JOHNSTOWN —
Aggression by the Chicago Metro Des Plaines Patriots paid off early during Tuesday morning’s 5-0 win over Maryland State Calvert Legion at Point Stadium.
The Patriots flashed their wheels by stealing four bases in the first two innings to build a four-run advantage. Pitcher Kevin Borst handled things from there. Borst tossed a complete-game, five-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts to help Chicago-Metro stave off elimination in the AAABA Tournament.
“Every pitcher you’ve got in a tournament like this, you’ve got to go as long as you can,” Borst said. “The run support and the defense behind me was great. Without those things, this couldn’t have been done.”
Chicago Metro jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first as Ryan Kiesel walked to lead off the game and scored on a fielder’s choice grounder by Jason Cohen. After Cohen stole second, Brian Norwood’s single to right brought Cohen home to make it 2-0.
Norwood, who took second on the throw to the plate, scored a batter later on Ryan Konsler’s base hit to center.
Chicago Metro added to the lead in the second when Anthony Concialdi singled to short, stole second, moved to third on a passed ball and scored when Brian Evans grounded out to shortstop.
The purposeful base-running by the Patriots yielded three runs thanks to the stolen bags and heads-up advancements.
“We wanted to be aggressive on the bases,” Chicago Metro manager Mike Schultz said. “The pitcher (Jeremy Adams) was slow to the plate and we wanted to take advantage of it. Our guys did a good job of getting their own reads.”
The Patriots tacked on their final run in the fifth as a leadoff triple by Norwood became a run when Keith Brand grounded to third and reached thanks to a throwing error by Bryan McHale. Adams danced out of further danger when he snagged a line drive off the bat of Concialdi and doubled off McHale at third.
Maryland State threatened an inning earlier by loading the bases with one out before Jacob Nealis was caught napping at second and picked off by catcher Brand. Borst fanned Billy Gaines to end the potential rally.
Borst retired the final seven Maryland State batters to close out the win.
“(Borst) threw a great game. His pitch count got up there a little bit, but he didn’t throw too many pitches in an inning to make me worry,” Schultz said. “He’s a bulldog. He wanted the game and that’s huge because we didn’t come out with a whole lot of pitchers and he saved three or four guys for tomorrow, and that’s big.”
Chicago will face the loser of the Delweld-Livonia game today.
Sports
Related Photos
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Chicago Metro starter Kevin Borst uses a high leg kick to deliver a pitch. Todd Berkey
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PHOTOS BY TODD BERKEY/THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT Maryland State third baseman Bryan McHale leaps into the air for the ball as Chicago Metro’s Anthony Concialdi slides in with a stolen base during the second inning on Tuesday at Point Stadium. Todd Berkey
Discussion
Chicago Metro runs past Maryland State
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