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Small ball, Gentry gem send Monroe baseball to win over George Mason

Add George Mason’s Max Kaplow — a George Washington commit — to the quality pitching that William Monroe’s overcome so far. A 3-0 win over the Mustangs is another feather in the Dragons’ cap as they’ve also won over Spotswood’s UVa bound Austin Nicely and Strasburg’s standout Tyler Hott. Facing yet another ace that had his stuff, Monroe saw its own starter shine yet again and then went with small ball to earn the win.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever suicide squeezed more than twice in a game,” Dragons coach Mike Maynard said. “It was the fastest game ever. I bet the game was over in an hour and 35 minutes. A real pitcher’s duel.”

Monroe pitcher Jordan Gentry went the distance and had a no hitter going into the seventh inning, but Kaplow beat out a throw on an infield single to break it up. The senior starter struck out 12 batters and gave up just one hit and two walks to put up his second straight complete game shutout with double-digit strikeouts in just three starts so far.

“He’s our Tuesday pitcher right now and he threw a great game,” Maynard said. “He came off a one week break and threw strikes.”

A Ryan Morris double in the fifth followed by a stolen base set up Monroe’s first run where Lamar Nelson squeezed in the first baseman on a bunt. Monroe added another run on a passed ball. Then in the sixth with the bases loaded Jack Morris dropped a squeeze bunt to score Jacob Hirtz and make it 3-0.

Ryan Morris was 2 for 2 with a walk and a double. Spencer Breeden and Austin Batten were each 1 for 3.

Monroe (7-1, 4-0) heads to Central Woodstock on Friday at 7 p.m.

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