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Schweir comes through

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Donnie Biggs/News & Messenger

Forest Park’s Bobby Schweir throws from the mound against Potomac on Tuesday.

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By DAN CLENDANIEL For the News & Messenger
Published: April 15, 2008

Forest Park’s Bobby Schweir admittedly did not have his best “stuff” as he took to the mound in a key Cardinal District battle with Potomac. He had trouble spotting his fastball nor did it have its normal zip. Luckily, Schweir had his curve ball when he needed it as each team looked to stay unbeaten in the district.
When Schweir needed to make a big pitch in the fourth inning, he came through. That pitch was the key reason the Bruins were able to beat the Panthers, 6-4, to improve to 2-0 in the district.
Schweir faced Potomac cleanup batter Ryan Moriarity with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth inning. Forest Park already trailed, 4-3, and a hit by Moriarity could break open the game.
Plus, Moriarity had doubled home a run in his previous at-bat.
On a count of 3-2, Schweir was able to drop a slow curve ball over the inside corner for strike three to end the inning.
Forest Park (8-3) scored two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to gain the win as Schweir im-proved his record to 4-2.
“I knew I didn’t have my best stuff and I was just trying to keep us in the game,” said Schweir. “My fastball wasn’t at its best so I had to rely on my breaking pitch. I knew I could break one off on a crucial pitch.”
Forest Park won the game without one of its key players. Shortstop Will Blackwell sat out the game with a sore arm.
“This is still our district to lose,” said Forest Park coach John Colantuoni. “We won last year with great pitching but everyone was telling us our pitching wouldn’t come through. Bobby (Schweir) is a go-getter. He struggled but he made adjustments. He’s a bulldog at heart.”
For Potomac (7-3), there was frustration from losing the lead and committing five errors that led to four unearned runs.
Forest Park scored twice in the third inning on a two-out, dropped fly ball in the outfield and got another gift run in the fourth when a wild pitch on a strike three allowed Kevin Staats to score from third base with two outs.
“The game should have been 7-1 or 8-1 in our favor,” said Potomac manager Mike Covington. “We’ve lost seven in a row to them. I looked over our pitching charts of those games and they scored 28 runs in that streak on walks or errors. We’re not the young guys anymore and we shouldn’t be backing down.”
Forest Park sophomore Chris Parouse relieved to start the sixth inning and picked up his second save of the year with two scoreless innings.
“Their pitchers,” said Covington, “were able to throw their breaking ball over the plate when they were behind in the count. High school batters can’t adjust to that. I thought Schweir made a big pitch (against Moriarty) with the bases loaded.”
The schedule remains tough for Forest Park, which faces a strong Woodbridge team on Friday.
“With Blackwell out,” Colantuoni said, “we had a lot of guys playing positions for the first time. For them to come through without Blackwell was the most impressive thing about this win. I told them to enjoy tonight and then move on to get ready for Woodbridge.”
For Potomac, Covington told his players it was time to start over.
“Our district has an upper and a lower group and now we’re in a dogfight to stay out of the lower group,” he said.

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