By Concepcion Ledezma Riverbend News
To use a boxing analogy, when Hamilton County played Branford in the season-opener last month, the error-prone Trojans barely won by a split decision. Final score: 10-9.
Exactly 18 days later, Hamilton County delivered a knockout in the rematch, leaving no doubt who the king of the hill is between the District 6-1A opponents in an emphatic 9-0 win over the Buccaneers on Tuesday, March 9 at Hamilton County High School.
"We let them hang around that first game, and we were sloppy," Coach Chris Howard said after watching his team remain undefeated at 6-0. "I think we put ourselves in a good spot (for a possible deep postseason run)."
The Trojans indeed have gone from committing five errors in the season-opener to none in the rematch against the Buccaneers (1-7).
The visitors were also practically helpless against right handed starting pitcher Jerrell Tolle; the senior was nearly untouchable in his four innings of work, recording 10 strikeouts against three walks to earn the victory while throwing 81 pitches. The only hit he gave up was a single to the first batter of the game, Jeff Chaillou, who was also Bucs' starting pitcher.
"I was able to get ahead of the count," Tolle said. "I was able to work fast; it keeps me focused when I work fast (from pitch to pitch). Whenever the ball was in play, the defense did a great job behind me."
The Trojans also received a strong relief effort from senior right hander, Denandre Johnson, who was making his first appearance for the Trojans after completing the basketball season. After going to the mound from his third base position, he struck out four batters (two walks) and didn't give up a hit to preserve the shutout.
Offensively, junior catcher, Chandler Howard, led the way with his fourth home run of the season, a three-run shot off right hander Jeff Chaillou as Hamilton County started to pull away from Branford with a 5-0 lead in the third inning.
Lead-off hitter, Julian Garcia, finished two-for-four at the plate with an RBI, a stolen base and a run scored. Hamilton County made the most of its six hits.
Cleanup hitter, Tmoriyon Paul, had the first hit for the Trojans with a single up the middle to lead off the second inning; he stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on an RBI ground-out to second off Johnson's bat for a 1-0 lead in the second.
Jackson Smith, who got on with a one-out double in the bottom of the third, scored on a wild pitch from third before Howard's big hit over the right center field fence started to put the game out of reach for Branford.
"That was a good pulling-away inning for us," Chandler Howard said. "The first game we played (Branford) was in our minds. We all felt we played the same level as they. We wanted to show we're a better team.
"But we're also bonding well as a team, having fun and that's what it's about."
Hamilton County overcame a shaky start when Tolle gave up the lone single, followed by a walk, putting Branford runners on first and second with no outs. But Tolle managed to get out of trouble with a popup to the shortstop before striking out the next two batters to keep the runners stranded.
With Tolle and Johnson on the mound, Branford never reached third base. They combined to finish with 14 strikeouts.
"(Johnson) worked very well on the mound," the coach said. "I feel really good about our future this season with the pitching."
Hamilton County lost its first game last Friday, March 12, against Chiefland 7-3. The Trojans now have a record of 7-1.