BASEBALL: Tigers Can't Manage Sweep of Carlmont

The Score: Carlmont 10, Terra Nova 1.

The Star: Terra Nova High’s David Smathers went 2-for-3, including a solo home run, on a day in which the visiting Tigers totaled three hits. The sophomore’s fifth-inning blast over the left-field fence in the Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division game on Friday marked the first earned run Carlmont ace Daniel Madigan allowed in 23 2/3 innings to start the year.

The Turning Point: After racing to a 3-0 lead in the first inning, Carlmont took firm control once catcher Colton Hicks hammered a three-run home run off Terra Nova right-hander Nick Manessis (3-1) with two outs in the second. The resulting 6-0 deficit proved far too deep for the Tigers to overcome against Madigan (3-1), a southpaw who allowed two hits and one walk while striking out six in six innings.

The Quote: “I think it’s just (that) we haven’t been out on the field much. We’ve been out on the tennis courts the last two weeks. We’re just a little behind. I’m sure we’re going to get back on track.” – Terra Nova junior cleanup batter Justin Gubser, on an offense that managed four runs in two games against Carlmont.

What’s Next? Terra Nova plays at Hillsdale on Saturday at 10 a.m. in a non-league game that is a part of Aragon’s tournament.

The Bottom Line: The Tigers (5-2-1, 1-1 PAL Bay) didn’t come close to completing what would have been an impressive two-game sweep of Carlmont (8-3, 4-2). After Matt Williams’ walk-off sacrifice fly propelled Terra Nova to a 3-2 win on Wednesday, the visitors were flat from the start on Friday. Manessis, who has been impressive on the mound, fell in a quick 6-0 hole, and the Tiger batters managed just three hits.

Notes: Terra Nova’s starting lineup included just three seniors – and of those, only leadoff batter Williams was in the top four spots in the batting order. “I’m not positive what’s going to happen (this season). There’s a lot of juniors. We’ll see what we’ve got,” coach Joey Gentile said. … The Tigers learned quickly that hits and runs will be much harder to come by in PAL Bay games. After recording eight or more hits in four of its first seven games, Terra Nova was limited to seven hits in the two games against Carlmont. … Gentile believes Manessis, who threw a perfect game against Crystal Springs Uplands on St. Patrick’s Day, will be a fine pitching complement to senior ace Cage Cascone. … Terra Nova was in the thick of the PAL Bay race last year before the team suffered late losses to grades and finished in sixth place. Whether the team remains intact this year will be important as the Tigers hope to contend in what appears to be a very balanced league again.

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Carlmont 10, Terra Nova 1

TN – 000 010 0 – 1 3 2

C – 331 003 x – 10 10 1

WP: Madigan 3-1, 2-1. LP: Manessis 3-1.

HR: Smathers (TN); Hicks (C). 3 hits: Hicks (C). 2 hits: Smathers (TN). 4 RBI: Hicks (C). 2 RBI: Anthony (C).

Records: Terra Nova 5-2-1, 1-1 PAL Bay. Carlmont 8-3, 4-2.