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Cutters lose first contest in nine days, fall in series opener to Frederick

By HENRY HUBER 4 min read

On Friday night at Bowman Field, The Williamsport Crosscutters endured their first loss in nine days, falling to the Keys by a score of 4-2. Frederick logged two vital runs in the sixth and seventh to recapture its early lead and closed things out with six straight scoreless innings to finish the job.

Though the loss doesn't affect its No. 1 spot in the MLB Draft League standings, it was the third straight time Williamsport lost to Frederick to kick off the season. With the Keys inching a step closer to the Cutters in the standings, decreasing their deficit to 3.5 games in second place, Game 2 and 3 hold significance heading into the final stretch of the first half of the season.

"Yeah, we're 0-3 (against Frederick). These guys know it," said Crosscutter manager Ryan Hanigan on the matchup. "Six hits, two runs, one which we got on errors, that's not going to win you many games. But we played hard and kept it close, just didn't have our sticks going tonight."

Following the first pitch, Frederick struck almost immediately, getting two runners in scoring position before first baseman Daylan Pena and third baseman Johnny Castagnozzi logged an RBI each on the ensuing at-bats to make it 2-0. But as quickly as it struck, Williamsport responded just as fast.

In the bottom of the first, the top of its order continued what's been an excellent season, with leadoff batter Carter Dorighi kicking things off with a line drive double to center and centerfielder Jackson Mayo batting him in on the very next pitch.

Then, in the third inning, Dorighi once again impacted the scoreboard, taking full advantage of a failed pickoff attempt and two throwing errors to turn a previous single into his second run of the day.

The score would remain knotted for the next two innings. Cutters starting pitcher Rodney Shultz bounced back from a rough first inning, posting four straight scoreless innings to close out a strong performance, where he surrendered just four hits, two earned runs and one walk to four strikeouts.

"Shultz kept us at two runs, gave us five good ones," said Hanigan. "We got in at 3 in the morning last night so I'm sure he was gassed. Probably could've gone another inning but wanted to take him out at that point."

Following Shultz's departure, the Williamsport bullpen didn't implode, but did surrender just enough leeway for it to be an issue.

Dalton Robinson posted three strikeouts through 1.1 innings pitched, but also allowed a homer in the sixth and put two on base in the seventh, which resulted in another run. With Frederick's proficiency from the mound holding firm through the end, Williamsport couldn't answer.

The Crosscutters finished with six hits, led by Carter Dorighi and Hughesville grad Jacob Corson with two each, the former which scored both the team's runs on the night. Jackson Mayo posted the team's lone RBI and Zane Becker rounded out the team's hits. And closing pitchers Alex Clemons and Nick McCollum finished the game off well, posting two combined strikeouts to two hits through 2.2 innings pitched.

"We played hard. All the guys were in it the whole game, picking each other up," said Hanigan. "Frederick put up more tonight and you've just got to tip your hat."

With the loss, the Williamsport Crosscutters fell to 14-6 and will look to bounce back and even the series on Saturday, with Game Two taking place at Bowman Field at 6:35 p.m.

"We've got two more shots against them here and hopefully we can take both games and win the series," said Hanigan. "The ball's in our court.”

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