LWA Tigers Maul Evangel Christian in Home Victory

By JONATHAN WALTER
Standard Staff Reporter

Lawrence Woodmere Academy Tiger Baseball returned from spring break with a vengeance this week, putting a hurt on Evangel Christian of Queens in a 15-2 victory on Tuesday afternoon at home.  The Tigers scored ten of their runs in the first inning as Evangel Christian pitchers struggled with their control, leading to two pitching changes in the first frame.

“We’ve had a long break with the vacation, so it’s nice to come back get a win,” LWA Head Coach Mike Cohn said.   “It’s good to shake some of the rust off.  We’re lucky to come back and have a game like this I guess you can say.  We put the bat on the ball, which is what we talk about all the time.  We want to cut down on strikeouts and make them make the play.  We forced a lot of errors with them, we played good defense and we pitched great.  I think we only gave up two hits.”

Evangel Christian pitchers certainly helped the LWA cause, issuing three walks and hitting two batters in the first inning alone.

LWA starter, Jakob Cayne, pitched two scoreless innings before running into trouble in the third when, after striking out two consecutive batters, he allowed two singles, followed by two walks that gave Evangel Christian its first run of the game before getting a player to ground out to end the inning.

Hunter Braverman came in to pitch the final two innings for LWA.  He struck out the side in the fourth, but like Cayne, ran into trouble as he tried to close out the game for LWA.  Braveman got one out to start the inning, but then allowed a double, wasn’t helped when his defense allowed a runner to reach on an error, then gave up a walk to load the bases.  He walked one more to give Evangel their second run of the game before getting a strikeout and a groundout to end the game in five innings after the mercy rule, which states the game is over if one team leads by more than ten runs after five innings, came into effect.

“I talk to the pitchers all the time, letting them know that they aren’t going to pitch perfect innings all the time,” Cohn said.  “The other team is going to hit the ball.  As much as you’re great, you’re going to have your hiccups.  We talk about mental strength.  A great pitcher isn’t defined by having three innings of shutout ball.  It’s a great pitcher who is defined by pitching those innings of shutout ball, got into trouble, and then got out of it because he made the right pitches and had the defense behind him.  They are trying to pitch to contact more now; pitching instead of throwing.”

LWA is now 2-1 on the young season as they try to get back to the finals for a third consecutive year.

“I think we’re improving,” Cohn said.  “The way I look at it is the more we play, the better we’re going to get.  I think we’re a young team and I’m excited for the year.  I think we’re going to continue to improve.”

The lopsided score gave Cohn an opportunity to get all of his players into the game, something that usually is not possible.

“It’s tough to get everyone into a baseball game,” Cohn said.  “It’s not like other sports where you can sub guys in and out.  Everyone got in the game, brought a good attitude and starters were supporting bench guys who had their chances.  It’s good to have a team win like that where everyone gets into the game and contributes.”

LWA will play their next game on Friday against United Nations International School in Manhattan at 4:15 p.m.