Hot Mott leading Comets’ surge

By STEVE WALKER
swalker@MorningJournal.com

AMHERST — Justin Mott has caught fire.

Just a sophomore, Mott has been the ignition to the Comets’ offensive surge, leading Amherst to a blistering hot start at 13-7, including 5-1 in the last week. With 13 wins already, the Comets have assured bouncing back from their first losing season since 2002.

The pitcher/catcher/third baseman went 12-for-19 in the last six games, which include a pair of home runs, two doubles, eight runs scored and 17 RBIs.

He first got hot in a game last week against Midpark, going 3-for-3 with seven RBIs, including a pair of home runs — one being a grand slam as the Comets bashed the Meteors, 22-3.

“I kept being early on a lot of pitches,” said Mott, who had been in a recent slump at the plate. “I got my timing back down. Dr. (David) Rositano and Coach (Al) McConihe helped me get my timing down. My swing is good now.

Beside a 9-2 loss to Brecksville, where he went a mediocre 1-for-3 with an RBI, Mott continued his hitting asssault with a 2-for-4 game with three RBIs in a 15-5 win over North Olmsted, 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs in a 16-3 win over Elyria and a combined 3-for-6 with four RBIs and four runs in doubleheader sweep of North Ridgeville. In the game against Elyria, he filled in at the clean-up spot in the order left vacated by Griffin Weir, who was on an official trip to Stanford.

“I was a little nervous, but I had confidence in myself,” Mott said. “I know the importance of hitting in that spot. I hope to continue to produce for my team.”

The Comets have gotten a lot of contributions from their underclassmen, including sophomore Zach Bires, juniors Weir, Brandon Chesmar, Corey Stamco, Garrett Mullins, Will Heider and Shawn Reid, to go along with strong senior leadership by Maximo Meggitt, Jake Waryu, Aaron Bledsoe, Ken Menefee and Kyle Tucker.

Line drives

• Lorain High’s Adrian Calez pitched his second-straight one-hitter on Wednesday in a 7-0 win over Euclid. Calez came within one out of a no-hitter until allowing a single in the seventh inning with two outs. He had previously pitched a one-hitter against Avon, but Lorain lost the game 4-3 at All Pro Freight Stadium.

• Avon improved to 17-0 with a 9-3 win over Elyria Catholic on Wednesday. Anders Mahon continued his mound dominance with 12 strikeouts in six innings pitched.

• Columbia’s Zach Bican continued his strong senior season campaign with a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to lead the Raiders over Wellinton, 5-2 on Wednesday.

• Elyria’s Troy Goscewski threw a two-hitter with five strikeouts against Medina on Wednesday as the Pioneers eeked closer to .500 with a 9-10 mark. The win was his second of the season.

• Clearview’s Ryan Vargo made his first start of the season last Friday. He struck out 11 batters in a 2-1 win over Oberlin in Patriot Athletic Conference Stripes Division action.

• Wellington’s Erik Fehlan went 3-for-3 with four RBIs as the Dukes routed Brookside, 12-4 in PAC Stars Division last Friday. Fehlan hit two doubles and a triple as Wellington picked up its fifth win of the season.

• Elyria Catholic’s Joey Begany had a day most sophmores would dream about. In the first game of a doubleheader against Wellington last Saturday, Begany went 4-for-4 with three doubles and five RBIs. In the second game, he struck out six of the nine batters he faced. EC won both games, 15-4 and 11-5.



Twitter: @MJ_Steve_Walker

Last Updated: 4/26/2012 11:35:17 PM EST