The record books will show that Hanover senior pitcher Jacob Smith picked up the 11-6 win over host Atlee on Tuesday night.  However, for anyone who watched the game, it was sophomore pitcher Chris Childress who handed Atlee their first and only regular season loss to a county team this season. In five and one-third innings of relief, the Hawks right-hander struck out seven, walked two and gave up two runs.
“Chris threw very well,” said Hanover head coach Charlie Dragum. “Chris was one of the guys we were counting on early (in the season) and he struggled. “He’s found it again and is working hard. That was great to see him come out like that.”

“It felt good,” Childress said. “I felt like I had my stuff. But I couldn’t have done it without my team behind me hitting.

“I had a rough start but everyone still had confidence in me when I went on the mound,” Childress said. “Jacob Smith helped me out a lot.”

Though Childress threw a brilliant game in relief, it was the Hanover bats that did the most damage, blasting Atlee senior pitcher Austin Young and the Raiders’ defense for five runs in the top of the first. 

The Hawks struck fast when Bryan Johansen led off with a double to right center. A sacrifice to right by Jared Lipscombe then moved Johansen to third.
Next up, senior Eric Mayers drilled a home run shot over the left center fence for a 2-0 Hanover lead.

But the Hawks were not through. Singles by Bryant Lowery and Andrew Knizner were followed by a walk of Ryan Long to load the bags.

A sacrifice to right center by Zack Broaddus allowed Lowery to come home for a 3-0 margin.

Atlee had a chance to escape without further damage but poor decision making kept the Hawks at bat.

With two out, Hanover’s Lew Johnson sent a shot to short and the Raiders Connor Overton chose to throw to first rather than get the force on Long at nearby second base. Overton’s throw went past first baseman Conner Hall and allowed Knizner to score. Then on a double steal, Long (2 for 3, 3 runs) took home avoiding a tag from catcher Mitch Keeler for a 5-0 Hanover lead.

“The first inning happened so fast, by the time you blinked it was 5-0,” said Atlee head coach Kevin Elrod. “You can blame me for that or you came blame somebody else, but that’s not how we play the game.”

The coach pointed out that with Coach Dragum in the other dugout the deficit was even worse. “You can’t get behind good coaching and we did that,” Elrod said. “It’s tough to come back.”

Though Smith took down the Raiders’ order in the bottom of the first, the Atlee bats came to life in the bottom of the second, knocking him from the game.
Atlee’s Brent West led things off with a single past short and when Smith walked Keeler and Ryan Bettinger the bases were loaded.

A sacrifice to right by Cody Farrar drove in West then freshman Steven Edmonds, pinch running for Keeler, scored when a pitch got past Mayers at the plate.
Smith then walked Kenner Berry to reload the bags.

A Hall line drive past short pushed in Bettinger and Berry trimming the Hanover lead to 5-4 and signaling and end to Smith’s night on the mound.

The Hawks widened the margin once again in the top of the third when a Broaddus RBI triple into center drove in Long.

Broaddus then came home on an RBI single from Johnson for a 7-4 Hanover lead.
But once again Atlee had an answer as it took a while for Childress to get into a groove on the mound. Childress walked Farrar on four pitches. Farrar then came home on a RBI triple by Young (2 for 4, RBI). Young then came home to pull Atlee within one, 7-6 on a RBI shot to second by West.

It looked as if Hanover was going to add to their score in the top of the fourth but a brilliant play from Overton put an end to the threat. With two out and Lowery on second, Knizner drilled a high liner towards short but Overton leapt into the air to make an outstanding catch.

However, the Atlee bats were suddenly silenced by Childress who appeared to get stronger the longer he stayed on the mound. Over the final three innings, Childress gave up a total of three hits to the Raiders.

“We don’t mind playing from behind but it was to the point where we just weren’t getting the hits,” Elrod said.

“We weren’t disciplined at the plate tonight,” Elrod added.

Dragum praised Childress’ performance. “He did a great job of getting out of that (second) inning jam then came in the next inning and he was a little bit off,” Dragum said. “But after that, man, he was just rolling.”

“When you have that three-four run cushion you’re feeling golden out there,” Childress said. “It’s the easiest way to pitch.”

Hanover added four more runs in the top of the fifth to create the final margin.
A double to center by Blake Spiers drove in Long then Johnson scored on a wild pitch from Atlee reliever Ryan Bettinger.

Finally a two RBI shot into the left corner by Mayers (2 for 4, HR, 4 RBI) put a cap on the scoring when it pushed home Long and Lipscombe.

The Raiders came into the senior-night contest needing one more win to complete a sweep of the other Hanover County baseball teams. The Hawks came into the game just needing a win. Both teams were young but it was Hanover who had suffered the most growing pains prior to the contest. But against Atlee, the Hawks turned in a veteran performance.

“We’re just so young,” Dragum said. “I’ve got four freshmen and a sophomore starting. So, they’re making young mistakes at times…The kids played well tonight.” 

The loss drops Atlee (5-2, 11-7) into a Capital District first place tie with Lee-Davis. Even though they have beaten the C-feds twice this season, if both teams end up tied at the end of the regular season, a play-off game will be used to determine which squad gets the automatic regional berth.

The win by Hanover (4-3, 12-4) solidifies their claim on the #3 seed in the district.

“We had to win this game to help solidify our 2-3 (game) spot,” Dragum said. “We’ve been at the top of the league the last six-seven years, however long we’ve been here and this is a little different for us.”

Hanover…................ 502 040 0 — 11 12 0
Atlee .........................042 000 0 — 6 6 2
Smith, Childress (2), Mayers; Young, Bettinger (5), Bolka (7) and Keeler. W: Smith. L: Young.
Highlights: Eric Mayers (H) 2 for 4, HR, 4 RBI; Ryan Long (H) 2 for 3, 3 runs; Austin Young (A) 2 for 4, RBI
Records: Hanover 4-3, 12-4; Atlee 5-2, 11-7