 High School Baseball:
Cummings Wins Pitcher's Duel Against Cherokee
Monday, May 7, 2001
By Vincent Lewis
SJSports Staff Writer
The Cherokee Chiefs baseball team arrived at Highland High School with an impressive 11-2 record and onto top of the Olympic Conference, Patriot Division. Right behind them were the Tartans, getting a chance to increase their divisional record to 5-2 and capturing a tie with the Chiefs. Dane Mason was very impressive getting the start against Highland (10-4), but Mike Cummings matched his opponent keeping the Chiefs off the scoreboard. Cummings pitched a complete game shut out, striking out 10 batters on route to a 2-0 win at home.
 Sophomore Mike Cummings (4-1) had plenty of defensive support during the 2001 season. The Tartans knew the importance of this game against their divisional opponents. Cummings started right out of the gate striking out four keeping the Chiefs off the scoreboard through the first 2 innings. But Cherokee's Dane Mason (4-2) out performed his opponent by striking out 5 and giving up just one hit. This battle continued through out the game as Mason finished the game with 12 strikeouts and giving his team a chance at winning this game in the late innings.
Highland got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third when Vince Schmidt drew a walk to start the inning. The next batter put the ball in play and both runners were safe on a fielder's choice. Playing aggressively, the double steal was executed successfully and there were two runners in scoring position. Mason would get the next two outs on a fly out and a strikeout and the Chiefs were one out away from getting out of the inning. Matt Calloway would hit the ball hard and put the ball in play which the infielder had trouble coming up with the play. Schmidt would score to give Highland the only run they needed to win this game.
Cummings would cruise through the next four innings pitching to just one over the minimum batters he would face to give Highland their tenth win of the season. The victory would be the Tartans third straight. Phil Marino went 2 for 3 in the game and score the second run of the game.
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Photos by Art Redd
          
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High School Baseball:
