by Devan Matthews
Correspondent
The Maple Heights High School baseball team started its first game of the 2008 season April 7 on the road against Cleveland Shaw.
Unfortunately, the Mustangs weren't able to complete it.
The contest was postponed due to darkness in the top of the seventh inning. Maple Heights held a 17-12 lead at the time.
The Mustangs let a substantial lead slip away in the later innings. Maple Heights held a 14-2 advantage entering the bottom of the fifth frame.
However, the Cardinals managed to score 10 runs in the fifth to pull to within two.
According to Maple Heights head coach Dan Kovalak, there were a number of factors involved in Shaw's comeback bid.
"My pitcher went out there for the fifth inning, got one out and then his arm got tired," said Kovalak. "He was up around 100 pitches. So I took him out and put somebody else in, but he walked five straight guys. So I took him out and put another guy in there. By the time it was over, the score was 14-12."
Kovalak indicated before the season started that his squad was relatively young and inexperienced and that some growing pains were probably inevitable.
"It went from a game that should have been run-ruled to an actual game," said Kovalak. "We knew that youth was going to be an issue with our pitching. It's not surprising, but it is a little disappointing."
Senior Mark Beechuck was the starting pitcher for Maple Heights. At the plate, he accounted for two hits and a pair of RBIs.
In addition, senior Kevin Thomas recorded three hits and three RBIs.
"Just about everybody got at least one hit," said Kovalak. "We went from station to station, base to base, moving runners over. We did a decent job of that. Defensively, we did OK until the fifth inning. Then we made two errors at the beginning of that inning. I wasn't upset at all about our defensive play except for the errors."
Maple Heights was scheduled to play Shaw again on Tuesday, this time at home. According to Kovalak, the rest of Monday's game was to resume before Tuesday's regular affair was contested. Results were unavailable at press time. Please check www.mapleheightspress.com for updates.
"We were in the middle of an inning, so we have to continue," he said.
The Mustangs' season opener was supposed to be against Keystone on the road April 4. However, that contest was postponed due to the weather. A makeup date has yet to be determined.
On April 10, the Mustangs are slated to visit Bedford, and on April 11 they'll travel to Valley Forge.
E-mail: stowsports@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3113