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Morley's clutch hit stands out
Woodson shortstop Jacob Morley's seventh-inning single Monday night likely would not have stood out among his 40 hits and .597 batting average last season.But as an integral part of the Woodson baseball team's 3-2 upset of Madison, Morley's bouncer up the middle was certainly one of his more notable accomplishments.
“It's a big honor to do that,” said Morley, who'll play baseball next spring at the Virginia Military Institute. “That's the great thing about baseball ... you fail, and then you get the chance to come through again.”
Morley was hitless in his first three plate appearances, but he wasn't the only Cavalier to struggle against Madison starter Ted Williams.
Woodson had not had more than one baserunner in an inning during the first four frames, and its only hit came on a single by left fielder Kirk Lewis -- a hit followed by a perfect relay that nabbed teammate Wyatt Moore at third to queue the rally.
Despite six innings of relative futility, Woodson finally scratched and clawed its way to a rally in the seventh. Facing Madison ace Jesse Jeter, who came on in relief of Williams in the fifth, the Cavaliers loaded the bases to start the inning as Max Waizenegger reached on an error, Moore single to shallow center and pinch hitter Colin Dempsey was hit by a pitch.
Madison coach Mark Gjormand had seen enough, pulling Jeter in favor of right-hander Andrew Schrock. After Woodson second baseman Dylan Robeson hit a routine grounder to second, an errant throw turned into a pair of runs, a tied ballgame and new life for the Cavaliers.
“It was one of those games where we just stayed in it,” said Woodson coach Chris Warren, whose team improved to 5-2 overall, 3-0 in the Liberty District. “It got to the seventh, and we were able to pull it out. Good things happen when you put the ball in play.”
Morley stroked a 1-1 fastball to put his ball in play -- something the talented senior has done quite frequently in his career.
In a never-ending list of accolades, Morley has been named first team All-District twice, and the senior was the Co-District Player of the Year last spring. In addition to his 40 hits and .597 average, the second team All-State selection hit five homers, posted 24 RBIs, scored 25 runs and stole 11 bases in 2007.
“Anything he does is not a shock,” said Warren, whose team played at Langley Wednesday after The Times went to press. “Obviously, he's the guy you want up there, but other guys were able to set the table for him.
“That's really the difference in this year's team. We have guys setting the table for him and some of the other big hitters in our lineup.”
Even more impressive, the Cavaliers didn't make an error against Madison, as senior hurler Joey Carleton kept the Madison bats at bay.
Carleton worked six innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits and striking out 10. With a curve ball that he consistently threw for strikes, Carleton was willing to throw any pitch in his arsenal at any point in the count.
“Before the game I was pretty nervous, but after that, to come out here and throw strikes ... not thinking about it,” said Carleton, who posted a 2-3 record and a 4.35 ERA last year. “[Madison] hit [two solo] home runs, but that's only two runs. I was trying to hit spots and keep the ball on the ground. I wasn't really expecting 10 strikeouts.”
Maybe that's something to take note of.
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