As dusk set in on the McLean Highlanders’ baseball field, the defending state champions took on their first district opponent of the season, the Washington-Liberty generals. Coming off an impressive upset win against Georgetown Preparatory School, one of the premier baseball programs in the state, the team was ready to show off their mettle in a game that was expected to be a tough matchup.
“They’ve got one of the best pitchers in the district, so it is going to be a very tough matchup,” head coach John Dowling said. “We’ve instituted a plan that we hope to execute, and if we manage to get the bats going, I’m very confident in our chances.”
The pitcher in question was Washington-Liberty’s right-handed sophomore pitcher Robert Kilpatrick III. Boasting an 87 mile per hour fastball and a strong array of secondary pitches, he was an imposing figure on the mound for the Generals.
McLean came out with senior Christian Dray on the mound. After a season full of injuries, he was prepared to improve on a debut that saw him struggle with his control, resulting in a five-walk outing.
“Confidence is everything for [Dray],” senior shortstop Ethan Ball said. “If he’s confident, no one’s going to be able to get a hit off of him.”
His growing confidence reared its head in the first inning, where he struck out the side and allowed only a single hit.
The Highlanders came out strong in the bottom of the first, with a leadoff single by senior center-fielder Gabe Pegues setting the tone. A series of singles and doubles led to a three-run inning, leaving the Washington-Liberty dugout devoid of any energy. Getting Kilpatrick out of his rhythm proved to be crucial for the outcome of the game.
“Some really good at-bats early on in the game forced him to go to his secondary pitches more often,” Dowling said. “We knew he didn't really have confidence in those and that he couldn't place those for strikes as frequently.”
After an explosive first, both teams settled down, going through two scoreless innings with good defense from both teams. A new transfer, catcher Ryu Johnson, showed his pedigree, roping a double to the wall to lead off the top of the third, but it was for naught, as the Highlanders struggled to get good contact, flying out to end another scoreless inning.
“Ryu did a really good job behind the plate today,” Dowling said. “He’s really been making strides on offense too, and those two balls he pounded today were a really good sign for his offensive progress.”
Dray kept his scoresheet clean in the top of the fourth, adding to his impressive day with another strikeout. However, in the top of the fourth the McLean bats came alive, and after a leadoff hit and a walk, Ball crushed a ball to center field for a three-run homer.
With a six-run lead, the Highlanders were confident with how their ace pitched and brought in freshman Alex Inget for the fifth inning. Inget continued McLean’s defensive dominance, throwing a scoreless inning to continue the General’s drought.
Despite their cushion, the Highlanders added three more insurance runs in the bottom of the fifth, bringing their lead to 9-0.
The sixth inning posted double zeros for both teams, with junior Dan Ockerman coming in to pitch for the Highlanders and mowing down three batters. McLean’s bats faltered, but far too late for the Generals, as they had only a single inning to make a nine run comeback.
Comeback they did not, as Washington-Liberty posted only a single run in the top of the seventh. Senior Alex Gonzalez took the mound and polished off a dominating performance for the Highlanders.
“It was encouraging to see everyone on the team, especially the younger guys who came up from JV last year, hit against a pretty tough pitcher, considering our district,” Ball said. “Overall, it was really important to see us put bats on the ball and play clean in the infield.”
The team faces off next against Marshall High School, where they hope to take this momentum and impose their will against yet another district opponent.
“That team thought they were pretty good, and I don't even want to know how the other district teams are going to be,” Ball said. “I think this win puts the district on notice, and we’re going to be in a good spot going forward.”
