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The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
The official student newspaper of Walter Johnson High School

The Pitch
Categories:

Baseball secures two wins against Gaithersburg and Richard Montgomery

Audrey Ring, Online Sports Editor • Apr 17, 2023
Photo by Sanir Byanjankar
Captain Leo Simpson eyes the catcher, throwing a fastball. Simpson pitches and is a first baseman for the Wildcats.

Gaithersburg
The Wildcats visited the Gaithersburg Trojans on Wednesday, Mar. 29. Although the game started slow, WJ picked it up to secure the 2-0 win.

The Wildcats got on the board in the bottom of the third. Junior outfielder Jake Goldberg hit a two-run double. Sophomore Shawn Rudick led the Wildcats pitching.

The Wildcats ran themselves into an out as junior Jay Wandell was thrown out trying to steal third.

On the defensive side, in the fifth inning, the Trojans got a single off a defensive error. But WJ was able to finish out the inning clean allowing no more runners to reach a base.

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Rudicks pitching four scoreless innings secured the win for the Wildcats. Their record stands 2-1.

“I had command of all my pitches and was easy getting the job done when my defense was performing behind me,” Rudick said.

Richard Montgomery
The Wildcats came out strong in the first inning up at bat. Sophomore Brady Chan, senior Dan Avillo and Goldberg all collected singles. Wandell had an impressive two-run single and junior Vance Bonior got a double. The Wildcats ended the first, five up against the Rockets.

They didn’t stop there. In the second inning, Bonior, Avillo and senior Braden LaChappelle all hit singles. Wandell hit a double, gaining two more runs.

The top of the third was slow, but Chan got home. Ending it 8-0

In the fourth, sophomore Ethan Hsu got a single. After the Rockets walked three Wildcats they switched pitchers. After Chan hit a single and Bonior got a walk WJ was still up 12-1.

Top of the fifth, junior Nick Zayas walked, then managed to steal second and third. A bad pitch got him all the way home.

Senior Leo Simpson led the team with three scoreless innings on the defensive side for the Wildcats. Catcher Bonior had a great play at second base in the first inning. Sophomore Andres Johnson and junior Aidan Watts.

After a good set of pitching and tying together multiple hits we managed to mercy RM 13-2, ending their winning streak,” Simpson said.

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Junior Grant Levins sprints down the track. "I'm here to try out because I love the sport of track and field and I'm working on my 800 [meter] time. Just trying to get better," Levins said.
Photo Gallery: Friday winter track tryouts
Junior WR Corey Dooren checks with the referee that he is on the line of scrimmage. Dooren helped step up throughout the Wildcat's season and will continue to step up as he matures into a senior next year.
Panthers pounce Wildcats, ending football season
Day in the life of a student-athlete
Day in the life of a student-athlete
Senior Ginger Fishberg defends the ball against an opposing player during a varsity girls' soccer game against Blair. Despite her obvious athleticism, as well as that of other varsity athletes, she is still required to take a full year of Physical Education to earn the credit. (Courtesy Lifetouch)
Varsity athletics should count as a gym credit
Captain Patrick Murphy skates past a defender on a race to the puck. Murphy's defense was a huge contributor in the 1-9 win against Blair.
Icecats breakaway to 4-0 after win against Blair
The cheer squad struts to the floor to start their routine for regionals on Nov. 2 at Harford Community College. The team spent weeks working on their routine and were proud to get the chance to perform it at regionals. “Stepping on to the mat at regionals, I felt really nervous, but I was also very excited because I wanted to show the judges all the hard work we put into the routine,” junior Lyla Cho said. (Courtesy Candice Nsoga-Mahob)
Cheer closes season, scores 4th at regionals
About the Contributor
Audrey Ring
Audrey Ring, Online Editor-in-Chief
Senior Audrey Ring is so excited to be an Editor in Chief for the Pitch! In her free time she enjoys having out with friends and attending sporting events.
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