Marshall Scores 9, Holds of West Potomac

The George Marshall Statesmen held off a late rally by West Potomac to prevail with a 9-7 victory Tuesday on Marshall’s home field.

Marshall's Ryan Goss delivers a pitch in Tuesday's 9-7 win over West Potomac. (News-Press photo)

Leading 9-4 in the top of the sixth inning, West Potomac rallied with a run-scoring double, an RBI infield single and a final run on a pass ball to pull within two runs, but Potomac would score no more. Sophomore Ryan Goss shut the door on the comeback attempt in relief. Goss retired the side in order in the seventh inning, striking out the first two batters he faced before inducing a game-ending ground ball to second base.

“Goss did exactly what I wanted him to do, which is close out ballgames,” Marshall Head Coach Jim Jullien said. “These are preseason games, designed so we can find out what people can do.”

Junior pitcher Blair DeLean earned the win on the mound for Marshall.

“Blair has potential,” Jullien said. “Right now he’s throwing too many pitches, but he’s going to be our main guy.”

Jullien, in his first year as the head coach at Marshall after three years at Flint Hill, has been pleased with his team’s offense of late. In addition to the nine-run win on Tuesday, the Statesmen scored 12 runs in a game against Falls Church High School on Monday.
Aside from the games, Marshall has played one scrimmage, and practiced on the diamond just three times this season, due to inclement weather.