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Doug Smith, although charged with the loss, again led the attack, going three for four on the day. Reggig Williams also delivered two hits in four at bats. The team had 10 hits in 30 plate appearances for the day, which averages to a very respectable .333.
Coach Leake said the offense is delivering the runs to win games — “we’re failing to execute mentally on the defensive side; It’s not physical mistakes.”
He added that he felt RCHS outplayed Clarke, which is ranked one of the district’s top teams. Five of Clarke’s nine runs were unearned, due to three Panther errors.
Rappahannock scored five runs, but left nine men stranded on the basepaths. Six men were put in scoring position with only one out — and none was able to reach the plate for a run.
Last week each hitter advanced the runners, Coach Leake said. Tuesday the Panthers couldn’t seem to execute in the key situations, he said. “And we couldn’t take advantage of their mistakes.”
The pitching staff is doing its job, he added. The defense has just not executed behind them.
“I think the guys are realizing that every pitch is important — rather than waiting for the big hit. Each man has to do his job to move the runners around.
“Still, they have battled everybody. We’ve been in every game. Two losses were due to poor execution ... Our record could easily be 51 instead of 3-3.”
“We are almost there,” Coach Leake said. “We’re doing more things right each game. I’m just waiting for them to put it all together for the second half of the season.
“The key will be how much each guy improves. They are working hard — I just hope it doesn’t get frustrating. We will iron things out, each day I can see improvement. . . It’s an advantage of a young team: you can bring them along, build toward the tournament.
“I look for us to be right in the middle of things at the end of the season.”
The Panthers face Brentsville on the road Thursday, with a game beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday they play the Manassas Park Cougars at Rappahannock, also starting at 5 p.m.
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