SUWANEE — Despite his team managing just one hit, North Hall baseball coach Trent Mongero was upbeat after Saturday’s 3-0 loss to North Gwinnett.
“It’s been a tough schedule but we do that on purpose,” he said. “I’m not too worried.”
The Trojans (4-4) have scored four runs or fewer six times, including Saturday’s first shutout loss.
“We’ve played six games against (Class) AAAAA or AAAAAA teams so far and we’ve run into some good pitchers in cold weather,” Mongero said. “We’re still a young team experience-wise. I’d like to see us hit a little more but I feel confident that will come around.”
North Hall starter Corbin Meeler struggled in the first inning hitting one batter, walking two, and then allowing a two-out, two-run single to Clay Davis to fall behind 2-0. The Bulldogs added a run in the second on a RBI single driving in P.J. Lynch, who was hit by a pitch with one out.
Meeler settled down after that allowing just one more hit going the distance (6.0I, 4H, 4BB, 2K). He stranded eight runners, five in scoring position.
“Corbin pitched well enough to win,” Mongero said. “He is tough when he hits his spot. But all three guys that scored either walked or was hit and you can’t do that against good teams.”
That was all North Gwinnett’s Jake Brace needed. The junior right-hander allowed one hit and just four baserunners in five innings to get the win. He and catcher Randall Watson each picked off one runner and the Trojans did not get a runner past second base. He fanned six.
Walker Cleveland pitched the final two innings retiring all six batters he faced, including two strikeouts.
Jackson Latty got the lone North Hall hit with one out in the fifth and moved to second on a stolen base. But Brace and Cleveland retired the final eight North Hall hitters.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/3/375238/baseball-trojans-fall-to-n-gwinnett-on-the-road