By By KEVIN TRAVIS, Sports Editor
FARMVILLE — Corey Rogerson is confident his Washington Pam Pack baseball team can play much better than it did in Monday’s season opener, a 7-5 loss to the Farmville Central Jaguars.
The Pack jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, but couldn’t hold into the lead. Washington, which didn’t play any scrimmages in the preseason, finished with four hits in the game.
“It’s unfortunate we didn’t get any scrimmages in before we started live game action,” Rogerson said. “I know we’re going to be a lot better ball team than we showed tonight.”
Michael Robinson, who had two of Washington’s hits and drove in a pair, suffered the loss. He allowed seven runs, but was effective as the Pack starter.
“Michael pitched a fantastic game,” Rogerson said. “He deserved a better outcome. That’s a result of us not backing him up defensively.
“We made some mistakes that we don’t normally make in practice. We’ll get that squared away.”
Jake Duke, who had one hit in the game, led off the contest by drawing a walk. After Gator Moore walked, Michael Goldberg singled home Duke. One out later, Robinson drove in two more with another single for a 3-0 lead.
The Jaguars got one run in the first and tied things in the second on a two-run double.
Farmville Central took a 4-3 lead in the fourth. The Jaguars loaded the bases on two walks and an error. A single scored one run. Farmville Central looked for another, but Moore threw out a runner at the plate from his center field position.
The Jaguars pushed their lead to 7-3 in the fifth on the strength of a two-run double and an RBI double.
Washington pulled within 7-5 in the sixth. Robinson, Cole Hartley and Will Swain walked to load the bases. Jamie Landen walked to force in a run, while Duke’s groundout plated the final run.
“The guys were staying on top of each other and fighting to the end,” Rogerson said. “That’s encouraging.”
Goldberg was strong in relief, pitching 1 2/3 innings of hitless ball.
While Rogerson has been an assistant with the Pam Pack, Monday’s marked his first as the head coach. He admitted to some first-game jitters.
“I tried to say it was nervous excitement,” Rogerson said. “They were good nerves. I’ll get better as a coach. I’m learning as I go, just like (the players) are. We’re going to get better together.”
The Pack returns to action Thursday at J.H. Rose.
Washington 300 002 0 – 5
Farmville 120 130 x – 7