Edgar Melik-Stepanyan
NORTHEAST GLENDALE -- Pitching a brilliant game, Hoover High baseball
pitcher Max Hibbs looked nearly unhittable.
The sophomore dominated cross-town rival Glendale, tying a career-high
with 12 strikeouts, but a double by Nitro pitcher Kevin Hickcox and a
controversial call by the third-base umpire proved costly for Hibbs.
The Nitros, behind Hickcox's alert baserunning and a questionable call
by the umpire, edged the Tornadoes, 2-1, Saturday at Stengel Field in a
Connie Mack League game.
With the score tied at 1, Hickcox led off the bottom of the eighth
inning with a double to left field. After Nitro second baseman Brett
Searson struck out for the second time, Keith Hamasaki stepped to the
plate in search of his first hit.
On a 1-0 pitch, Hickcox stole third, and to the surprise of Glendale
Coach Jay Chadwick and the entire Hoover bench, was called safe.
Two pitches later, Hamasaki lined a single to right, which scored
Hickcox for the game-winning run.
When asked if he touched third base before the tag of the Hoover third
baseman was applied, Hickcox just shook his head and said, "I don't think
so."
Said Chadwick, whose squad improved to 2-0: "I thought he was out. I
was surprised and pleased when [the umpire] called him safe. The steal
wasn't on. It was [Kevin's] call."
Hoover (1-1) had plenty of opportunities to take the lead early on,
but stranded seven runners on base in the first five innings, including
three in scoring position.
Tornado catcher Tito Cruz had four singles in his four at-bats,
including a line drive to center field in the fifth inning which scored
Philip Estrella for the tying run.
BOX SCORE
Hoover*0*0*0*0*1*0*0*0*-*1*9*3
Glendale*0*0*0*1*0*0*0*1*--*2*3*0
Hoover*IP*R*ER*H*BB*K
Hibbs*7.1*2*1*3*3*12
Glendale*IP*R*ER*H*BB*K
Hickcox*7*1*1*8*2*5
Hickey*1*0*0*1*0*0*
Total*8*1*1*9*2*5
WP-Hickcox (1-0).
LP-Hibbs (0-1).
2B: G-Hickcox.
SB: G-Hickcox, Searson, Genovese, Aguila.
