Parkland High School Baseball

The Trojan JV squad lost to Nazareth 4 to 3 in a gamefilled with some good performances, but by having to get 4 or 5 outs in many ofthe innings was just too much to overcome.  Ty Tremba started and pitched effectively into the 4th inning.   In what has been stated in prior games, theother team just is not hitting the ball well, but they are putting the ball inplay and the Trojan defense is just not making the plays they are capable ofmaking.    Ty got key outs when neededand only gave up 2 earned runs when he left the game.   The defensive play of the day was a divingcatch by centerfielder, Taiki Horiguchi in the 2nd inning which saves a coupleof runs.  Day 1 hurler, Joe Algard, camein for relief of Tremba and was lights out.  In 2 2/3 inning pitched, he struck out 4 and only gave up a single to left.   He did not give up any earned runs.

Parkland scattered many singles throughout the game, butjust didn’t get the clutch hit needed.  Meehan, Keller, Miskanic, Santos each got singles early in thegame.   The game got extremely excitingat the end when a single by Atiyeh, a hit by batter, and an error brought EvanBrandt to the plate and he immediately stroked a 1 ball 1 strike pitch to leftfield to get the game to a one run score, but the bases load rally endedwithout the 4th run crossing home plate.  The games continue to be tough as the JV squad takes on rival Emmaus onWednesday at home.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times andthankfully for the JV Trojan 9, it ultimately became the spring of hope versusthe winter of despair as Parkland won their first game of the youngseason.   In this tale of two games whichwas anything close to a classic, Parkland scored early and then they scoredoften as they accumulated a 10 run lead of 11 to 1 after 4 innings of the firsthalf of this unique game.   In whatappeared to be a probable mercy rule game, the visitors from the Wilson WestLawn took advantage of some freebies to get on base, both in walks, hit battersand even some soft pop ups that seemed to find the green grass to extend thegame to the full 7 innings.   The finalscore of 11 to 10, which initially was a laugher ultimately turned into a nailbiter as Taiki Horiguchi came in the game in the top of the 7th to record hisfirst save of the season as he got the enthusiastic Wilson team to fly out toCenter and then finessed a pop up to 3rd baseman, Sean Superka, who squeezed theball into his glove to put an end to the 2nd half of this unique game.   The amazing adventure of how we got to thisunexpected ending is a story that needs to be told.

The JV Squad took an early 1 to nothing lead in thebottom of the 1st when consecutive batters let the Reading Area team fromWilson know that they would be in for a fight. Opposite field singles by TaikiHoriguchi, Jake Donmoyer, (1 for 2 with 2 bb’s and an rbi) follow by a walk toJoe Algard got the team off to the fast start that they wanted.   Luke Meehan who had his 2nd best at bat ofthe game (more on that later) hit a scorcher to right field for a single to getthe first run on the board.  Continuedclutch at bats in the 2nd inning got another run on the board for Parkland asTremba (3 runs scored with 1bb, 1 hbp and 1 single) walked, Andrew Nguyen hit asingle to right and then Joe Algard got his first hit with a liner rbi tocenter.   The 3rd inning is whereParkland did most of their damage as Aaron Atiyeh, AJ Carpenter and Ty Trembaall singled and then walks and just putting the ball in play got 2 moreruns   Another rbi single by Joe Algardgot the team up 7 to 0.   This is whereit became a truly special day for Freshman Luke Meehan (2 for 2 with a bb andgot plunked in his last at bat) as he launched a 2 ball 1 strike pitch againstthe Wilson Lefty over the 325 foot sign in left to give the team a comfortable9 to 0 lead.   Luke’s hit was clearly thetalk of the game.  Congrats to Luke onhis first home run as a Trojan.  Walksand hit by pitches plus an Andrew Nguyen single gave the team an 11 to 1lead.  

Owen Lehr was cruising in his first start of the seasonas he struck out 6 batters in the 4 innings pitched and gave up 0 hits.   Only a bb and some wild pitches ultimatelygave Wilson their first run prior to Lehr leaving after 4 good innings.   A comfortable 11 to 1 lead in the top of the5th eventually became exciting as Wilson utilized all means to get on baseeventually taking the lead down to 11 to 10 prior to Horiguchi getting theWilson batter to pop out to end the game. The game had many twists and turns and was a rewarding outcome for ateam looking for their first win.   Theadventure was unexpected but could set the stage for a more confident team inthe upcoming week full of big games.

The Trojan JV Squad had high hopes in their first away game of the season.  Parkland took an early lead with 2 runs in the top half of the first.   Andrew Keller, making his first appearance worked a walk, and eventually scored on a Luke Meehan (2 for 3, rbi, 2 runs scored) single to right field.   Hot hitting Bryce Ratliff sandwiched in a single and ultimately scored on a passed ball.  The game was competitive throughout with the Trojan 9 scoring in 6 of the 7 innings.   However, not getting any crooked numbers in the latter portion of the game cost the team a chance to extend a lead.   Parkland hit the ball well with 9 overall hits but some clutch hitting with runners on base for the Vikings enabled themto pull out the game.   Tied at 7 going into the final half of the 7th, a well struck 2 out hit by the 3rd batter for Central Catholic was the deciding factor in the walk off win.

There were many bright spots for the Trojans as leadoff batter Dean Scott got 2 clutch hits.  The clutch rbi double that was slicing down to right field in the 5th massaged the line and enabled the swift running Scott to get to 2nd base as Jake “JD” Donmoyer motored home.   Jake’s neat little drag bunt hit down the 3rd base line started the inning.   Newcomers to the team made some nice contributions in their first game played in a Parkland uniform.   Outfielders Jesse Ruisch and Sean Rivera made some nice catches and the rangy first baseman, Will Meeker made a thrill of a catch in the 6th as he snatched the pop fly for the first out of the inning.  Scrappy 2nd baseman Andrew Keller was reliable and produced both offensively and defensively in his first game action.   The pitching of Evan Brandt, Ian Grobler, James Miskanic and Taiki Horiguchi got some valuable game action and had some positive moments.  Brandt and Miskanic also contributed offensively with sac fly rbi or key singles.  

The Trojan JV Team is ready to pursue their first victory at home against Wilson West Lawn this Saturday.  

Parkland starter Josh Miiller(1-0) tossed a one hit shutout at visiting Central Catholic (0-3) on Thursday afternoon, dominating the Vikings from start to finish with four strikouts.  Miiller also led the Trojans (2-0) at the plate with four RBI, including a bases clearing double in the second inning.  The Trojans cruised to a mercy rule shortened 16-0 victory ending after three innings.

Three Viking pitchers struggled to find the strike zone, walking ten batters, while allowing nine hits.  In addition to Miiller, leadoff hitter Jeremy Piatkiewicz (3-3) set the table for the rest of the Trojans, singling and scoring a run in every inning of the  condensed game.

The Trojans put up three runs in the first inning with Piatkiewicz scoring the first run of the game on a Miiller sacrafice fly.  That would be the only run the Trojans would need as Central Catholic managed two baserunners.  

Joe Webber (1-2, 2 Runs), Matthew Ervolina (1-1, 3 runs) and Austin Imler (1-2) each had two RBI in the game to lead the Trojans on offense.

The Trojans look to remain unbeaten as they play an away game with Wilson West Lawn in non league action Saturday at 11 AM.

The 2019 Parkland Trojan baseball team opened the season at Northampton with 2018 Morning Call Pitcher of the year, Adam Smith, on the mound.  Smith (6IP, 5K’s) and Koby Staivecki (2IP, 3K’s) combined for a no hitter on the day, with Staivecki (1-0) picking up the win in relief. 

The Trojan’s were limited to just four hits on the day and managed to push across a run in the first inning when shortstop Matt Ervolina (1-3) singled with two outs, stole second base and eventually scored the game’s first run on a Northampton fielding miscue.  Parkland was then held scoreless into extra innings and eventually scored in the 8^thinning with some timely two out hitting by right fielder Phil Schoch (1-3 triple) and an RBI single by second baseman Jeremy Piatkiewicz (1-3) that plated the winning run.

Northampton scored their only run of the game in the fifth inning when Smith hit the leadoff batter with a pitch.  The runner advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt and eventually scored on a Parkland fielding error.  Northampton was limited to a total of five baserunners on the day, with only one advancing beyond first base.

The Northampton pitchers held Parkland to a total of six baserunners, striking out seven Trojans and issuing no walks.

TheTrojans are back in action on Thursday, hosting Central Catholic (0-2) in the 2019 Home Opener.