J.P. Robertson strikes out 14 as Germantown takes 1-0 series lead on Center Hill in 6A Playoffs
GLUCKSTADT — Germantown ace J.P. Robertson had struggled a bit over his last two starts of the regular season, but none of that mattered under the bright lights of Monday night’s MHSAA Playoffs Round 2 opener.
The Pearl River commit was electric, scattering three hits and a walk and striking out 14 batters in a 5-0 win over Center Hill.
“J.P. hadn’t been able to get deep in games because he’s been out of the zone a bit too much,” Germantown coach Chris Peden said. “But he commanded it tonight, and we played great defense behind him.”
And when it mattered most, the defense didn’t even have to do that. Robertson faced real trouble just twice — in the second inning with runners at first and second with two outs and again in the sixth with runners at second and third with one out.
The result in both instances was the same: Robertson struck out Houston Green to end the threat in the second, and fanned Green and Joey Dunning back-to-back to escape trouble in the sixth.
He struck out eight of the final 11 batters he faced.
“My coaches just had to get it in my head,” Robertson said. “That I’m the guy they want out there and that I can do whatever I feel like I can do. This win is a big confidence booster for us. Our pitchers know the defense behind us is spot-on and the offense carries us a lot.”
The Mavericks (23-6) were patient at the plate, drawing four walks and pounding out eight hits.
They capitalized when they had opportunities, too. Drew Harrison drove in a run with a single in the third and another with a double in the sixth. Jackson Hood had two hits and an RBI and sophomore Jackson Estes launched a two-run homer over the right field wall to put the game away.
Hunter Peeks suffered the loss for Center Hill (19-12), allowing four runs on six hits and four walks over 5.1 innings of work.
Game 2 in the series is set for 7 p.m. Friday at Olive Branch. If necessary, Game 3 would be 7 p.m. Saturday night back at Germantown. Whichever team advances will face the winner of the Hernando-DeSoto Central series in the third round.
MORE: Updated MHSAA Baseball Playoff Brackets
"We know Center Hill is a scrappy bunch who will come to play this weekend," Peden said. "They have beaten a couple of really good teams up there in the north, so we are going to have to continue to play well to win the series and advance."
