Many people will pay more attention to what a team can do at the plate; in reality though, the offense does not need to work as hard or be as successful if the team receives a strong outing on the mound. In fact, if a team does not receive a strong outing from their pitcher, they might not be able to contend at all — no matter how much talent they have on offense.
For the Silver Lake High School baseball team, that pitching has been a major key to their success this season. On Tuesday, Apr. 11, the Lakers got locked up in a pitchers’ duel alongside the Plymouth South Panthers — and the Lakers pitching proved supreme. Taking it to extra innings on the road, they were able to come away with a 1-0 win at Forges Field. The win improved the Lakers to 3-0 on the season.
Dan Collins was sharp throughout, pitching a complete game and earning the win, which made his record 2-0. The starter tossed eight scoreless innings, struck out 15 batters and held the Panthers to just two hits.
The Lakers also could not do much offensively but once the final inning–the eighth inning–rolled around, they were able to do something.
Mike Quigley got on base via a walk and he ended up scoring the game-winning run. Aidan O’Neill smacked the game-winning hit up the middle to give the Lakers their 1-0 lead.
For most of the contest though, the Lakers offense was silent. They had a strong to score off with two men on base in the third inning with one man down, but a pair of strikeouts halted that effort.
Collins did not even allow a hit until there was one out in the fifth inning. He then intentionally walked a batter and followed that up with a strikeout to finish the inning.
The Lakers next home game is Monday, Apr. 24 against Hanover.