Diamond Cats return to the field

The Apalachee High School baseball team opened the new season with a 12-0 victory against Central Gwinnett.

Mason Webb worked the first three innings, allowing just one run with three walks and four strikeouts. Justin Stevens pitched the fourth and fifth innings allowing three walks and striking out two.

Tony Salvaggio worked the sixth with two strikeouts.

“We pitched OK,” coach Mike Cavey said. “We allowed them to get the bases loaded a couple of times and were able to work out of it with no runs scoring. We definitely have to limit our walks though.”

Steven Adair and Salvaggio both had two hits with a double. Chance Rodriguez and Austin Leazer also had two singles each.
Rodriguez drove in four runs while Tyler Adams had three.

AHS scored five runs in the first, three in the fifth and four more in the six to end the contest.

“Their defense helped us out a good bit by booting some balls and making some throwing errors,” Cavey said. “Our guys did a good job of putting the ball in play and running bases.We have to get better though. We didn’t do some of the little things well that we will need to do against better competition.”

The Wildcats slipped to 1-1 the following day with a 4-1 setback to Duluth. The game was moved up a day due to the forecast of rain.

“We had the bases loaded three times and couldn’t get but one run on a walk,” Cavey said. “We had the bases loaded with no outs, loaded the bases with one out and loaded the bases with two outs and only got one run on a walk. We got people on base but couldn’t get them home.”

The coach said the Wildcats had sound defense and pitching but had trouble delivering at the plate in the heart of the order.”