TJ wallops Leopard Nation

By JEREMY TEPPER

MVI Sports

Thomas Jefferson didn’t initially intend on being patient at the plate Thursday. In fact, Jaguars coach Tim Vickers urged for a more aggressive approach.

But as it turned out, a patient, selective approach was exactly what the Jaguars needed to methodically dismantle Belle Vernon in a Western Pa. Summer Baseball League game.

The Presidents beat Belle Vernon, 22-0, collecting 10 hits but were walked 16 times by Leopard pitchers. The game ended after four and a half innings due to the mercy rule. 

“We didn’t want to come out like that in the beginning of the game. We were talking about getting more aggressive because I thought we’ve been overly patient over the past few games,” said Vickers. “But I thought our guys did a good job with that. They weren’t getting too many strikes and when they did get them, they hit them pretty hard.”

Thomas Jefferson took complete control of the game in a 19-run fourth inning that saw a three-run lead balloon to 22. Six of those runs were scored via walks with the bases loaded, but other highlights include a bases-loaded triple by Dylan Mallozzi and a double by Preston Zandier that brought in two more runs. Mallozzi reached base in all five of his at bats, collecting three hits and drawing two walks.

“There’s not the same rhythm that you have during the high school season but it looks like it’s starting to come back,” said Vickers. “We’ve gotten three games in the past ten days and you can see the guys starting to get back to normal.”

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