Dow No Hitter Highlights Chargers Sweep of Snead State
In their first series of the 2021 season, the GHC Chargers hosted Snead State for a four game set at home this week. Riding strong performances on both sides of the ball, the Chargers earned a sweep over the Parsons as they head into the second week of the year.
Powered by home runs from Trace Twardoski and Gavin Harmon, GHC put up 11 runs in support of a shutout performance by Chase Townsend and Cason Rich. The victory was the third consecutive shutout to open the season. The Chargers nearly made it 4 shutouts in a row, but a single unearned run in game 2 prevented them from accomplishing the feat. Ryan Suppa collected his first win in the pinstripes, supported by the trio of Caleb Garner, Matthew Silka, and Chandler Wood. Twardoski hit his second homer of the day as the GHC offense surged to an 8 run attack.
On Sunday looking to notch a win in the series, skipper Dash O'Neill sent Johnny Dow to the mound. He didn't know that Dow would make history, as the big right hander tossed the second no-hitter in program history and the first ever completed by a single pitcher. "Johnny was close once or twice last year, but its so hard to keep a team hitless for an entire ballgame, especially in your first start. He does such a good job of competing for us though, and the guys rally around him when he's on the bump. Its a pretty special achievement, and I'm glad he was able to put the team on his shoulders for the day." GHC scored 6 runs on the other side of the ball and shut their opponent out for the fourth time in six games.
The fourth and final game was moving along much the same way the first three had as the Chargers carried a 3-0 lead into the sixth inning. Back to back walks to start the sixth followed by a trio of infield hits led to a Parsons rally before GHC left fielder Max Kops put an end to the inning by throwing out a runner at the plate. Kops then led off the home half of the sixth with a base hit bunt. He promptly stole second base and then scored on a base hit from Palmer Sapp to put the Chargers back in front. Brandon Prince followed with an RBI single and swiped a coupe bags of his own before scoring on a Gavin Harmon sacrifice fly. Garrett Sagro came on in the seventh to pick up the first save of his GHC career.
The sweep moves GHC to 6-0 on the season heading into a Tuesday doubleheader vs Wallace State Hanceville. First pitch is at 1PM.