Announcement
In a wild game played in the blustery cold of Hazleton there was plenty of hitting with both teams combining for 26 hits, plenty of miscues with both teams combining for 9 errors, controversial calls that did not go Parkland’s way, and a game that saw the tying run for Parkland tagged out at homeplate in the 7th inning for the final out of the game. In the end, Hazleton hung on for the 8-7 victory.
The Trojans got right down to business in the first inning when they loaded the bases with one out on singles from Zach Merkle (2-for-4, RBI, run) and Hudson Rabenold (2-for-4, run) and a Chris Rabasco (2-for-3, HBP, run) hit-by-pitch. Another hit batter, this time Zach Miiller (1-for-3, double, HBP, two RBI, run) forced in the first run of the game for a 1-0 Trojan lead. That is all the Trojans would get out of the first inning as the threat ended on a ground ball double play turned by Hazleton. The lead did not last for long. In the bottom of the first inning, Hazleton put up 5 runs on six hits to take a 5-1 lead after one inning of play. Starting pitcher Rhett Jacoby worked 2 1/3 innings allowing 8 runs (7 earned) on 12 hits. Jacoby struck out two and did not walk a batter.
Parkland closed the gap to 5-4 in the third inning putting up three runs. With one out in the inning, four consecutive base hits by Rabasco, Rabenold, Miiller, and Justin Afflerbach (2-for-4, RBI, run) scored two runs. Miiller drove in Rabasco with an RBI double and Afflerbach drove in Rabenold with the RBI single. Miiller scored the third run of the inning on an RBI ground out by Alex Flynn. Hazleton kept up the pressure, however, answering with three runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning to take the 8-4 lead.
Relief pitcher Evan McAndrew came on in the third inning and held the Hazleton batters in check for the rest of the game, giving the Trojan offense a chance to come back. McAndrew worked a total of 3 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing only two base hits, walked two, hit one batter, and struck out one.
The Trojans did battle back. A lead off double by Isaac Neal (1-for-3, double, run) got things going in 4th inning. Merkle followed with the RBI single to score Neal. When Merkle’s single got past the outfielder he attempted to advance to third base where he was tagged out on a controversial call. Jeff Strisovsky (1-for-3, double, sac bunt) followed with a double, but he would be stranded to end the Trojan threat and the inning. The Parkland bats got right back to work scoring two more runs in the 5th inning to cut Hazleton’s lead to 8-7. Afflerbach singled and Flynn reached on an error that put runners on the corners. Afflerbach scored when Hazleton’s catcher threw wild of first base on a pick-off attempt. Gabe Mosser (1-for-4) followed with a single to put runners on the corners again. A double steal executed by Mosser and Flynn scored another run.
Down a run in the 7th inning with two outs and nobody on base, it looked like the Trojans had a chance to tie the game when Hazleton committed two consecutive errors. Flynn reached base when his fly ball was dropped by the centerfielder. Mosser then hit a fly ball to right field that was also dropped by the outfielder. Flynn tried to score from first base on the play and was tagged out at homeplate for the final out of the game.
