HORNET VARSITY BASEBALL RALLIES TO STUN 4TH-RANKED CENTREVILLE

Date Posted: Apr 16, 2010
Game Date: Apr 16, 2010

Score:
HORNETS: 8
CENTREVILLE HIGH: 7

As their ace left-handed pitcher lay in a hospital bed a few miles away, the Herndon High School Hornets played their most inspired game of the 2010 season by coming from behind to beat the fourth-ranked Centreville High School Wildcats 8-7 on a windy Friday night (April 16) at McCullock Field.

The Concorde District game was decided by a gutsy play that has come to symbolize Hornet baseball under first year coach Greg Miller. With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning and the game tied 7-7, Centreville reliever JT Hampel hit senior Nick Impellizzeri with a pitch. Impellizzeri, who was a wide receiver on the Hornet football team, stole second and third base.

With cleanup hitter Daniel Shill at bat, the conventional strategy would call for a sacrifice fly or, even better, a hit. But Miller called for a bunt, which Shill delivered a few feet in front of the plate. Impellizzeri scored from third as the Wildcats could only make one play by throwing Shill out at first base.

The stunned Wildcats, the preseason pick to win the district title, could not recover as Shill put them down in order in the top of the seventh. The jubilant Hornets, who lost a tough one-run game to Oakton on Wednesday (April 14), raced onto the field to celebrate.

The team had dedicated the game to senior Paul Hvozdovic, who suffered a collapsed lung during a collision at first base in the Oakton game. Hvozdovic, who somehow managed to stay in the game and score a run, was taken to Reston Hospital Center, where he is recuperating.

Centreville had two big innings, capped by a two-run home run in the fourth inning by Chris Campbell, one of 12 seniors on the Wildcat roster. They scored three in the second and four in the fourth to go ahead 7-3.

But Herndon did not quit, much to the Wildcats' surprise. In the crucial fourth inning, Impellizzeri singled with one out and advanced to second base before Shill grounded to short for the second out. Senior Alex Clark then delivered the second of his three hits. Sophomore Matt Smith crushed a triple to bring Clark home. Hot hitting senior Zach Reif smashed his third hit of the night to score Smith and tie the game.

Impellizzeri started for the Hornets and went five innings before Shill entered the game in the top of the sixth inning. The Wildcats loaded the bases with one out in the sixth but could not get across another run. The Hornets, who already seized the momentum of the game after tying the score, carried their desperate-to-win mindset into the bottom of the sixth for the last run of the game.

Herndon improved to 7-2 on the season, 1-1 in the Concorde District. Centreville, the fourth-ranked team in the Northern Region coaches poll, fell to 1-1 and 7-4. Herndon travels to Westfield on Tuesday. The Bulldogs had lost 4-0 to Centreville earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Hornet players have been visiting Hvozdovic in the hospital, where he is in room 310. Cards--and prayers--- are encouraged to Paul at the home. (by S. Fehr)

Photo caption: Senior JJ McMann was congratulated by teammates after scoring one of Herndon's first runs in a 8-7 comeback win over Centreville. Photo by J. McNichol