'Jeckyl & Hyde' Mounts split first two contests
- 06 April 2007
Just two games into the 2007 high school baseball season, Ephrata already has shown how good it can be and how bad it can get."We've seen Jeckyl and we've seen Hyde," Ephrata Coach Adrian Shelley said Tuesday.
The Mounts opened the season Friday with a 13-2 masterpiece over Lampeter-Strasburg.
Sophomore pitcher Doug Houtz, who was originally pegged to pitch on the JV level this season before injuries and other problems besieged the Mounts' varsity staff, got the opening day start on the mound and delivered in a big way.
Houtz went the distance, scattering five hits while striking out six en route to earning the victory. Offensively, the Mounts unloaded on the Pioneers as Adam Stahl led the way with a 3-for-3 day which included four RBI. Catcher Matt Woolley added a pair of hits and three RBI in the big win.
As good as the Mounts looked Friday, that's about as bad as they were Monday afternoon in a 15-5 loss to visiting E-town. The Mounts, who have prided themselves over the years with outstanding pitching and defense, had neither working Monday as the defense committed a whopping eight errors in the game. In addition, Ephrata pitchers walked eight batters as they failed to hold on to an early 3-0 lead.
Reid Martin had four hits including a pair of doubles to pace the Mounts' eight-hit attack.
"The bottom line is we got pitching and defense on Friday, and on Monday, we didn't," Shelley said. "It wouldn't have mattered who we played (Monday) because we beat ourselves. The thing is, this group will experience a lot of highs and lows. Our pitchers are so inexperienced that there are going to be some hit and miss outings. That's the way it will be. It's patience and perseverance at its best."
One big blow the Mounts already have suffered is losing pitching ace and starting centerfielder Steve Tretter for the season with a torn ACL.
We here at www.ephratamounts.com are proud sponsors of the Dodgeball for Diabetes tournament.