Joyce Continues Dashing Debut as Hart Runs Down Burroughs

Cody Joyce came to Hart High from Florida last fall carrying a reputation as a crack baseball player.

Coach Bud Murray remains unconvinced that Joyce has mastered the game, despite his heroics in Hart’s 5-4 victory over Burroughs in a Foothill League game Friday.

“Yeah, he played baseball, and probably four alligators were on the team,” Murray said jokingly.

But nobody was questioning Joyce’s talent, not even Murray, after the junior left fielder who bats ninth hit a two-run double to tie the score and later scored from second base on a groundout.

That’s right, from second base.

“I was kind of in awe,” Murray said. “I’m in awe every time I see him run.”

With one out in the bottom of the sixth inning, Joyce broke to steal third base on a 1-2 pitch from J.K. Scott to Chris Wright. Wright hit a sharp grounder to Burroughs first baseman Anthony Fabrizio, who bobbled the ball momentarily then took it to the bag for the out.

Joyce never broke stride--startling Fabrizio, who threw the ball home on one bounce--and he slid across the plate before Burroughs catcher Tim Cates could apply a tag.

“That guy’s pretty quick,” Fabrizio said. “I practically fell asleep.”

Burroughs (5-2-1, 2-1 in league play) certainly didn’t want to get caught napping against Hart (7-3, 3-0), the league champion the past four seasons.

Burroughs went into the game ranked No. 8 in the region by The Times and appeared to have its best team in years, but real proof would be a victory over Hart.

A home run by Fabrizio sparked a three-run third inning that gave Burroughs a 3-1 lead.

But with two out in the fourth, Joyce’s double over the head of right fielder Corry Parrott scored Matt McAfee and Ryan Gallion to tie it, 3-3.

Burroughs replaced starting pitcher Wes Hutchison with Brian Nichols, who walked three consecutive batters to force Joyce home with the go-ahead run. Joyce’s scamper to the plate in the sixth inning made it 5-3, before Tom Crowther singled off Brian Hernandez (4-0) and scored in the seventh to make it a one-run game.

“I think the double is what we needed,” Joyce said. “I knew it was an important at-bat. I knew I had to hit the ball.”