Short-handed Wildcats Blanked by War Eagles

ran into Region 6-AAAA's top dogs on Wednesday night, falling 8-0 to a Marist squad that was hitting on all cylinders.

The Wildcats (17-6, 10-2), who were missing several key players to illness, lost to the War Eagles for the second time this season.

"We were a little worn down," said Dunwoody head coach Chan English, whose team, he noted, played five games last week. "We had two starters out sick and we came out flat. It was just our worst performance of the season by far."

A four-run first inning set the tone for the War Eagles, who then coasted behind the dominant pitching of senior Brandon Leibrandt.

"We did a nice job hitting the ball and we were aggressive running the bases," said Marist head coach Mike Strickland.

Leibrandt went six innings and struck out nine batters, allowing only two hits.

"I felt good," said Leibrandt, a Florida State signee. "I came out and had all three pitches working. The rest of the team had my back. I knew that I could throw strikes."

The Marist bats rocked Dunwoody starter James Farnell for four runs in the opening frame. Brett Dolan, Blake Stevens and Daniel Spingola all started off the game with singles, with Dolan opening the scoring on Spingola’s base knock. Then, with runners on first and second, Chesny Young smashed a three-run home run to left field.

With no outs in the first inning and a 4-0 Marist lead, Farnell was then pulled for Dunwoody No. 1 starter Wes Bancroft, who gave up two runs. Sophomore Ryan Gaines entered the game in the third inning and finished out the contest. 

Dolan went 3-for-3 with three singles, and Young went 2-for-2 with four RBIs. Gabriel Durot was also 2-for-2 with a single and a fourth-inning inside-the-park home run, which made it 7-0. Kevin Gale's RBI double in the fifth inning capped off the scoring in the game.

Leibrandt kept the Dunwoody hitters off balance all game long, never allowing the Wildcats to threaten. 

"He was very good," Strickland said. "He really pitched well today and he's been solid for us all year."

Dunwoody will gear up for the playoffs with home dates with Carver-Atlanta on Friday and Chamblee on Monday, then a road game at Mays on April 27. 

Marist (20-12, 12-0) will play next at Douglass on Thursday, at Tucker on Monday, and at home versus Southwest DeKalb on Wednesday before wrapping up the regular season with Class 3-A Columbus on April 29.