Parkland High School Baseball

It has been said that the true test of character is revealed in times of adversity. If that is the case, the Judicious Trojans of 2017 will have a chance to show what they are made of the balance of the season after a tough loss to Liberty on Thursday night; on the Trojans home field when victory seemed well at hand after a late game rally to tie the game and then take the lead. 

The Top of the 1st started with the Trojans defense and starter Ryan Giovenco working around a walk and an error to get out of the inning with a Smith to Kinsley to Mellinger double play (6-4-3) shut the door on a Liberty threat. The bottom of the 1st saw the Trojan lineup retired in order. Liberty scored first to take the lead in the Top of the 2 on a single and an error. In the bottom half of the inning both Austin Mueller and Adam Smith reached via walk but were left on base. Giovenco and the Trojans got thru the Top of the 3rd working around a walk. In the bottom of the 3rd the Trojans got their first hit of the game when CK Kinsley singled but was left on base. Giovenco set Liberty down in order in the 4th via a ground out and 2 K’s.

The bottom of the 4th saw the Trojans threaten for the first time after Austin Mueller singled and found his way to third when Matt Mellinger grounded out to the right side. Unfortunately, the threat stalled there. Giovenco and the Trojan Defense made quick work of Liberty in the top of the 5th. In the Bot 5 the Trojans broke thru to tie the game. Ethan Imler singled and Jeremy Piatkiewicz was brought in to pinch run, CK Kinsley sac bunt & reached first on an error by the pitcher. After Liberty got the out at third on a sac bunt attempt by Will Algard; Kinsley scored from second to tie the game on a Cullan Wadsworth single to tie the game at 1-1. Giovenco and the Trojans retired Liberty quickly in the 6th working around a walk. The bottom of the 6th saw the Trojans take the lead after Matt Mellinger ROE followed by an Adam Mellinger single and Matt Mellinger scoring on an error and for the first time in the game the Trojans led 2-1.

Giovenco’s day was done after 6 strong innings and only giving up a run, after facing 1 batter in the Top of the 7th. From that point on things unraveled fast for the Trojans and before you knew it the Trojans with Liberty having put 4 runs on the board to take the lead 5-2. The damage could have been worse if not for a Jenkins to Mueller to Mellinger double play (5-2-3) stifled what could have been an even bigger inning. In the bottom of the 7th Dylan Miller and Mike Jenkins singled but the Trojans did not mount enough of a threat to get back in the game and that quickly the Trojans suffered their first loss of the season.