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| Top-ranked Madison baseball overpowers Oakton to keep rolling | Top-ranked Madison baseball overpowers Oakton to keep rolling |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| As Madison’s players trotted off the baseball field, just moments after forcing consecutive outs against Oakton batters in the fourth inning Saturday, the Warhawks were stopped short of the dugout by their coach, Mark “Pudge” Gjormand. | As Madison’s players trotted off the baseball field, just moments after forcing consecutive outs against Oakton batters in the fourth inning Saturday, the Warhawks were stopped short of the dugout by their coach, Mark “Pudge” Gjormand. |
| It didn’t matter that No. 1 Madison held a comfortable lead point following a six-run outburst in the third inning. That sort of firepower was expected from a team with the bulk of its players back from last year’s Virginia 6A title run. The season-high three runs surrendered in one inning to the Cougars, on the other hand, were not. | It didn’t matter that No. 1 Madison held a comfortable lead point following a six-run outburst in the third inning. That sort of firepower was expected from a team with the bulk of its players back from last year’s Virginia 6A title run. The season-high three runs surrendered in one inning to the Cougars, on the other hand, were not. |
| “He basically reminded us the importance of getting those runs back,” Madison senior Jimmy Goldsmith said. “We can put up crooked numbers on teams, but we sometimes get offended when other teams put up crooked numbers on us. So it was our job to take back that control.” | “He basically reminded us the importance of getting those runs back,” Madison senior Jimmy Goldsmith said. “We can put up crooked numbers on teams, but we sometimes get offended when other teams put up crooked numbers on us. So it was our job to take back that control.” |
| Spurred by Gjormand’s words, Madison tacked on four more runs on three hits in the bottom of the fourth to cement a 12-4 win against the crosstown rival Cougars in Vienna. | Spurred by Gjormand’s words, Madison tacked on four more runs on three hits in the bottom of the fourth to cement a 12-4 win against the crosstown rival Cougars in Vienna. |
| The nationally ranked Warhawks (8-2) have now outscored local competition 55-6 in five games, thanks in large part to the depth that was on display Saturday. Along with totaling 12 hits, seven different players recorded an RBI and six players scored a run. Carlo Alfano and Joey Goldsmith led the way with three RBI and two runs each. | |
| Jimmy Goldsmith, who went 2 for 2 with two runs, jump-started Madison’s offense in the first inning with an RBI double to right field. Then, after Oakton (0-2) loaded up the bases in the second, sophomore pitcher Jake Nielsen wiggled out of the jam by inducing a groundout on the final pitch of his first start for Madison. | Jimmy Goldsmith, who went 2 for 2 with two runs, jump-started Madison’s offense in the first inning with an RBI double to right field. Then, after Oakton (0-2) loaded up the bases in the second, sophomore pitcher Jake Nielsen wiggled out of the jam by inducing a groundout on the final pitch of his first start for Madison. |
| “Jake really kept his poise and grew up a lot in those two innings,” Gjormand said. “A lot of teams can do it with nine guys, but we’ve got a whole team of guys who can make plays for us.” | “Jake really kept his poise and grew up a lot in those two innings,” Gjormand said. “A lot of teams can do it with nine guys, but we’ve got a whole team of guys who can make plays for us.” |
| Madison’s full batting order had a chance to showcase that in the third inning. Pete Nielsen, who earned the win in three innings of relief pitching, laced an RBI single up the middle for the first run. Joey Goldsmith extended the flurry by laying down a bases-loaded bunt. And Kyle Hayes and Jordan Ebersole punctuated the inning with two more RBI. | Madison’s full batting order had a chance to showcase that in the third inning. Pete Nielsen, who earned the win in three innings of relief pitching, laced an RBI single up the middle for the first run. Joey Goldsmith extended the flurry by laying down a bases-loaded bunt. And Kyle Hayes and Jordan Ebersole punctuated the inning with two more RBI. |
| Oakton responded with two hits and three runs in the fourth, as well as a solo homer by All-Met shortstop Joe Rizzo in the sixth. But those efforts were far from enough to keep up with Madison’s bevy of bats and sure-handed gloves, all motivated by last year’s 11-3 loss to the Cougars. | Oakton responded with two hits and three runs in the fourth, as well as a solo homer by All-Met shortstop Joe Rizzo in the sixth. But those efforts were far from enough to keep up with Madison’s bevy of bats and sure-handed gloves, all motivated by last year’s 11-3 loss to the Cougars. |
| “We all were seeing the ball well and doing our jobs,” Ebersole said, “and when that happens, we like our chances of beating any team we face.” | “We all were seeing the ball well and doing our jobs,” Ebersole said, “and when that happens, we like our chances of beating any team we face.” |