PJP II Holds Off Barnstable in 9-7 Tilt

In a high school baseball season, two weeks off might as well be like two years.

The Barnstable High School Red Raiders (5-5) had every opportunity to close out a win versus the host Pope John Paul II unbeaten nine Friday night in Hyannis, but instead walked away with a disheartening 9-7 loss.

Barnstable boasted leads from the first through the third innings but watched that lead crumble in the fourth inning when Pope John Paul II unleashed a torrent of hits - including four doubles - and four runs on Red Raider starting pitcher Riley Ashe who took the loss. Fellow senior Conor Walsh came in with one out and a man on second base and closed the door but the damage had been done and PJP II had a lead it would not relinquish, 8-6.

Ashe went 3 1/3 innings, allowing 11 hits, 8 runs (7 earned), struck out one and walked two. Pope John Paul II's Austin Houlihan took the victory, coming on in relief of starter Ben Gibson who allowed five earned runs in 2 2/3 innings of work. He was knocked out of the game after Barnstable's Micah Gregory launched a two-out triple to the deepest corner of McKeon Park in center field.

Each team had 13 hits on the night.

Barnstable's Hayden Murphy (2-4, RBI), Derek Estes (2-4, 2 doubles, 2 RBI), Jack Harrington (2-4, RBI), Chris Fowler (2-4, RBI) and Gregory (2-3, triple) each had two hits.

Estes played spectacularly throughout the night at shortstop, including an uncanny play from his knees deep in the hole to rob what appeared to be a sure basehit in the early going. BHS catcher Cody Pasic also played well defensively.

Barnstable takes on New Bedford at home on Monday.