Former Hub T.J. Hose drafted by Arizona Diamondbacks
By BOB PARASILITI, HERALD MAIL
June 7, 2008----For a while, the world of technology wasn’t treating T.J. Hose very well.
He sat in front of his computer Friday, watching the pick-by-pick progress of the second day of the Major League Baseball draft, hoping to see his future.
Hose, a North Hagerstown graduate, just completed his four-year stay at East Carolina University in emphatic fashion and was hoping his name would show up for the chance to pitch professionally.
Thirty rounds went by and so did 1,000 selections. Hose was starting to feel as low as he would after allowing a home run.
“I sat there watching,” Hose said. “After the first 30 rounds, I turned to my family and said, ‘I guess I’m not getting drafted.’”
Then, in a five-minute span, Hose received a phone call and then his name popped up as a 36th-round choice of the Arizona Diamondbacks as the 1,098th player selected.
“I got real emotional and I started crying,” Hose said. “It was an emotional thing. I got up and went and hugged my family. Words can’t describe the feeling.”
The phone call from the Diamondbacks was a total surprise.
“I talked to seven teams before the draft,” Hose said. “None of them took me and then out of the blue came the call from the Diamondbacks. The man (Howard McCullough, the Diamondbacks’ Carolina-area scout) asked me if I was interested in playing professional baseball. I said, ‘Yes.’ He said, ‘OK, I’m going to try and sell it to the big dogs.’ Five minutes later, my name popped up on the computer.”
And the pressure release valve was opened. The good seasons at North Hagerstown along with a solid career at East Carolina had all paid off.
Hose could not have had a better final audition than his last game on May 31, when he fired a complete-game 9-0 shutout against Columbia in the Conway Regional of the NCAA Tournament. He struck out seven and walked one without a runner passing second base. He retired 17 straight batters from the fourth through ninth innings.
“I couldn’t ask for a better game to close my time at East Carolina,” Hose said.
He finished his career with a 23-17 record, including a 7-4 mark this season.
After his selection, McCullough called back and told Hose that he would be in touch with him in the next day to give him his instructions. Thirty minutes later, Hose was notified that we will be flying to Tucson to the Diamondbacks’ spring training site on Monday for a physical and training camp.
Then, he will be placed on one of Arizona’s Single-A short-season rosters to begin pitching.
And even though he was forced to wait longer than he hoped to, Hose wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I came into the draft knowing I wasn’t a top prospect,” Hose said. “I’m 5-foot-10 and I don’t have a pitcher’s body. I just wanted a shot. I just hope to get off to a good start and progress from there.”
Liberty eliminates Hubs, 12-2
ELDERSBURG — Liberty’s “Big Blue Machine” was running on all cylinders as the Lions overpowered North Hagerstown 12-2 on Thursday to advance to the Class 2A West baseball championship game.
The Lions (14-6) were led by the pitching and power-hitting of senior Garrett Price, who not only threw a two-hitter while allowing no earned runs, but also found the energy to slam a three-run homer in the bottom of the first. He also had a sacrifice fly to drive in another run.
Price’s towering blast over the left field fence put the Lions up 3-1, forging a lead they never relinquished. The Lions went on to build a 10-run lead that ended the game in the bottom of the sixth.
“Garrett gets a lot of wear and tear being both a catcher and a pitcher,” Lions coach Erik Barnes said. “But he’s a real tough kid and he’s been our catalyst all year.”
Price, who threw 95 pitches, combined his fastball and changeup to keep the Hubs off balance throughout the game.
“I was locating my fastball real good and the changeup had them hitting the ball into the ground,” Price said.
That was good news for the Lions because their infield, led by shortstop Nick Barr was nearly flawless in gobbling up everything hit their way. The Lions infield also turned two nifty double plays that kept the Hubs from gathering any momentum.
“Defense is something we’ve been working to perfect all season,” said Barr. “Now it’s all coming together for us.”
That’s for sure. With their defense and timely hitting the Lions, with this victory, have now beaten their playoff opponents by a combined 26-3.
“We’ve worked on situational hitting and using the whole field,” Barnes said. “I can’t say enough about the middle of our order. Guys like Rob Gicking, Doug Anuszewski and Nick Hallis, have been clutch all year and now they’re doing it when we need it most.”
Hallis, who went 3-for-4 against the Hubs, registered two RBIs with a run-scoring triple and a solo homer that put the Lions up 11-2. That set the stage for a double by Barr that scored Gicking, who had walked, with the game-ending 12th run.
The Lions now await the winner of today’s Century-South Hagerstown match-up with the victor going to the state final four.
“We’re playing good, smart baseball right now,” Barnes said. “We just have to keep it going.”
North Hagerstown 100 010—2 2 2
Liberty 340 122—12 12 2
Garrett Price and Matt Wolf; Steve Younker, Greg Lynn (4) and Thomas Allen. 2B: L-Larson Kimble, Kyle Rivera, Doug Anuszewski, Nick Barr. 3B: L-Nick Hallis. HR: L-Price, Hallis. WP: Price. LP: Younker
Hubs upset Clarksburg, 12-11
May 14, 2008---CLARKSBURG, Md. - North Hagerstown overcame a 7-0 deficit and scored eight runs in the final two innings to upset No. 2 seed Clarksburg in the Maryland 2A West quarterfinals.
Jake Steich led the Hubs offensively and finished the Coyotes off on the mound. Steich had two hits and drove in three runs, and he pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, allowing only one earned run to pick up the victory.
Colby Fisher, Bryan Laferte, Steve Younker and Tyler Ernde had two hits each for the Hubs (6-14), while Fisher, Nathan Harden and Tyler Fairley each drove in two runs. Fisher added a home run in the victory.
The Hubs will travel to Liberty (13-6) for a semfinal game today, beginning at 4:30 p.m.
Hubs break losing streak, notch playoff victory over Middletown, 8-1
By Conner Gilbert (Herald-Mail Staff Correspondent)
May 13, 2008---North Hagerstown used the classic baseball fundamentals of solid pitching, good defense and timely hitting to its advantage on Tuesday, defeating Middletown 8-1 in a Maryland Class 2A West first-round game at North.
Cody Nelling got the start for the Hubs and pitched a complete game, surrendering only four hits, two walks and one run while striking out 10.
"He hadn't pitched in about two weeks, and I thought he might be rusty, but he threw the ball well," said Hubs coach Shawn Reynolds. "He really held Middletown in check."
Meanwhile, the Hubs picked up a clutch hit in the third inning to break the game open. With the bases loaded, left fielder Jake Steich laced a pitch into right-center field to clear the bases and put North up 3-0.
Steich scored later in the inning on a Colby Fisher groundout to put North up 4-0.
"I'm happy with myself and I'm really looking forward to the next game to keep it going," said Steich. "My confidence level is really high right now."
The Hubs picked up another run in the fourth when Tyler Fairley doubled, then scored on an infield error for a 5-0 lead.
Steich struck again in the sixth, knocking in a pair of runs with a single to center. After advancing to second on the throw home, he stole third and scored on an error to put the Hubs up 8-0.
"I come out every game and just try to put the ball in play to make things happen," said Steich. "But the kids ahead of me have to get on base, so it's not just me."
"Jake had two big hits today with runners in scoring position, and that really gives the pitcher breathing room," said Reynolds.
While the Hubs' victory was an example of all facets of the team working in unison, Reynolds knows that his team must stay focused and consistently play to its abilities.
"We had good pitching, played well in the field today and got timely hitting," said Reynolds. "When we play like this, we can play with anybody."
North travels to Clarksburg today for a 2A West quarterfinal at 5 p.m.
The Middletown baseball team scored four unearned runs in the first inning Friday, which proved to be more than enough to defeat host North Hagerstown 4-0 in an MVAL Piedmont game.
Middletown received a strong effort from starting pitcher Nathan D'Alessio, who blanked North on five hits before tiring in the seventh inning.
Andrew Pierce came out in relief after North's John Courtney drew a leadoff walk in the seventh and easily closed out the game.
The Hubs' Greg Lynn and Jeremy Barron also pitched well but costly mistakes in the first inning led to all of the Knights' offense
"Early mistakes. ... No emotion," North Hagerstown coach Shawn Reynolds said. "I thought our pitching was terrific. Lynn is only a sophomore. He did a heck of a job for five innings."
The effort was wasted, however, by three North miscues.
With one out in the first, Middletown went to work against the right-hander Lynn.
Ryan Fisher's single, a successful suicide squeeze bunt by Steve Shriner, a walk to Koby Cavanaugh and Matthew McDonough's double blended with three North errors to produce four quick runs.
The poor start, coupled with a weak offensive performance, proved the downfall for the Hubs.
"We're just not hitting the ball," Reynolds said.
Middletown, which lost to North 9-1 earlier in the season, looked good on Friday.
"D'Alessio was solid, he hadn't pitched that deep into a game before and that's why I took him out in the seventh," Middletown coach Andy Baker said. "As far as offensively, Cavanaugh has been hitting the ball well recently and he had two more hits today."
Middletown outhit North, 7-5, and played errorless ball.
Hubs defeat Catoctin, 8-6
April 18, 2008---North Hagerstown jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first inning over Catoctin and then hung on for the victory, 8-6.
Nathan Harden blasted a two-run homer in the four-run first and finished with two hits for the Hubs. Colby Fisher and Miles Trumpower also had two hits, and Tyler Ernde drove in two runs in the victory.
Cody Nelling picked up the victory and Steve Younker earned the save in relief. Catoctin loaded the bases with two outs in the top of seventh, but Younker got Danny Miller to ground out to end the game.
Justin Albright, Kyle Sanders, and Landon Routzahn had two hits each for Catoctin.
North Hagerstown improves to (3-4 overall, 2-2) and Catoctin falls to (4-5 overall, 3-0). _________________________________________________________________________
Rebels defeat Hubs 8-1 in Diamond Classic
April 14, 2008---Brandon Knight didn't seem the least bit concerned that he gave up his first earned run of the season.
And why should he?
The South Hagerstown southpaw turned in a masterful, four-hit, 13-strikeout performance in the Rebels' 8-1 victory over cross-town rival North Hagerstown in the fifth annual Diamond Classic at Municipal Stadium on Monday night, keeping No. 3 South undefeated in seven games this season, including three in the MVAL Piedmont.
"He threw a couple pitches that he'd like to have back," said Rebels coach Ralph Stottlemyer, "but other than that, everything was working well for him, and he got sharper as the night went on."
South recorded a pair of unearned runs off Hubs starter Kyle Hoffman in the first inning on a Colby Fisher throwing error, a Tim Leather RBI single and Tim Jacobson's RBI double.
But Hoffman shut down the potent Rebels offense for the next four innings, while Bryan Laferte's single scored Jeremy Barron in the third to close the gap to 2-1.
"He pitched a heck of a game," said North coach Shawn Reynolds. "He kept his poise, and he kept us in the ballgame even with the errors."
South added a pair of insurance runs off the Hubs' starter in the sixth when Adrian Adams opened with a single to left and moved to second when Laferte misplayed the ball for North. Jacobson followed with a bunt single, moving Adams to third, before Knight walked to load the bases. Steve Grossman then laced a two-run single before Hoffman wriggled out of further trouble.
"I came into the dugout and told the guys to get me some runs, and it'd be done," said Knight.
Indeed, it was done for the Hubs (2-4, 2-2), but not the Rebels. Knight and Todd Jacobson drove in two runs apiece in the four-run seventh inning off North reliever Cody Nelling to put the game away.
The 13-strikeout effort gives Knight 30 strikeouts in just 16 2/3 innings. He has walked only two.
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Hubs go extra innings to defeat Frederick, 3-2
April 9, 2008---Brendan Palmer singled and later scored on a Frederick error in the 10th inning to give North Hagerstown a 10-inning, 3-2 victory over Frederick (7-2, 2-2) in the MVAL Piedmont on Wednesday.
Palmer and Tyler Ernde hit singles in the 10th, and with two outs, Cody Nelling reached base on the error that scored Palmer for the win.
Bryan Laferte had three hits, including two doubles, and drove in a run for North (2-3, 2-1). Miles Trumpower had an RBI double. Nelling pitched 4 1/3 shutout innings in relief, striking out eight.
In a game that featured more twists and turns than a mystery novel, visiting Clear Spring outlasted North Hagerstown, 12-11, Thursday in a baseball game called after six innings because of inclement weather and darkness.
The Washington County opponents made numerous mistakes in less than ideal playing conditions but neither squad would settle for defeat.
After Clear Spring (4-1) seemingly put the game away with a six-run flurry in the top of the sixth inning, North Hagerstown (1-3) retaliated with two tallies in the bottom half and had the bases loaded and two outs when the game finally ended.
"Both teams showed a lot of character ... no quitting," Clear Spring coach Mark Shives said. "But it was a total mess out there, many throwing errors were caused by the wet conditions. Also, walks hurt both teams."
Trailing 9-6 entering the sixth inning, Clear Spring went to work and put six runs on the scoreboard.
Kyle Crist started the comeback with a double, before Aaron Mills, Jordan Thurber and Brandon Glazer all walked to force in the first run.
Pinch hitter Brett Turner then delivered a clutch two-run single and the Blazers were on their way to victory - their second triumph in two days.
North Hagerstown coach Shawn Reynolds said he appreciated the efforts put forth by the Hubs but said the final result was the same old story - too many mistakes.
"That's the way it's been going the entire season," Reynolds said. "We've been scoring but we're giving too many runs away with defensive mistakes. You can't give a team 4-5 outs an inning and be successful.
The walks on top of the defensive mistakes makes it worse. We still had a chance (to win) with our number three hitter (Cody Nelling) up there when the game ended."
Clear Spring jumped to a 5-0 advantage in the top of the third inning, North High retaliated with four of its own in the bottom half and the teams then exchanged leads the rest of the way.
"It's one of the sloppiest games I've seen in a long time," Reynolds said.
Corey Morgan led the Clear Spring offensive attack with three hits and two runs batted in while Kyle Crist added two hits and Turner delivered the clutch single in the sixth inning.
Nelling, Nathan Harden and Steve Younker all collected two hits for North Hagerstown and Harden added three runs batted in.
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Nelling, Hoffman lead Hubs to 9-1 victory over Middletown
MIDDLETOWN, MD---Cody Nelling capped a five-run second inning with a three-run homer to lead North Hagerstown past Middletown in the MVAL Piedmont.
Kyle Hoffman picked up the victory for North (1-2, 1-1), going 5 2-3 innings with 10 strikeouts.
Brendan Palmer led the Hubs with three hits, Colby Fisher had two hits and Jimmy Hill and John Courtney drove in two runs each.
Smithsburg's Kyle Orndorff, right, slides safely into second base while North Hagerstown's Tyler Fairley dances out of the way. (By Joe Crocetta/Staff Photographer/)
Smithsburg's Josh Conway delivers a pitch through the rain Monday afternoon at North Hagerstown. (By Joe Crocetta/Staff Photographer/)
An express trip around the bases on one unconventional play was enough for North Hagerstown to rally for a 7-7 tie with Smithsburg on Monday in a game that was halted by darkness.
After Smithsburg pushed across two runs in the top of the seventh inning to take a 7-6 lead, North faced defeat with two out and the bases empty when Steve Younker stepped to the plate.
Younker rattled a line drive to the right of diving Smithsburg center fielder Kyle Orndorff off a 2-2 pitch from relief pitcher Kevin Kocsis. It fell safely, rolling past Orndorff to the fence. Younker had rounded second as the throw reached relay man, shortstop Josh Conway.
Conway airmailed his throw high over third and the North dugout from short left center, allowing Younker to score the tying run.
"It was a crazy game after the fourth inning," Smithsburg coach Bill Fowkes said. "I think each team took advantage of the conditions with the wet baseballs. Under normal conditions, I think you see (Conway) throw that runner out at third."
The run forced the game to be suspended in a deadlock. The final decision won't be rendered until the teams meet again at Smithsburg on April 23, beginning with the eighth inning.
Smithsburg took the lead in the seventh when Bobby Smith bounced a two-hopper to a hard-charging North shortstop Cody Nelling, who made a fine pickup but threw wide to first allowing two runs to score.
North, which trailed to the Leopards 5-1, knotted the score in the fifth with two hits and two key Smithsburg errors, one on the back end of a potential double play that allowed two runs.
"Both teams gave one another extra outs and each team took advantage," said North coach Shawn Reynolds. "I was happy how we came back down 5-1."
Three textbook innings opened the game as North led 1-0 with a first-inning run off Conway. The Leopards got to Hubs starter Greg Lynn for four runs in the fourth with no out, a rally fueled by two walks to start the inning.
"(Lynn) cruised along but the walks hurt and he got a little rattled," Reynolds said of his sophomore hurler who was making his first varsity start.
Conway went the first 4 1/3 innings for Smithsburg with eight strikeout before leaving in the fifth inning in favor of Kocsis.
Younker had three of North's eight hits and Conway reached base four times with a single and three walks.
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Cadets five-run fourth inning dooms Hubs
FREDERICK, Md. - Brent DeHaven and Brady Wilson had two hits each and David Hornstein struck out six to lead Frederick (5-0, 1-0) over North Hagerstown in an MVAL Piedmont game.
Cody Nelling had two hits and an RBI to lead North (0-2, 0-1), while Nathan Harden, Steve Younker and Tyler Fairley each drove in a run for the Hubs (0-2, 0-1).
Hammond's big swing catapults Wildcats over Hubs
By CHRIS CARTER, Herald-Mail
WILLIAMSPORT - The Williamsport baseball players tease teammate Patrick Hammond about his .052 batting average from last season.
Perhaps the Wildcats senior is fed up.
Hammond slugged a three-run home run during a six-run fourth inning to fuel Williamsport to a season-opening 8-4 win Wednesday against North Hagerstown.
Hammond hit his first varsity homer while facing a 1-2 count.
"It was a fastball down the middle. I was expecting curveball and I just reacted," Hammond said. "I saw an opportunity and I took it."
The Wildcats (1-0) got on the scoreboard in the fourth inning, with a bit of help from the Hubs.
A.J. Jamison drew a leadoff walk and scored on a hit-and-run double by Aaron Hershberger to tie the game at 1. North committed three consecutive errors to give Williamsport a 2-1 edge, setting up Hammond's blast over the center-field fence to make it 5-1.
"That was the big hit," said Williamsport coach Larnie Vickers. "The scoreboard at the end showed a four-run difference. If not for that hit, it would be a completely different situation."
The Hubs (0-1) committed all four of their errors in the inning, leading to the exit of starting pitcher Kyle Hoffman, who was saddled with three unearned runs.
"You can't give extra outs. We gave them five or six in that inning," said North coach Shawn Reynolds. "Hoffman threw the ball well. He should have been out of the inning long before that. He only made one bad pitch and that was the home run."
Hoffman pitched three shutout innings with four strikeouts before running into trouble in the fourth. He left the game after Williamsport scored their sixth run of the inning - a bobbled ground ball to shortstop. The Wildcats sent 11 batters to the plate in the frame.
Williamsport tacked on insurance runs in the fifth and six innings. Michael Warrenfeltz, Aaron Hershberger and starting pitcher Andrew Duff each had two hits for the Wildcats.
"We manufactured their mistakes and took advantage," Vickers said. "We put the ball in play and forced them to get a glove on it."
Duff shook off an inconsistent start before settling in with the lead on the mound. After three hits, two walks and a hit batsman in the first two innings, Duff responded by retiring nine of the last 10 Hubs he faced.
"When he kept the ball low, it was either ground balls or strikeouts," said Vickers, who pulled Duff after 80 pitches. "We felt comfortable with what we saw from him."
North took a 1-0 when Tyler Fairley walked and scored on a Williamsport throwing error. The Hubs trailed 8-2 before loading the bases in the top of the seventh. Nathan Harden and Tyler Ernde each scored to cut it to 8-4 before Williamsport reliever Andrew Likely induced the game-ending groundout.
2008 Hub Varsity Baseball Schedule
at WILLIAMSPORT HIGH SCHOOL, LOST 8-4 (LP-Hoffman 0-1)
at FREDERICK HIGH SCHOOL, LOST 7-4 (LP-Nelling 0-1)
at MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL, WON 9-1 (WP-Hoffman 1-0; HR-Nelling 1)
vs Clear Spring High School, LOST 12-11 (LP-Fisher 0-1)
vs FREDERICK HIGH SCHOOL, WON 3-2 (10 innings) (WP-Nelling 1-1)
vs SOUTH HAGERSTOWN HIGH SCHOOL, LOST 8-1 (LP-Hoffman 1-2)
vs CATOCTIN HIGH SCHOOL, WON 8-6 (WP-Nelling 2-1; HR-Harden 1)
Mon 04/21/2008 Away BOONSBORO HIGH SCHOOL 4:45PM
Tue 04/22/2008 Away WALKERSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL 4:45PM
SMITHSBURG HIGH SCHOOL, TIED 7-7 (suspended, completed on 4/23/08)
Wed 04/23/2008 Away SMITHSBURG HIGH SCHOOL 4:45PM
Fri 04/25/2008 Home MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL 4:45PM
Mon 04/28/2008 Home WALKERSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL 4:45PM
Tue 04/29/2008 Away Clear Spring High School 4:45PM
Wed 04/30/2008 Home WILLIAMSPORT HIGH SCHOOL 4:45PM
Mon 05/05/2008 Away SOUTH HAGERSTOWN HIGH SCH 4:45PM
Tue 05/06/2008 Away BRUNSWICK HIGH SCHOOL 4:45PM
Wed 05/07/2008 Home BOONSBORO HIGH SCHOOL 4:45PM
Hub Baseball CD-Rom's now available
Order your North Hagerstown Hubs 2006 or 2007 Season CD-Rom. This CD will have over 1,000 game photos, team picture, individual pictures, mini-video clips, and complete Micosoft Excel stats package. The stats will include game-by-game boxscores & player stats, team stats, results, and overall player totals.
Other CD's now available are: 2003, 2004, or 2005 season CD's. With 1,000 of pictures and complete stats. A great keepsake!
All CD-Rom's will be available for only $10.00 with all profits going to the North Hagerstown Hubs sports websites.
To order: Please e-mail your information (name & address) to: foltzie@aol.com
