FARMINGDALE — If hitting is contagious, as the baseball axiom goes, then Hall-Dale’s lineup was downright infected Tuesday in its prelim game against Traip Academy.
After a slow start, the Bulldogs erupted for 15 hits over the final three innings (they had 17 in all) to dispatch the 10th-seeded Rangers 13-3 in game called after six innings due to the mercy rule.
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No. 7 Hall-Dale (10-7) advances to the quarterfinal round where it will face No. 2 Dirigo on Thursday while Traip finishes at 7-10.
The Bulldogs spotted the visiting Rangers two runs in the first inning, another in the third and trailed 3-1 entering the fourth inning. That’s when they found their batting eyes against Traip starter Josh Schneier, a junior right-hander who kept the Bulldogs off balance over the first three innings by changing speeds and spotting his fastball.
“We were on that the second time around,” Hall-Dale coach Bob Sinclair said. “It’s hard the first time around, but the second time around we sort of knew what to be looking for.” Hall-Dale scored seven runs in the fourth on eight hits, an error and a couple of questionable decisions in the field by the Rangers. Ryan Sinclair, who tripled home a run for the Bulldogs in the first inning, opened the fourth with a solid single to left. Sinclair would finish with two singles, a double and a triple to lead his team in hitting.
“Out of the four at-bats, I only saw five pitches so I was seeing it well,” Sinclair said. “I usually try to stay patient but it worked out being anxious today.”
Starting pitcher Brian Allen followed with a base hit to left, then Taylor Lockhart grounded to third. Sinclair beat Mark Lambrecht in a race to the bag with ahead-first slide as the Bulldogs loaded the bases with no one out. Alex McPherson doubled to the gap in right-center to tie the game then Lockhart put them ahead for good when the Rangers mishandled the ball on the throw back into the infield. Bobby Cumler singled home a run with his second hit of the game before Sinclair capped the inning with a two-run single to left.
“We’re an explosive team,” Coach Sinclair said. “We’ve had quite a few big games this season where we haven’t been able to put some hits together so it was nice. It was probably our best hitting game of the year which is nice to see now that we’re in the playoffs.”
Allen settled down after a shaky start in which he walked a batter in the first inning, hit another and a potential fly ball out fell for a hit when it was lost in the right-field sun.
“That’s pretty typical of Brian,” Coach Sinclair said. “Usually the first inning is his tougher inning then he settles down and gets stronger as the game goes on.”
Allen allowed five hits, two in the first and two in Traip’s one-run third, while finishing with two walks and seven strikeouts. He also found his curveball.
“I didn’t (throw many) at the start of the game but as the game went, on I felt better and threw more,” Allen said.
The Bulldogs tacked on two more runs in the fifth as McPherson led the inning with his second straight double. The Hall-Dale senior, who finished with three hits and three RBIs, scored on a safety squeeze from Jordan Gardner. The mercy rule came into play in the sixth as Sinclair led the inning with his fourth hit of the game off reliever Jonathan Davis. Four straight hits followed, including a double from Lockhart. Tyler Dubois’ bloop single to center ended it and gave the Bulldogs another crack at Dirigo, a team that beat them 10-0 several weeks ago.
“I’m looking forward to going up there,” Coach Sinclair. “They’re a quality team.”
Gary Hawkins — 621-5638
Twitter: @GaryHawkinsKJ
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