Capps books four hits as Robinson downs King, 16-1
Robinson junior Brady Capps went 4-for-4, with two doubles and three RBI as the Knights defeated King (813Preps file photo, Mike Camunas).
By Brandon Wright, Features Writer
TAMPA – Robinson coach Alex Barron peered out the window Thursday afternoon during the deluge and shook his head. The heavy rainstorms that descended on the area had left his field underwater.
No chance his team would be making the trek to King.
“Our field is literally Lake Robinson right now,” Barron joked. “When (King coach Jim) Mac(aluso) called and said we were playing I said ‘Huh,OK?’”
Chances are, the Lions wish the Knights would have stayed home.
Robinson detonated for 11 runs in the third inning and cruised to a 16-1, four-inning win against district rival King Tuesday night in a game shortened due to the run rule.
“Our bats kind of collectively all came together,” Barron said. “We were patient and selective enough to give us a chance.”
The offensive outburst couldn’t have come at a better time for the Knights. The win snapped Robinson’s three-game losing streak and evened its season mark at 10-10, including 3-1 in district play.
Robinson junior Brady Capps.
“It was a huge bounceback game for us,” junior catcher Brady Capps said. “Our last few games we’ve been lacking energy-wise. We haven’t been playing up to the standard we want to.”
Robinson managed just four runs during that three-game skid, including a pair of shutout losses to Strawberry Crest and Sickles.
“We’ve been struggling at the plate,” Barron said. “We’ve had spurts where a couple guys have a nice game and nobody else. So it was nice to see everybody kind of pick up the rope and keep it rolling.”
Robinson sent a whopping 15 batters to the plate in the third. Nathan Porath (2-for-3, two runs) reached on a single to open the inning but was quickly erased on a fielder’s choice. Then 11-of-the-next-12 Knights came around to score and the rout was firmly on.
“We had some stuff go our way (in the third) with some hits that dropped in,” Barron said. “But we also had our fair share of good barrels.”
Capps and Samuel Hyman had four and three hits, respectively, to pace the Knights 16-hit attack. Collin Rosenberg, Maddox Thomas, Angelo Rivera and Porath all added a pair of knocks.
“(Capps) is a tremendous kid, tremendous character, tremendous leader, tremendous talent,” Barron said. “It’s insane he’s not committed yet. He’s great. He’s our heartbeat behind the plate and obviously very, very impressive with the bat.”
For Capps it was business as usual. He added a pair of doubles, three RBI, and his perfect 4-for-4 night inched Capps’ batting average (.467) a little closer to .500 for the year.
“(.500) was the goal (coming into the season) but right now obviously we’re just trying to win games,” Capps said. “We have a tough district with King and Jefferson. Everything I’m doing is just trying to help our team win, it just happens to be that I’m being successful while doing that.”
Jayden Hill singled home King’s lone run and Anthony Lara added a triple for the Lions (11-1, 2-4).
⚾
Robinson 16, King 1 (4)
R 10(11)|4xx|x – |16|16|1
K 001|0xx|x – |1|3|4
W – Hyman; L – Harrier
2B – Capps 2, Rivera, Rosenberg, Hursey (R); 3B – Lara (K). Records – R (10-10); K (8-11).
