Bozek Does It All In Wild Win Over Fairfax
Published: April 18th, 2008
April 16, 2008, Clifton, Va. — Mickey Bozek hit a home run, stole home, got hit by a pitch, drove in two runs and if the offense wasn’t good enough, he started an inning-ending double play…from right field as the Wildcats dropped Fairfax 12-2 in earning their first home victory of the season. VHSL rules state that a game is over when one team has a ten-run advantage at the end of an inning, past the fourth inning.
Bozek’s defensive gem came in the second inning when Mauricio Arias lifted a one-out pitch from Ryan Ashooh (complete game, win, six walks, eight strikeouts). With Grant Cole on second base tagging on the play, Bozek made the catch in deep right-center and came up throwing. The throw beat Cole to the bag where J. P. Nicholas (0-for-2, walked twice, reached on an error twice, four runs) made the tag.
The score was 3-1 in favor of the Wildcats at the time that they actually trailed early on. Leadoff batter Patrick Gidders walked and wound up scoring on a double-steal attempt that nabbed Joe Riley-Ryan in a run-down between first and second. Bozek then matched his Fairfax leadoff counter part, but got credit for the steal of home when Chris Campbell (2-for-4, two runs, stolen base) successfully made it to second. The Wildcats pulled off another double steal in the third inning when Nick Ellis (1-for-3, run, three RBI) scored while Zach Underhill (courtesy runner for Kyle Hall) swiped second. Underhill took second in the second inning when Shane Mondloch (1-for-2, stolen base) took third on another double steal.
The big inning for the Wildcats came in the fourth, already leading 6-2. The Wildcats plated five while sending 11 to the plate and facing three different pitchers in the frame. Bozek led off the inning with his home run then drove in the final run of the inning when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. In between, Campbell singled, Cam Walter grounded out, Nicholas walked and wound up scoring on an error, Connor Bach (3-for-4, run, RBI) singled and scored on a pair of wild pitches, Ellis lined out to second, Andy Viands (0-for-1, walk, hit by pitch, run) was hit by a pitch, Mondloch walked and Bob McMican (pinch hitting for Hall) was hit by a pitch. Campbell flew out to left to end the inning. In all, the Wildcats scored five runs, on three hits, just one error in the inning by Fairfax, walked twice, had three batters hit by a pitch and took advantage of three wild pitches.
It was a wild game indeed as Fairfax pitchers combined for six walks, four wild pitches, and the defense committed five errors and allowed six stolen bases.
Centreville will host Chantilly Friday night at 6:30 p.m. in another Concorde District game.