Announcement
Parkland Wins LVC North Division Title; Sweeps DH Defeating Whitehall in First Game, Muth Walk-off Hit Lifts Trojans Over Emmaus in Second Game
The Parkland Trojans hosted a day-night doubleheader against two of the top teams in the league today and came away with two wins, the LVC North Division Title, and the #1 seed heading into the LVC playoffs next week. The wins capped off a regular season schedule that saw the Trojans win their last 10 games in a row and finish with a league best conference record of 13-1 and league best overall record of 18-2.
In the first game against Whitehall, the Trojans scored three runs in the 3rd inning when Alex Flynn (2-3, run) singled and Damin Muth (1-3, BB) walked to put runners on first and second. Tyler Graeff (2-4, 2 runs, RBI) plated the first run with an RBI single, Chris Rabasco reached on an error that scored another run, then Adam Schneck walked with the bases loaded to give the Trojans the 3-0 lead. Parkland added another three runs in the 5th inning when Hudson Rabenold (1-3, RBI) singled home Graeff who had reached base on another single. Brad Vasilik (1-4, 2 RBI) then singled with the based loaded to drive in two runs and give Parkland a 6-0 lead. Jordan Jones (1-1) added a single to Parkland’s offense.
Whitehall scored two unearned runs in the 6th inning, but that is all they would get as starting pitcher Gabe Mosser pitched six strong innings earning his fourth win of the year. This was Mosser's second strong outing against the highly ranked Whitehall Zephyrs. Earlier in the year Mosser pitched a complete game against Whitehall at Coca-Cola Park, but was on the wrong end of a 1-0 loss. Mosser allowed 5 hits and two walks while striking out three. Connor Higgins worked the 7th inning, striking out two and worked around a double to end the game for a 6-2 Parkland victory.
The night game against Emmaus provided another example of why baseball is the greatest game. The game featured Parkland starting pitcher Alex Flynn and Emmaus’ crafty southpaw Josh LeMaster. After two scoreless innings, Emmaus struck first to take a 3-0 lead in the 3rd inning, taking advantage of two Parkland errors. All three runs were unearned. Flynn took matters into his own hands after that retiring the next 10 batters in a row until another Parkland error in the 7th inning allowed a batter to reach base. Flynn finished with a complete game allowing only three hits, one walk, while striking out two.
After the first eight Parkland batters of the game were set down in order, Nate Case (2-3, 2 runs) got things going for the Trojans in the 3rd inning with a two-out infield single. Brad Vasilik (2-4, double, 2 runs, RBI) then followed with an RBI double to score Parkland’s first run, and Alex Flynn (2-4, RBI) then singled home Vasilik to cut Emmaus’ lead to 3-2. LeMaster also took control of the game after Parkland’s two-run 3rd inning, only allowing one hit, a double to Chris Rabasco (1-3, double), through the next three innings.
The score remained 3-2 entering the 7th inning in favor of Emmaus. With Parkland’s first two batters of the 7th inning retired in order, it looked like a sure win for Emmaus with two outs, the bases empty, and a 1-run lead. However, unlike other sports where games can be won by dribbling out the clock or taking a knee to watch the clock wind down, in baseball you not only have to score runs, but you must also get 21 outs (7 inning games). Emmaus only had 20 outs, not 21.
Like he did in the 3rd inning with two outs, Nate Case kept the Trojans alive in the 7th inning with another two-out single, hitting the first pitch of his at-bat. Vasilik followed suit with a single of his own to put the tying run in scoring position at second base. Emmaus was one strike away from victory with a 1-2 count on Alex Flynn, but Flynn put the ball in play and legged out an infield single to load the bases. LeMaster was finally lifted for an Emmaus reliever. On a night that Parkland honored its eight graduating senior players in a pre-game ceremony, it was fitting that two seniors led the way to victory over rival Emmaus. Senior Nate Case started both of Parkland’s two-out rallies with base hits in the 3rd and 7th innings. With Case only 90 feet away with the tying run and the winning run standing on second base, Parkland’s senior catcher, Damin Muth (1-4, double, 2 RBI), stepped to the plate. After watching the first strike go by, Muth drove the next pitch deep down the right field line that landed for a double, scoring two runs for the 4-3 walk-off win.
