Bargeron, Yellow Jackets Blank Raiders at Home

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By Paul Frommelt

Prince William Content Editor

By the time Osbourn Park baseball’s third batter came up in the bottom of the first inning, the Yellow Jackets’ already had a 2-0 lead over Stonewall Jackson. The way Osbourn Park starting pitcher Zach Bargeron was throwing, those two runs would be all that the Yellow Jackets would need en route to a 6-0 victory at home.

After Bargeron pitched a scoreless top of the first, Osbourn Park leadoff hitter Josh Swirchak promptly singled off of Stonewall Jackson starter Mike Costello to start the bottom of the inning. Swirchak didn’t stay on base for long, as shortstop Nick Walker blasted a two-run homer to right-center, giving the Yellow Jackets an early cushion.

“Nick Walker’s home run in the first inning was huge, getting out in front early,” said Osbourn Park head coach Rod Hodgson.

The Yellow Jackets continued to apply the pressure on offense, getting men on base in all but one inning, eventually adding three more runs in the fourth and another in the sixth. Hodgson credits the Raiders’ Costello for working out of jams in the second, third and fourth innings, keeping Stonewall within reach of the Yellow Jackets.

“We struck out too many times and that’s a credit to Costello, who threw
a good game,” he said. “We left a lot of guys on base, but we put pressure on them
every inning.”

Costello struck out nine Yellow Jackets in six innings of work — none more important than his two strikeouts to end the second inning. Already trailing by two runs, Costello loaded up the bases on a walk and two singles with nobody out. The Raiders’ pitcher induced a ground out and struck out two to get out of the jam.

“Heck yeah you get concerned with something like that,” said Hodgson of the potential momentum swing caused by coming up empty in the second. “That was a great effort by him.”

Bargeron, however, never allowed to Raiders to get anything going on offense. The Yellow Jackets’ starter allowed only three hits, striking out five in five innings of work. The win marks the second time this season that Bargeron has beaten the Raiders, both on shutouts.

“Zach Bargeron has done a great job both times,” said Hodgson. “They have great hitters and Zach has rose to the occasion.”

The Yellow Jackets’ No. 2 starter, Bargeron received a scholarship during the offseason to pitch for West Virginia University next year, despite the fact that the senior only pitched eight innings for Osbourn Park during his junior year. Over the summer, however, Bargeron got plenty of work with American Legion Post 158 under head coach Dickie Dombrowski. It was there that Bargeron began to come into his own and catch some college interest.

“He really gave me the chance to start pitching a lot, giving me a lot of innings,” said Bargeron of coach Dombrowski. “It just sort of clicked after that.”

Bargeron, along with ace Matt Wainman, have helped lead the Yellow Jackets to a 11-1 overall record and a 7-0 mark in the Cedar Run District, with an important matchup with neighborhood rival Osbourn looming on Wednesday.

“It’s all coming down to next week,” said Hodgson.

Email: pfrommelt@digitalsports.com