Herndon's win, its first over the Chargers since May 15, 2006, moves the Hornets to 3-2 (9-3 overall) in the Concorde District with five games to go. Chantilly, last year's Concorde runner up, fell to 2-3 (6-8 overall).

 

Herndon won the hard way, rallying against the Chargers' most experienced pitcher for three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Then the Hornets had to hold off Chantilly's top four batters in the top of the seventh inning.

 

Senior Nick Impellizzeri, in relief of senior Alex Clark, gave up a leadoff infield single to junior Connor Major in the seventh. The suspense built when junior Jamie Danehower of the Chargers bunted Major to second base and the Chargers' most dangerous hitters coming to bat. Impellizzeri got senior Adam Fridy to ground out to Hornet second baseman Dylan Garten and struck out clean up hitter Matt DeWitt to end the game.  It was the first time in four at-bats that DeWitt failed to get on base.

 

In the decisive sixth inning, the Chargers' junior starter, Dan Lawler, was sailing along with a one-hit, six strikeout shutout. The Hornets' only baserunner in five innings was senior Zach Reif, who singled in the fifth. But Chargers' coach Kevin Ford decided to pull Lawler from the game after giving up a leadoff hit to Garten in the sixth.

 

Ford put in 6'3, 240 pound senior Bill Boyle, who has committed to play at Mary Washington, according to VirginiaPreps.com. Senior JJ McMann followed Garten with a single. Boyle's wild throw to hold McMann on first base scored Garten from third for the first run.

 

Leadoff hitter Ky Parrott-Gilmore laid down a perfect bunt for a single and stole second base. Impellizzeri's single scored McMann from third base, and Gilmore-Parrott came home on a fielder's choice by senior Daniel Shill. 

 

The Hornets began the game in a charitable mood, giving the Chargers two unearned runs with two out in the top of the first inning with two hit batters, two balks and an error. Desperate-to-win Clark shut down the Chargers for the next five innings, striking out seven Chargers and scattering three hits. Clark was named the player of the game.

 

Watching from the left field bleacher was senior Paul Hvozdovic, who got out of the hospital Monday after successful surgery on his collapsed lung. Senior Kevin Pence is continuing physical therapy on his injured knee, which ended his season as well.

 

In recent years, Chantilly and Westfield have been Herndon's toughest foes in the Concorde. Last year's 18-6 Chantilly team, runner up to Westfield in the district, lost to West Springfield in the Northern Region semifinals.

 

Herndon travels to Oakton on Friday (April 30). The Cougars beat the Hornets 4-3 in eight innings on April 14. (Story by S.Fehr)

 

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