Announcement
Trojans Win Round 1 of EPC Playoffs
The Parkland Trojans shook off a disappointing end of the regular season by posting a win over Emmaus in the first round of the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference playoffs 7-2.
The top of the first inning may have been a sign of things to come, when starting pitcher Michael Jenkins and the defense responded to back to back singles for Emmaus by getting three straight outs to strand the runners. The Trojan offense got off to a strong start as well, with Cullan Wadsworth (1-4, R) hitting a triple to the right field wall, and scoring on Kyle Freibolin’s (1-3, RBI, BB) single to right on an 0-2 pitch, putting Parkland up 1-0 after one inning.
Michael Jenkins (4 2/3 IP, 0 ER, 6 H, 8 K, 0 BB) road the momentum from the first inning by getting 11 of the next 12 Green Hornet batters out after the first two singles. Parkland added to the lead with a big 3rd inning that started with Kyle Freibolin leading off with a walk, Austin Mueller (2-3, R, SB) moving EJ Brandt (1 R, 2 SB), courtesy runner for Freibolin, to third with an infield single, and Matt Mellinger (0-2, R, BB) walking to load the bases. Ethan Imler (1-3, R, 2 RBI) pulled a sharp single down the right field line to score two runs. Mellinger then scored on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 4-0. But the Trojans were not done, plating two more runs off of consecutive RBI singles by Kyle Novobilski (1-2, 1 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB) and Andrew Roth (1-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB) to complete the inning with a 6-0 lead.
Emmaus scored a run in the top of the 4th, capitalizing on a 2-out error and double to deep right-center, to cut lead to 6-1. However, Tyler Bruno (1-4, HR, R, RBI) made sure the Trojans got that run right back by crushing a 1-1 pitch over the right field fence for a solo home run, setting the score at 7-1. In the top of the 5th, the Green Hornets scored again, prompting the change to Braeden Duff (2 1/3 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 K, 0 BB) to the mound, who followed Michael Jenkins’ lead and got 6 of the last 7 batters he faced out to secure the 7-2 victory for the Trojans.
The win sets up a EPC semi-final game against the Freedom Patriots on Tuesday, 5/17, at 4:30 at Hackett’s Park in Easton.
