced. Messett got to his feet and fired to cutoff man Lorber as the runners, who took off on contact, returned to the bag.
"Every game has one or two key moments that decide the outcome," said Blake coach Steve Murfin. "If Will doesn't make that play, RM takes a 6-4 lead into the 6th inning and we may not come back. That one play seemed to pick us back up."
The Bengals then answered by scoring three in the top of the 6th. Zack Tarner stroked a double down the 3b line past the diving Khan to plate DH Frankie Poulous (Fr. DH/OF/P) and give the lead back to Blake, 5-4. Anthony Hanagan (So. 1b/P), got the second of his three hits on the season to knock in Tarner, who stole third, and Blake pulled away.
The Bengals added another run in the seventh when Tarner, who singled with two outs, came around on Hanagan's double.
Every Blake batter reached base via a hit, walk or an error.
BENGAL NOTES:
Despite five errors vs. RM, the Bengals are on track to have the best defensive team in their history. Currently, team fielding percentage is .934.
Blake's back-to-back games with no errors is the fifth time in three years they have done that. Last year the team had 11 errors over the last 9 games including four games with no errors in that stretch.
The team batting average of .352 is just one point off where it ended last season (.353).
Eight players are batting .300 or better (Schrader, Tarner, Hanagan, Schallhorn, Rehman, Flores, Deane, Lorber).
The Bengals have been thrown out stealing only four times in 26 attempts.
The team ERA of 3.50 is the lowest ERA at any point in a season since 2003 when the Blake staff ended the season at 3.04.
Blake pitchers have three complete games this season.
Starters have gone to at least the sixth inning in five of the eight games.
Schrader's hitting streak is now 17 games. He is batting .634 during the hitting streak.
BENGAL QUOTES
On the wins this week vs. Sherwood and RM: "We got back to playing Bengal baseball. We played good defense overall, out pitching was phenomenal and our hitters got back on track by getting good at bats and putting the ball in play."
On the defensive lapse vs. RM: "We really grew from the experience. If we don't make the plays, good teams will take advantage. RM did that and tied the game. The same thing happened to us against Springbrook when we blew two three-run leads and let them back in the game with fielding mistakes. Only this time, instead of folding, we stayed focused and won the game."
More on defense: "We preach to the team that they when the make plays, the pitch count goes down, our pitchers can go longer in the game and you take away at bats from the other team. They now have seen what happens when you don't make the plays."
On Will Messett's diving catch against RM to help halt a rally: "Every game has one or two key moments that decide the outcome. Will doesn't make that play, RM takes a 6-4 lead into the 6th inning and we may not come back."
On the overall team hitting: "Our batting order is deep and very good. Each player on the team has full confidence in his teammate that someone will always drive them in if they get on base. Or someone will always get something started."
On the pitching: "The real secret to our success is our catcher Jose Flores (Sr.). He calls masterful games. Our pitchers trust his judgement on how to pitch and it enables them to get the pitches they need to get outs."
On the depth of the team: "Every game has a new hero and they come from all over the field and from all parts of the lineup. One day a player who is hitting over .400 doesn't get any hits, but, but makes outstanding plays with his glove. On another day, a player who is outstanding with the glove, but hasn't been hitting, gets three hits. They all know that they have to do whatever it takes."
More on the depth: "Coming into the season we knew we had a young team and challenged them to step up. To have your whole lineup, including players off the bench, contribute in games is very comforting to know. They all can trust each other to deliver."
BENGAL STATS:
Hitting:
Average: Schrader ..600; Tarner .478; Hanagan .429; Schallhorn .417; Rehman .414; Flores .320; Deane 318; Lorber .310
Runs: Tarner 12, Schrader 11; Schallhorn 11
Hits: Schrader 15, Rehman 12; Tarner 11; Schallhorn 10
RBI: Schrader 11, Rehman 11
Slugging: Schrader .920; Rehman .793; Tarner .783; Schallhorn .625
OBP%: Schrader .677; Tarner .586; Schallhorn .531; Rehman .469; Hanagan .429; Deane .423; Lorber .412
Pitching
Wins: Tarner 3; Rehman 2
Appearances: Tarner 7, Rehman 6
Innings: Tarner 30; Rehman 20
ERA: Tarner 2.80
Strikeouts: Tarner 30 (1.00 per inning); Rehman 17 (.85/inn)
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Blake Baseball takes on County's best with 1-1 week
Games with Whitman and QO help define where team wants to be
After starting off 2-0, the best since 2002, the Blake Bengal baseball team entered the second week of the season hoping to define the kind of team they would have this season.
Whitman and Quince Orchard, teams that featured many returning starters from identical 14-2 regular seasons last year, would be teams that would show the Bengals if they were going to enter the elite in Montgomery County baseball.
Blake went 1-1 in the two games. In doing so, Blake learned that it can play with the big teams, but if they are going to make a run deep into the playoffs, there is still more work to do.
The Bengals completely dominated Whitman from the first pitch, winning 14-4, that improved their record to 3-0, one-half game behind Quince Orchard. The loss was the most lopsided loss in six years for the Vikings. Zack Tarner mowed down Whitman, allowing only 5 hits and 2 unearned runs in six innings. He threw just 72 pitches in his stint on the mound. Matt Schrader went four for five and knocked in six runs.
Quince Orchard came into Blake at the end of the week for a match up of unbeatens. The defending 4A state champions hung onto a 4-2 lead going into the 5th inning of a very tightly-played contest before bursting for 4 runs to win pulling away.
Still, the Bengals look back at their week and find that sitting on a 3-1 record is better than the previous three seasons.
Blake 14, Whitman 4
Seniors Matt Schrader and Zack Tarner continued their joint leadership of the Blake baseball by pacing the Bengals to a 14-4 victory over Whitman as the Bengals ran their record to 3-0.
Schrader was 4-5 and had six runs batted in to lead the attack that featured 14 hits and 4 players with multiple hits. Tarner, allowed 2 unearned runs and five hits over six innings. He left the game with an 8-3 lead.
Schrader opened the scoring with a three-run triple in the fourth to give Blake a 3-0 lead.
Whitman tied it in their half of the 4th after Tarner allowed three bloop singles. A two-out, two-strike Texas-leaguer over the second-baseman's head allowed the two runs to score. An error by freshman SS Jake Lorber allowed another run to score to tie the game 3-3.
But Blake bounced right back with five runs in the fifth that chased Whitman ace Feldman. Feldman threw 90 pitches in 4 innings. Senior Tri-Captain (with Tarner and Schrader) Jose Flores broke the tie with a single. Schrader cleared the bases with a two-run double and Lorber knocked in the final run with a double that gave the Bengals a 8-3 lead.
Blake tallied six more runs in the seventh with six hits that included shots off the fence by Tarner, Lorber and Flores. Schrader knocked in another run in the inning and stole third base, his first steal in two years.
Quince Orchard 9, Blake 4
The Bengals learned what it takes to be an elite team when they tangled with the Cougars, the defending 4A State Champions.
QO led 4-0 after their half of the third by effectively executing the stolen base and the hit and run. Three times in the first two innings, the first runner to reach base for the Cougars was caught leaning the wrong way, but still reached second base. And then the next hitter knocked him in with a base hit off of Ryan Rehman (Soph, LHP).
Double plays by keystone players Jake Lorber (Fr, SS) and Taylor Schallhorn (Jr. 2b) helped the Bengals out of jams in the first two innings.
But the Bengals battled back to make the score 4-2 after three. Freshman SS sensation Jake Lorber stroked a double to deep CF to score Schrader and Tarner.
The difference in the game was QO's steady attack that came through in the fifth. Rehman loaded the bases and allowed a single for a run. Then a 3-run homer gave the Cougars a 8-3 lead as they pulled away.
The Bengals had their opportunities as they threatened in every inning including leaving the bases loaded twice, but failed to score. Blake left nine runners on base.
Bengal Notes
Matt Schrader has a 14-game hitting streak dating back to last season (believed to be the longest in school history). Over that span, he is hitting .686 (35-51) 36 RBIs.
Schrader leads or is tied for the team lead in seven offensive categories.
Schrader has left only nine runners on base in the last 51 at bats.
Zack Tarner is one of the most effective pitcher-hitter combos in the County. Tarner has a .294 ERA in 16 1/3 innings and has 15 Ks. He is batting .545 with two doubles and seven runs scored.
Tarner is known as a work-horse and is well conditioned. Last year, he set a school record with 10 appearances. For his career, he is one game away from tying the school record for appearances in a career (23, Kevin Casady).
Although a pitcher, Ryan Rehman is a very effective hitter with a .438 BA with three doubles and six RBI while also playing RF.
Freshman Jake Lorber has been a clutch fielder and hitter batting in the two slot. He has helped the Bengals turn three DPs with keystone corner mate Junior Taylor Schallhorn and he has two doubles and four RBI.
Jose Flores (Sr, C) is hitting .462. He has caught every inning but one in the last 21 games.
Team BA of .383
Team Slugging of .591
Team OB% of .497
Eight stolen bases in 10 attempts
Blake had 4 SB vs. Whitman
Bengal Leaders
Hitting:
Average: Schrader .667; Tarner .545; Flores .462; Rehman .438
Runs: Tarner 7; Schallhorn 7, Schrader 6
Hits: Schrader 10, Rehman 7; Tarner 6; Flores 6
RBI: Schallhorn 10, Flores 6; Rehman 6
Slugging: Schrader 1.113; Tarner 1.000; Rehman .750
OBP%: Schrader .722; Tarner .667; Schallhorn .529
Pitching
Wins: Tarner 2; Rehman 1
ERA: Tarner 2.94;
Strikeouts: Tarner 15; Rehman 10
Bengal Quotes
On the Whitman game: "In the three years since Jon Green and I have been coaching this team, that was our finest victory," said Steve Murfin. "Other than one error, we made no mistakes in the game and everybody, including the DH and Courtesy Runners played smart baseball."
On the games against QO and Whitman, two teams with a combined 28-2 record last year: "We knew that these games would define the kind of ball club we would have. We played both very competitive and battled on every pitch and every play. We learned a lot that will carry us the rest of the season."
More on the games against QO and Whitman: "We told the team, just like George Mason did in the NCAA tournament - it isn't who you play, or where you play, it is how you play. If we play our game, we will win. So far this spring, we have played very good and smart baseball - if we play the way we have shown so far, we should do very will against these County elite all year."
On the loss to QO: "They are a very good team. We hung with them, but made a few mistakes and they didn't make any. We can be as good as them if we take care of the little things that make a difference in the game. "
More on QO: "We had three of their runners picked off but let them advance bases when we couldn't complete the play. All three scored. On the upside, we turned two DPs and also caught two others runners off base. It proved that we can play tough and play on their level. You just can't make mistakes against a great team or they will jump all over it."
Outlook for the week: "We have two more big games this week. We can't cruise and think our 3-1 start is OK. We have to, and we will, continue to improve and get better."
Games with Whitman and QO help define where team wants to be
After starting off 2-0, the best since 2002, the Blake Bengal baseball team entered the second week of the season hoping to define the kind of team they would have this season.
Whitman and Quince Orchard, teams that featured many returning starters from identical 14-2 regular seasons last year, would be teams that would show the Bengals if they were going to enter the elite in Montgomery County baseball.
Blake went 1-1 in the two games. In doing so, Blake learned that it can play with the big teams, but if they are going to make a run deep into the playoffs, there is still more work to do.
The Bengals completely dominated Whitman from the first pitch, winning 14-4, that improved their record to 3-0, one-half game behind Quince Orchard. The loss was the most lopsided loss in six years for the Vikings. Zack Tarner mowed down Whitman, allowing only 5 hits and 2 unearned runs in six innings. He threw just 72 pitches in his stint on the mound. Matt Schrader went four for five and knocked in six runs.
Quince Orchard came into Blake at the end of the week for a match up of unbeatens. The defending 4A state champions hung onto a 4-2 lead going into the 5th inning of a very tightly-played contest before bursting for 4 runs to win pulling away.
Still, the Bengals look back at their week and find that sitting on a 3-1 record is better than the previous three seasons.
Blake 14, Whitman 4
Seniors Matt Schrader and Zack Tarner continued their joint leadership of the Blake baseball by pacing the Bengals to a 14-4 victory over Whitman as the Bengals ran their record to 3-0.
Schrader was 4-5 and had six runs batted in to lead the attack that featured 14 hits and 4 players with multiple hits. Tarner, allowed 2 unearned runs and five hits over six innings. He left the game with an 8-3 lead.
Schrader opened the scoring with a three-run triple in the fourth to give Blake a 3-0 lead.
Whitman tied it in their half of the 4th after Tarner allowed three bloop singles. A two-out, two-strike Texas-leaguer over the second-baseman's head allowed the two runs to score. An error by freshman SS Jake Lorber allowed another run to score to tie the game 3-3.
But Blake bounced right back with five runs in the fifth that chased Whitman ace Feldman. Feldman threw 90 pitches in 4 innings. Senior Tri-Captain (with Tarner and Schrader) Jose Flores broke the tie with a single. Schrader cleared the bases with a two-run double and Lorber knocked in the final run with a double that gave the Bengals a 8-3 lead.
Blake tallied six more runs in the seventh with six hits that included shots off the fence by Tarner, Lorber and Flores. Schrader knocked in another run in the inning and stole third base, his first steal in two years.
Quince Orchard 9, Blake 4
The Bengals learned what it takes to be an elite team when they tangled with the Cougars, the defending 4A State Champions.
QO led 4-0 after their half of the third by effectively executing the stolen base and the hit and run. Three times in the first two innings, the first runner to reach base for the Cougars was caught leaning the wrong way, but still reached second base. And then the next hitter knocked him in with a base hit off of Ryan Rehman (Soph, LHP).
Double plays by keystone players Jake Lorber (Fr, SS) and Taylor Schallhorn (Jr. 2b) helped the Bengals out of jams in the first two innings.
But the Bengals battled back to make the score 4-2 after three. Freshman SS sensation Jake Lorber stroked a double to deep CF to score Schrader and Tarner.
The difference in the game was QO's steady attack that came through in the fifth. Rehman loaded the bases and allowed a single for a run. Then a 3-run homer gave the Cougars a 8-3 lead as they pulled away.
The Bengals had their opportunities as they threatened in every inning including leaving the bases loaded twice, but failed to score. Blake left nine runners on base.
Bengal Notes
Matt Schrader has a 14-game hitting streak dating back to last season (believed to be the longest in school history). Over that span, he is hitting .686 (35-51) 36 RBIs.
Schrader leads or is tied for the team lead in seven offensive categories.
Schrader has left only nine runners on base in the last 51 at bats.
Zack Tarner is one of the most effective pitcher-hitter combos in the County. Tarner has a .294 ERA in 16 1/3 innings and has 15 Ks. He is batting .545 with two doubles and seven runs scored.
Tarner is known as a work-horse and is well conditioned. Last year, he set a school record with 10 appearances. For his career, he is one game away from tying the school record for appearances in a career (23, Kevin Casady).
Although a pitcher, Ryan Rehman is a very effective hitter with a .438 BA with three doubles and six RBI while also playing RF.
Freshman Jake Lorber has been a clutch fielder and hitter batting in the two slot. He has helped the Bengals turn three DPs with keystone corner mate Junior Taylor Schallhorn and he has two doubles and four RBI.
Jose Flores (Sr, C) is hitting .462. He has caught every inning but one in the last 21 games.
Team BA of .383
Team Slugging of .591
Team OB% of .497
Eight stolen bases in 10 attempts
Blake had 4 SB vs. Whitman
Bengal Leaders
Hitting:
Average: Schrader .667; Tarner .545; Flores .462; Rehman .438
Runs: Tarner 7; Schallhorn 7, Schrader 6
Hits: Schrader 10, Rehman 7; Tarner 6; Flores 6
RBI: Schallhorn 10, Flores 6; Rehman 6
Slugging: Schrader 1.113; Tarner 1.000; Rehman .750
OBP%: Schrader .722; Tarner .667; Schallhorn .529
Pitching
Wins: Tarner 2; Rehman 1
ERA: Tarner 2.94;
Strikeouts: Tarner 15; Rehman 10
Bengal Quotes
On the Whitman game: "In the three years since Jon Green and I have been coaching this team, that was our finest victory," said Steve Murfin. "Other than one error, we made no mistakes in the game and everybody, including the DH and Courtesy Runners played smart baseball."
On the games against QO and Whitman, two teams with a combined 28-2 record last year: "We knew that these games would define the kind of ball club we would have. We played both very competitive and battled on every pitch and every play. We learned a lot that will carry us the rest of the season."
More on the games against QO and Whitman: "We told the team, just like George Mason did in the NCAA tournament - it isn't who you play, or where you play, it is how you play. If we play our game, we will win. So far this spring, we have played very good and smart baseball - if we play the way we have shown so far, we should do very will against these County elite all year."
On the loss to QO: "They are a very good team. We hung with them, but made a few mistakes and they didn't make any. We can be as good as them if we take care of the little things that make a difference in the game. "
More on QO: "We had three of their runners picked off but let them advance bases when we couldn't complete the play. All three scored. On the upside, we turned two DPs and also caught two others runners off base. It proved that we can play tough and play on their level. You just can't make mistakes against a great team or they will jump all over it."
Outlook for the week: "We have two more big games this week. We can't cruise and think our 3-1 start is OK. We have to, and we will, continue to improve and get better."
