The McLean Highlanders
kicked the 2006 season off on a great note on Wednesday, March 22nd
by defeating archrival Langley 7-2. Danny Bell went the distance for the
Highlanders, striking out four and walking none. After struggling a bit
during the Saxons two-run first inning, Bell settled down and shut down the
high-octane Saxon offense the rest of the way. "Danny Bell is our #1 starter
and he pitched like it tonight," said Coach John Thomas.
Kyle Meagher was brilliant in the leadoff spot, establishing a new school
record with five stolen bases, and Tyler Thompson broke the game open for
McLean in the fourth inning with a bases-loaded double. Shane Mills was 3-4
with an RBI, and Kendall Wilkins, Ryan Blackwell, and Quinn Pippin all
enjoyed their first Varsity base hits.
On Friday, March 24th, the Highlanders traveled to Madison
High School for another Liberty District contest against the Madison
Warhawks, who entered the game ranked 8th in the DC Metro area by
The Washington Post. Frankie Cavanaugh made his first ever Varsity start for
the Highlanders and was brilliant for McLean, going 4 1/3 innings and giving
up zero earned runs while giving up only 4 hits. "Frankie deserves an awful
lot of credit for pitching the way he did against Madison," said Coach John
Thomas. "He stepped up and did exactly what we needed him to do."
Shane Mills suffered his first loss of the season for McLean, despite
throwing very well over the last 1 ½ innings. Mills gave up only one hard
hit ball, while striking out two Warhawk batters. "Shane is our guy out of
the bullpen," Thomas said. "If he throws the way he did against Madison all
year long, we are going to have a lot of success."
