Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Future Pirates Learning How to Win

The Hillcats continue to excite in High Single A. This time the 2008 draft class led the way to an opening game win in the finals. Chase d’Arnaud got two hits and three RBI’s to help the Hillcats offense explode for a 9-2 win.

It was not only d’Arnaud who made the 2008 draft class stand out. It was starting pitcher and fifth round pick in 08, Justin Wilson. Wilson 5.2 innings allowing only one earned and one unearned run. Wilson was able to pitch with a lead thanks to d’Arnaud and 9th round selection in 2008, Matt Hague. Hague has hit over .400 for the playoffs and flashed some power in the opening of the finals as hit a solo homerun going 2 for 3 overall on the night. Jordy Mercer, the other 2008 draft stand out, went 1 for 3 with an RBI as well.

The Hillcats did also get shut baseball from the bullpen including an inning from Harrison Bishop, the 17th round pick in 2007. It breaks the theme of the article, but worth noting nonetheless.

The Hillcats offense appears to be waking up after sleep walking through the first round. It took masterful pitching from Ruby Owens and others to get the Hillcats into the finals. The five run outburst in the deciding Game 5 was their high, but now the Hillcats have improved upon themselves with 9 runs to open the Finals. The Hillcats are waking up at just the right time. Here is hoping for a successful conclusion to something in the Pirates organization this year.

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