Duckworth Comes Off The Bench To Spark Nova’s 7-2 Win

Corey Duckworth came into the Nova Titans game against Dunwoody, Georgia with six at-bats on the season. The senior has been used mainly as a defensive replacement. On Wednesday night, however, Duckworth provided the offensive spark that the Titans needed to come from behind and defeat Dunwoody 7-2.

Duckworth entered the game in the fourth inning, and at the time, Nova was down 2-1. After singles by Skylar Fox and starting pitcher Ronnie Patella , Duckworth tied the game with a base hit of his own, scoring Fox. Patella then scored on a wild pitch, and Duckworth plated the third Titans run of the inning when lead-off hitter Zach Kleiman reached on an error.

The score remained 3-2 until the fifth, when Duckworth again came through. The same players were involved for Nova, as Fox singled and Patella looped a double down the right-field line. Duckworth then drove in both Fox and Patella with a single. For a player that had seen limited time at the plate, the big night was a tremendous experience.

“When I get in the game I always want to prove myself,” said Duckworth. “When I get that one at-bat, I want to come through. Both at-bats I had two strikes, but the ball just looked big tonight.”

The Titans again used a formula that has worked all season long, solid pitching and defense mixed with some timely hitting. Patella retired thirteen of the last fourteen batters he faced for Nova, and erased the only base runner allowed during that span when he induced a 6-4-3 double play in the sixth inning.

Nova, a team that has always been in the spotlight, has flown under the radar so far this season. Despite their 14-2 record, the Titans have not been as offensively explosive as some of their past teams. In no way, however, does that mean that this team will be any less dangerous come playoff time.

The Vestavia Hills team that Nova split with in Alabama has won many state championships, and Dunwoody had already easily handled two Broward teams before facing the Titans. Nova, however, showed that solid fundamental play can be the key to success, committing no errors in their win Wednesday evening.

Patella exemplified what the Titans approach is on the mound, and Head Coach Pat McQuaid took notice.

“He’s going to throw well,” said McQuaid, when explaining what has come to be expected from Patella this year. “He’s given up a couple runs the last couple of times out, but he’s going to throw strikes, he’s going to keep our defense ready to play, because he works pretty quick, and his ball moves, so he’s going to get a lot of ground balls.”

Titans shortstop George Gugino has been one of the best players in Broward this season, and he shined once again Wednesday. Gugino went 2-for-4 with a triple, double, and an RBI.

Nova will have to quickly put the game against out-of-state Dunwoody behind them as today, they will play their final district game of the regular season when they host Northeast.

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