Hurricanes’ Jack Hogenauer scores ahead of throw on sacrifice fly by Michael Graban.

By Sean Reilly

The Mid Atlantic Hurricanes 25/26 opened their 2024 season on Friday night at Diamond Nation, and Liam Quinn made sure it was a successful one.

Quinn pitched a six-inning three-hitter as the team from New Hope, Pa. beat the Trenton Thunder Baseball Academy-Sweeney, 11-4, at the 17/18U Home Run Classic, Powered By Victus, in Flemington. 

The wood bat tournament is the first 17/18U event of the year at ‘The Nation,’ and Sweeney was ready after a decent junior season pitching for Central Bucks West (Pa.) High School. 

“I threw a lot of first pitch strikes, which made it easier to get batters out,” said Quinn. “I also had a good feel for the curveball.” 

The Hurricanes lineup, which includes Quinn as the cleanup batter, had all 10 batters reach at least once via a hit or walk. The leadoff batter also reached and scored in the first three innings, helping to build a 5-0 lead. 

Jack Hogenauer led off the game with a four-pitch walk. He stole second, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored when Ryan Frey singled to an open space on the right side of the infield with two out. 

Shane Myers began the second inning with a walk, and after stealing two bases, scored when Luke Newman doubled to left field with one out. 

Hogenauer, who went 2-for-3 with a walk, started the third with a triple to right-center. He scored when Michael Graban hit a one out sacrifice fly to center. Quinn followed with a single to third base. Quinn’s courtesy runner scored the fourth run on a wild pitch. Frey, who reached on a walk, scored when Myers singled to right field.

TTBA closed to 5-2 in the bottom of the third when Joe Pierce hit a two-run double to center field with two out. 

Graban, who went 2-for-3 for the Hurricanes, singled with one out in the fifth. He stole second and scored when Frey hit a stand-up triple to right field with two out. 

The Hurricanes pulled away with a five-run sixth. Newman had an RBI groundout, Caden Fitzpatrick and Hogenauer each singled in a run and Graban doubled in two for an 11-2 lead. 

With the 1:50 play clock expiring in the bottom of the sixth, TTBA got an RBI double from Joe Andreas and a run-scoring hit by Mike Guarino. 

The Hurricanes’ second game of the night was a 4-3 loss to the EABO Riverdawgs. They’ll close out pool play on Saturday night against the PBI Eagles (0-2). 

TTBA Sweeney bounced back with an 8-1 victory over the PBI Eagles. They’ll wrap pool play against the EABO Riverdawgs (2-0) on Saturday night.