Black-Hawks’ Zorich chills Raider bats

WOODBRIDGE — Brooke Point’s John Zorich made a strong start in his first varsity outing as a pitcher against Stonewall Jackson on Wednesday. Perhaps even more im-pressive was Zorich’s mental approach: He was so involved with the game, he said he never no-ticed how cold it was until he moved to first base in the seventh inning.

Most everybody else at Hylton’s field could assuredly feel the cold, especially the Raider offense. Zorich didn’t give up a hit in his six innings in the Black-Hawks’ 5-1 win.

Zorich and John Ferguson combined for the no-hitter, though it was more A.J. Burnett than Don Larsen. The Raiders (0-3) did put six runners on base thanks to five Brooke Point errors, and a walk that Ferguson surrendered in the seventh.

“I had the location, I threw strikes and we got the outs,” Zorich said. “I was totally shocked, I was just trying to stay warm. I didn’t realize how cold it was until I got to first base.”

“He’s going to be on the field for us, because he puts the ball in play,” Black-Hawks coach Brian Mays said. “He’s an all-around good player. If he ever realizes how good he can be, the sky’s the limit for him.”

Brooke Point (1-2) got on the board in the bottom of the first, after a throwing error allowed Mike Walker to come home. The lead increased on a fourth-inning solo homer by Bryan Parker to the power alley in left-center field. Later in the inning, Ben Rezeli and Andrew Speights both moved into scoring position on a double steal, and both came home on a fielder’s choice hit by Jarrod Bolin.

Walker scored Brooke Point’s final run on a single by Jason Beck.

The Raiders’ lone run came in the sixth when a Black-Hawk fielding error allowed Bill Thompson to score.

“It’s good to finally get a ‘W.’ We got here, and the kids were ready to go,” Mays said. “We put it all on the line.”

That was precisely what Stonewall lacked. Although Raider starter Erick Nguyen pitched well, errors and an offensive blackout — among other things — doomed Stonewall.

“We were not very aggressive. For a lot of kids, it’s their first varsity experience, but you still have to be aggressive,” Raiders head coach Andy Devitt said. “Tonight we had no heart. We didn’t battle, we gave up, and that’s disappointing.

“I thought [Nguyen] battled and continued to battle, and that’s all I can ask for. Hopefully the younger kids see that, or it’s going to be a rough year.”

HYLTON 7, R.E. LEE 2: Charlie Hagan had four hits and three RBIs as Hylton advanced to the championship game. Kevin Froehlich and Phillip Beall each added three hits as well. John Bigley gave up just three hits in his first varsity start.

POTOMAC 6, WEST SPRINGFIELD 2: Tied 1-1 heading into the sixth, Potomac went on to beat West Springfield. The Panthers take on Lee at 1 p.m. today.

NORTH STAFFORD 6, COURTLAND 3: Anthony Fuhrer gave up three hits over 51/3 innings in the Wolverines’ non-district win.

Fuhrer gave up just one earned run while striking out four. John Ryan Bussell went 2-for-3 with two RBIs for North Stafford (2-0), while Curtis Price was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.