BY STEVE FRANZELLO
Yesterday's "Bash-at-the-Bend" baseball tournament at Riverbend High School was one of the most high-scoring in the event's five-year history.
The host Bears and fellow Commonwealth District member Mountain View each won two games and scored a combined 65 runs in the one-day competition.
But the scores and results of the games were just part of what the day was all about.
"We got to play a lot of people in different positions," said Riverbend coach Tim Stimmell. "But also, I think everybody left here having a good time whether they won or lost."
Mountain View coach Craig Lopez, whose teams have participated in all five tournaments, agreed with Stimmell.
"It's a good time and we look at it as a chance to stay fresh. We come here to play and win," Lopez said. "Tim does a great job and the hospitality is always great."
Riverend's heavy-duty offense was in high gear for both of the games it played yesterday.
In their opening 24-1 victory over Fredericksburg Christian, the Bears pounded out 19 hits, including four by center fielder Nick Lacik. Nick Gianforte and Taylor Fennnewald supplied the long-distance power with home runs.
Lacik continued his hot hitting several hours later, when the Bears (6-2) took the field against King George and blanked the Foxes 9-0 in the final game of the day.
The senior outfielder added another four hits in four trips to the plate, and scored twice.
"I was seeing the ball really well today," Lacik said. "It was also good seeing some different arms."
King George starter Ethan Slemp showed good control early in the contest. But in the bottom of the second, Riverbend took charge with five runs on five hits and never looked back.
Finnewald, who drove in Lacik with the game's first run in the first inning, had the big hit in the inning--a two-out double that plated two runs and put the Bears in front 6- 0. Donald Sherman added one of his two hits and two RBIs in the scoring spree.
The Bears added single runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings to complete their scoring. Lacik and Sherman both played key roles with run-producing hits.
"We hit the ball well all day," Stimmell said. "Everybody contributed, even the guys in reserve. It played out well for us. I was pleased."
The Foxes (2-5) appeared on the verge of scoring in their half of the third, when leftfielder David Hunt singled and made it to third. Earlier, Hunt had drilled a solo home run in King George's loss to Mountain View.
But Riverbend starting pitcher Nate Traugh closed the door on the Foxes' rally with three straight outs. Traugh, a sophomore, finished with five strikeouts in four innings of work.
"We're trying to build respect, even when we lose," King George first-year coach Thad Reviello said. "This was tough, but I'm happy with what we've seen so far. The kids have been working really hard."
The Foxes return to Battlefield District competition on Tuesday when they visit Chancellor. The Bears travel to Brooke Point on the same night.
Mountain View (4-3) defeated FCS 12-1 in its first game and then scored 11 runs in its final at-bat to beat King George, 20-3. The Wildcats host Stafford in a Commonwealth District game on Tuesday.
R | H | E | |||
King George | 0000 | 000 | 0 | 5 | 2 |
Riverbend | 1510 | 11x | 9 | 10 | 2 |
ETHAN SLEMP, David Campbell (6) and Brian Brown. NATE TRAUGH, Dustin Sparks (5), Donald Sherman (7) and Garrett Rioux.
Steve Franzello: 540/374-5440
Email: sports@freelancestar.com
KING GEORGE 0