Both teams were limited to four hits, but the Wildcats (1-5 overall, 0-1 district) were done in by two costly errors that led to four runs by the Bulldogs, which remained undefeated on the season.

Centreville starter Mitch Mahoney went four innings before giving way to senior RHP Chance Roman, who threw two scoreless innings of relief. Mahoney, who carries a 2.93 earned run average, fell to 0-3 and has received just one run of support in his three starts this season.

Junior RF Chris Simpson had two of the Wildcats’ hits and drove in their lone run in the sixth inning. Senior 3B Mark McCormick and junior 2B Mark Behne had the team’s other two hits.

Centreville is scheduled to play next on Friday night at home against Herndon at 6:30PM. The game will also serve as a fundraiser for the Wounded Warrior Project, with a number of wounded U.S. soldiers expected to attend.

Bret Fite had one of the Wildcats' six home runs.

Clifton, Va. – The Centreville baseball team fianlly broke out offensively, totaling 12 hits – six of them home runs - in a 16-3 win over visiting Wakefield on Monday night.

The Wildcats got two home runs apiece from junior RF Chris Simpson and junior C Bobby San Martin, and junior SS Kevin Lachance and junior LF Bret Fite also homered in the win. The round-trippers were the first at the varsity level for all four players.

Senior RHP Mitch August allowed one earned run over four innings to pick up the victory in his first career varsity start, with sophomore Brooks Carson throwing aa scoreless fifth before the game was called due to the 10-run mercy rule.

Centreville (1-4) will open its Concorde District schedule on Tuesday night at Westfield (5-0), which is one of just four remaining undefeated teams in the Northern Region. The Wildcats swept the regular season series between the teams last spring, however fell to the Bulldogs, 6-0, in the district championship game.

The Wildcats are now scheduled to play three games next week, with games at Westfield on Tuesday and at home against Herndon on Friday on the slate.

Bobby San Martin and the Wildcats are looking for their first win of the year.

Clifton, Va. – The Centreville baseball team entered the week seeking its first win of the season after being swept in two contests in Virginia Beach over the weekend.  

The Wildcats dropped a 2-0 decision at Cape Henry Collegiate on Friday, and a 13-1 decision at Atlantic Shores Christian Academy on Saturday to fall to 0-4 on the season. Junior right-hander Mitch Mahoney, who had not received a run of support now in 11 innings of work, was the hard luck losing pitcher in Friday’s game. Senior righty Chance Roman, making his first career high school start, took the loss on Saturday.

Centreville has managed just five runs on eight hits in their first four games, and will look to turn that around when they host Wakefield, which also enters the game 0-4 after a 12-0 loss to Yorktown on Wednesday night. The Warriors have allowed 56 runs in their four games, which could bode well for the quiet Wildcat bats.

The game will serve as Centreville’s last non-league

game before beginning their Concorde District slate at Westfield next Tuesday.

The Wildcats struggled to find an answer for Statesmen junior left-handed Mitch McKeith, who threw six innings to pick up the victory and also hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning. Centreville starter Mitch Mahoney allowed just one run through the first five innings in his first varsity start before being removed down 4-0 with one out in the sixth inning.

The Wilcats will look to bounce back when they travel to take on Loudoun Valley, which dropped a 12-1 decision to Westfield in its season open on Friday. Junior Mitch Ferrick will take the mound and make his first varsity start against the Vikings. Game time is 6 p.m. at Fireman’s Field in Purcellville.

The Wildcats will play the Statesmen on a non-district contest on Friday at 6:30 p.m. to open up the 2011 season, then will travel to Loudoun Valley for their first road game on Monday.

Marshall was 7-15 last year under head coach Joe McDonald, having their season ended in the Liberty District quarterfinals with a 2-0 loss to Fairfax. Centreville is coming off a 16-7 season in which they won the Concorde District’s regular season championship, advanced to the district final and won their first round game in the Northern Region tournament before falling in the quarterfinals to Madison.

Wildcats coaches with Maryland coach Erik Bakich.

Clifton, Va. – The Centreville baseball program kicked off its 2011 season with its second annual preseason banquet at the Fair Lakes Hyatt on Monday.

The night featured a speech and introduction of the players by head varsity coach Morgan Spencer and head junior varsity coach Travis Johnston. But the night was highlighted by the event’s guest speaker, University of Maryland head baseball coach Erik Bakich, who spoke of determination and work ethic, challenging the Wildcat players to always work towards their goals, be a good teammate and appreciate the efforts of their parents and coaches, because “the game knows” who should be awarded for going about things the right way.

The banquet also featured a video highlighting the Wildcats’ offseason weight training and conditioning program and introducing this year’s varsity team. The video can be viewed at the link below.

Centreville Baseball Preseason Banquet Video

Maryland baseball coach Erik Bakich

Clifton, Va. – University of Maryland head baseball coach Erik Bakich will be the guest speaker at the second annual Centreville Baseball preseason banquet on Monday, March 14 at the Fair Lakes Hyatt, the program is pleased to announce.

Bakich is in his second season in College Park after stints as an assistant coach at Clemson and Vanderbilt, where he helped lead several teams into the NCAA Tournament and made one appearance in the College World Series with the Tigers in 2002. Known as one of the top recruiters in the country, Bakich helped Vanderbilt land top 25 recruiting classes in each of his seven years at the school, including the top-ranked class in 2005 and the second-ranked class in 2008. His most recent class at Maryland was ranked 25th nationally.

The banquet, which will kickoff the Wildcats’ season and drew 150 people last year, will begin at 6:30PM and will also include player and coach introductions, an address by Centreville head varsity baseball coach Morgan Spencer, highlight videos and a four-course dinner provided by the Hyatt.

The two teams will be wearing camouflage jerseys with WWP patches on them for the game and admittance to the game will be waived in lieu of a donation box that will be placed at the ticket gate for the contest between Concorde District ri…vals. The teams will honor several current and former United States military personnel that were injured while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan in a pregame ceremony, and Sully District Supervisor Michael Frey will join those soldiers in throwing out the ceremonial first pitch while the National Junior ROTC from Herndon High School will present the colors and perform the National Anthem.

Also, hair cuts will be provided at the game by The Hair Cuttery, with all proceeds benefiting the WWP, and a 50/50 raffle will be held to benefit the program as well.

“We are excited to take part in the Wounded Warrior Project,” Centreville head baseball coach Morgan Spencer said. “It is an honor to support our soldiers who put their lives on the line for us and protect us each and every day. I hope that our players will really learn from this night and understand what it truly means to make a sacrifice. We appreciate our troops and all the sacrifices they make for our country.”

Several local businesses are becoming involved in the event, which the Wildcats hope will attract local media, politicians and a large crowd of students and baseball fans throughout the Centreville and Herndon communities in hopes of raising over $3,500 towards the cause.

“This is an event that we are thrilled to be a part of,” said Herndon head baseball coach Greg Miller. “I don’t think many people have a true appreciation of what some people do to defend our country. We’re excited to be a part of something that is raising money for such a great cause.”

The Wounded Warrior Project was founded in Roanoke, Virginia, by a group of veterans and friends who took action to help the injured service men and women of this generation. WWP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, with additional program offices located in New York City and Washington D.C.

For more information or to learn how to become involved in the event, please contact Joey Kamide, an assistant coach at Centreville, at either 703-919-5049 or Kamide9@gmail.com. For more information on the Wounded Warrior Project, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

McCormick hit .443 for the Wildcats in 2010.

Clifton, Va. – Centreville senior OF/3B Mark McCormick committed yesterday to play baseball at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, W.V., Wildcats head coach Morgan Spencer and the school’s athletics department are pleased to announce.

McCormick, who is entering his third varsity season, hit .443 (31-for-70) last spring with a team-high 11 doubles and 24 runs scored and was named a first-team all-Concorde District selection as Centreville went 16-7, won the district’s regular season championship, advanced to the district’s tournament championship game and to the Northern Region quarterfinals before falling to Madison. The versatile senior was also second on the team with a .605 on-base average, tied for the team lead with four stolen bases an drove in 13 runs out of the leadoff spot in the Wildcats’ order.

McCormick will join a Shepherd program that went 21-18 last year under head coach Wayne Riser, who is entering his 21st season with the program. The Rams play in the Division II West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and have compiled 14 winning seasons during Riser’s tenure at the school.

McCormick will become the 11th player in in Spencer’s five years at Centreville to move on to the college level. The Wildcats currently have alumnae Ryan Barefoot (Class of 2007), Connor Bach (2010) and Cam Walter (2010) playing at the Virginia Military Academy, Kyle Harsanyi (2007) and Andy Viands (2010) playing at Christopher Newport University, J.P. Nicholas (2009) playing at Lynchburg College, Ryan Ashooh (2010) playing at the University of Virginia, Chris Campbell (2010) playing at Mount St. Mary’s University and J.T. Hampel (2010) playing at Mary Washington University. Also, Mickey Bozek (2008) pitched for two years at the United States Military Academy at West Point.