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 April 2, 2008, Clifton, Va. — J. P. Nicholas led the Wildcats from a five-run deficit but Robinson held on late to take a Concorde District match-up 7-6. Nicholas (2-for-3, double, 4 RBI) came up with at least one RBI in each of his final three plate appearances.  A two-run double in the third cut the Robinson lead to two, a sacrifice fly in the fifth scored the first of two runs in the inning and an RBI single in the seventh got the ‘Cats within one and put the winning run on base. Robinson jumped on the board early with a pair of runs in the second and three more in the third before the Wildcats started playing the match game.  From the third through sixth innings, whatever Robinson did in the top half, Centreville did in the bottom half.  The only difference on the board entering the seventh was the two-run second inning and the Wildcats wanted to make sure they didn’t match Robinson again. The seventh was started by a lead off, four-pitch walk to Mickey Bozek (0-for-2, two walks, two runs, stolen base).  Brandon Kuter (save, 3-IP, 3 runs, 2 earned) left one over the plate for Chris Campbell (1-for-3, walk, two runs, RBI) who hit a bouncer to third baseman Michael Del Buono who started the game as Robinson’s pitcher.  Del Buono misplayed the ball putting runners at first and second.   Following a ground out by Cam Walter (0-for-3, walk) to put runners at second and third, Nicholas delivered with a single to short right.  Andy Viands pinch ran for Nicholas and was a distraction to the Robinson pitcher.  Connor Bach (2-for-4) lifted the ninth pitch he saw from Kuter, during an at bat that lasted five minutes, to left but it wasn’t deep enough to score the run.  Nick Ellis went down swinging  to end it. The Wildcats played well in getting to the fiery starter Del Buono who possesses a blazing fastball.  A single up the middle by Zach Underhill (2-for-3, run, two stolen bases) in the third with the Wildcats down five turned into a three-run inning.  Leo Montoya was hit with the third pitch he saw to put runners at first and second.  Underhill would steal third and score two outs later on an RBI single by Campbell.  Campbell would move to second on a throwing error by Eric Rabung.  Campbell and Montoya would score on Nicholas’ double with the bases loaded to make it 5-3. Robinson scored twice more in the fifth to make it a 7-3 game in the top of the fifth and the Wildcats answered back thanks to a balk by Kuter in his first inning of relief and a sacrifice fly by Nicholas. Connor Bach started for the Wildcats and lasted 3 2/3 innings.  He allowed five earned runs on five hits, walking three and striking out one.  Ryan Ashooh came on in relief going the final 3 1/3 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits.  He walked one and struck out four. Centreville will now trek over to Oakton for another Concorde District game Friday night at 6:30.  Westfield will come to Centreville next Tuesday, also at 6:30. Notes:  The Wildcats scored in each inning in which the leadoff batter reached base, Robinson did so twice in four chances…The wind played a factor in the game as several balls that were hit down the right field line hooked foul.  The wind was steady most of the game with a few gusts as well…The top of the Wildcats line up went a combined 1-for-8, but scored four of the runs.  The trio drew four walks and Campbell benefited twice on errors by the third baseman. 

March 24, 2008, Clifton, Va.  The Wildcats jumped out to an early three-run advantage but couldn’t hold the lead as T. C. Williams forced extra innings and scored five times in the eighth to spoil Centreville’s home opener, 9-4.
 
The Titans struck first with an RBI single by Sam Alexander in the top of the first to make it 1-0.  The Wildcats got things started right away in the bottom of the inning when Zack Underhill (1-for-3, run, stolen base) led off with a single to center.  After he was forced on the front-end of a double play, Cam Walter (3-for-4, 2 RBI, run) singled to center.  He would move up 90 feet when Nick Ellis (1-for-2, run) walked on five pitches.  With J. P. Nicholas at the plate, T. C.’s Trav Clark couldn’t hold on to an Alexander fastball and put runners at second and third with two out.  Nicholas hit should have been an inning-ending ground ball to second but Mike Baber couldn’t handle it allowing the run to score and tie the game at 1.  Connor Bach delivered his only hit of the night, a single up the middle to put the Cats ahead 2-1.
 
Good fortunes would come again for the Wildcats in the second, again with two outs and nobody on.  Underhill walked, stole second and moved to third on Clark’s second passed ball of the game.  Chris Campbell walked to put runners at the corners for Walter who delivered with a hard shot over the first baseman’s head and down the right-field line scoring both Underhill and Campbell to make it 4-1.  That would be the last hit for Centreville until the seventh inning.
 
The Titans struck back in the fourth to make it a one-run game on an RBI single by Robert Mannell and an error by Campbell.  The Titans tied the game in the sixth as Clark delivered a double off the centerfield fence. 
 
The Wildcats, who had a runner on base in every inning, couldn’t get anyone to second base until the seventh but left the runner stranded. 
 
Jamey Collidge went 5 2/3 innings for the Wildcats, taking the no decision.  He struck allowed four runs (two earned) on seven hits, striking out one.  Bach took the loss in two innings of work, allowing three earned runs on four hits, striking out three.  J. T. Hampel threw the final third of an inning for the Wildcats, allowing two earned runs on two hits.
 
The Wildcats will now head to Chantilly on Friday night to open up Concorde District action at 6:30 p.m.  The Cats return home on Tuesday, April 1 to host Robinson, also at 6:30 p.m.
 

March 19, 2008, Orlando, Florida. The Centreville Wildcats took on the Crimson Knights from Salisbury School in Connecticut in the third round of tournament play. The game was highlighted by a combination of great offense, exciting defensive plays, 7 errors, 2 balks, and several questionable calls (all statistics are unofficial). After spotting the Crimson Knights 3 early runs, the Wildcats fought back to victory, winning 9-7 in extra innings. The 8 inning game took over 3 ½ hours to play.

For the Wildcats there were 2 big story lines: great relief pitching and an outburst of offensive power.

The Crimson Knights started fast with 3 runs on four hits in the first inning. Sophomore Chris Campbell minimized the damage when he struck out the last two batters in the inning, stranding three runners on base to keep the Wildcats in the game. Jamey Collidge, the winning pitcher, started the second and pitched six solid innings of relief to give the Wildcats a chance to close the gap and take the lead for good in the 8th. Connor Bach took the mound in relief in the 8^th inning with the mission to close out the victory. He hurled a perfect 8^th to secure the win and register a save.

After 2 games of light offensive output, the Wildcats broke out of their slump on Wednesday. The Wildcats started slowly scattering 2 hits in the first 4 innings. In the 5^th, the bats came alive as they scored 5 runs on 5 hits. Centreville scored another 2 runs on 2 hits in the 6^th, and 2 runs on 3 hits in the 8^th. The key offensive power was provided by senior Mickey Bozek (3 for 4, 3B, 3 runs, 1 RBI) who helped ignite all 3 Wildcat rallies. Bozek ran over the Crimson Knight catcher while scoring in the 5^th, and scored the winning run in the 8^th on a balk by the Salisbury pitcher. Andy Viands (2 for 5, 1 run, 1 RBI) continued his hot bat. Connor Bach (3 for 4, 2 runs, 1 RBI) provided clutch hits throughout the game. Other notable offensive power was provided by Cam Walter (2 for 5, 2B, RBI) and Chris Campbell (2 for 4, 2 RBI, SB, Sacrifice)

The Wildcats play again, Thursday afternoon, 1:00 PM at Tinker Field, as they take on the Eagles of Brentwood Academy from Brentwood Tennessee.

March 18, 2008, Orlando, Florida. The Centreville Wildcats took on the Saxons of Langley High School in the second round of tournament play. The Wildcats suffered a 5-1 loss at the hands of the Saxons.

Senior southpaw Mickey Bozek started for Centreville and pitched five tough innings. He gave up an unearned run in the first. The Saxons did their damage in the third, when they scored four additional runs. After that sequence, Bozek retired the next 8 batters in order. Junior Jamey Collidge came on in relief to pitch a perfect 6^th and 7^th innings. The infield defense settled down after the third and played flawlessly the remainder of the game.

Offensively the Wildcats mustered only three hits. Andy Viands laced a double down the first base line and scored two batters later on an RBI ground out by Cam Walter. Connor Bach and Nick Ellis each added a hit in support of the offensive effort.

The Wildcats play again, Wednesday evening, 7:00 PM at McCracken Field, as they take on the Crimson Knights from Salisbury School in Connecticut.

March 17, 2008, Orlando, Florida. The Centreville Wildcats opened their Spring Tournament play against the host team, Lake Highland Prep, on Monday evening at Historic Tinker Field. Centreville played the Highlanders tough throughout the game, but came up short in a 1-0 loss.

Sophomore Ryan Ashooh, the Wildcat starting pitcher, gave Centreville every chance to win the game with 6.1 strong innings of work in a classic pitchers duel. Ashooh kept the Highlanders off-balance throughout the game surrendering only 2 hits and one unearned run. Ryan was supported by strong infield defensive play, led by Cam Walter at 1^st base, Andy Viands at 2^nd base, and Zach Underhill at Shortstop. In the seventh inning, a lead-off single put the Highlanders eventual winning run on base, as he was able to score three batters later on a pitch that got back to the backstop.

Offensively the Wildcats mustered three hits, led by a 2-hit evening for Will Fuka and a single by Andy Viands. The Wildcats were unable to score in the three innings they had scoring opportunities.

The Wildcats play again Tuesday evening, 7:00 PM, at McCracken Field as they take on Langley High School.