May 3 - Kabir Chugh did a little bit of everything to lead his FCA Power 13u past the Diamond Heroes Red 13u, 9-5, last night at Great Falls Nike Park.

Chugh went 2-for-4 with two RBI, a stolen base and a run scored at the plate while also striking out eight and allowing just one hit through four innings. The right-hander dominated despite not having his best pitch, his cutter, and was surprised at the total number of strikeouts after the game: “Wow, I really had that many?,” Chugh said. “It was just my four seamer.”

“I’ve coached him for the last four seasons and this is the first time he has been a full-time pitcher for me,” FCA coach Frank Nava said. “Last time out he had a fantastic outing against a really good team, so he has been building up for this. He has had lessons all winter and he has worked his butt off.”

The Diamond Heroes were able to scrap across three early runs off Chugh, getting an RBI from Aidan Buford and a pair of unearned runs in the first inning. Chugh then proceeded to retire six consecutive batters en route to throwing three scoreless innings.  

Stuart Bladich got FCA on the board in the second inning with an RBI that scored Ethan Vuckovich. Vuckovich then drove in another run with his second hit of the game in the third. Later in the inning, FCA scored on a throwing error to tie the game 3-3.

“I was just looking for contact,” Bladich said. “You don’t want to swing at anything bad and just swing level and not for the fences.”

Buford started on the mound for the Diamond Heroes and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits in three innings. Kenny Coates and Benji Loeffler came on in relief for the Diamond Heroes and allowed six runs on five hits in the final three innings.

Bladich drove in two more runs with a double to right field for FCA in the fifth, which was quickly answered by a two-run single from Coates in the bottom half for the Diamond Heroes.

In the sixth, FCA blew the game wide open with four runs, capped by an RBI from Brian Koefoot and a two-run single from Chugh. Koefoot, who entered the game with two runners on in the fifth, was not charged for the two runs and pitched a scoreless sixth to close the game.

Bladich, Vuckovich and Chugh each had an extra-base hit and combined for five hits and six RBI for FCA. They also surrendered just four hits and committed just one error in the game.

“Solid pitching, solid fielding, timely hitting. I will take that every day,” Nava said.

The Diamond Heroes will be in action next against NFC Knights 13u this Sunday at Herndon High School while FCA will face the FCA Power Loudoun 13u at Greenbriar Park on Saturday.