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Lehman bounces back to beat Truman
Photo by Dylan Butler
Lessons can be learned from losses, but Lehman coach Adam Droz would rather keep those to a minimum.
“Sometimes a loss is good for a team,” he said. “I think that could be good for us, but I don’t want the kids to get used to losing.”
After an 11-0 home loss to Mott Haven Saturday morning, Lehman defeated Truman 17-3 on the opening day of the Monroe Tournament. The result was better, but Droz wasn’t happy with the response from the Lions.
“A win is a win, but it’s about how you win,” he said. “If you’re not playing smart baseball, there’s going to be a team that’s going to come over here and beat you. That’s what Mott Haven did.”
In the second game of a pool play doubleheader, Lehman raced out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning and added five unearned runs in the third.
But Truman, one of the better PSAL Class B squads, roared back to score three runs in the top of the fourth. The Mustangs, though, were done in by more mistakes in an eight-run fourth. Third baseman Chris Lopez had the big hit, a 3-run single to center.
“I give them credit,” Droz said. “They came out here and played as hard as they can.”
Jose Nunez, a senior left fielder who bats leadoff, scored three runs and had an RBI single in the third.
“He goes out there and just plays hard-nosed baseball,” Droz said. “That’s what I like about him. He’s getting a little bit of success from it. He’s playing attention, he’s hitting the ball well and he made an awesome throw from left field back to home plate.”
It doesn’t get any easier for Lehman Monday when the Lions take on CHSAA powerhouse Iona Prep, which beat Mott Haven, 14-3, and Truman, 9-2, on Saturday at Lehman.
“We’re playing Iona Prep, which is an excellent team, fundamentally sound,” Droz said. “It’s going to be a must win, but it’s going to be a hard game for us. If we do the right things, it will always keep us in the ball game.”
Hard games are just what Droz was hoping for, which is why he’s competing in the Monroe tournament.
“This tournament is supposed to prepare you for the season ahead,” Droz said. “It keeps you sharp. I love playing teams like Iona Prep and Xaverian because it actually puts a different perspective on us.”
Contact Dylan Butler at dbutler3@cablevision.com
Follow him on Twitter: @Dylan_Butler
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