Parkland High School Baseball

Bad weather over the first couple of weeks created a delay for the official opening game. With many postponements the first game of the season turned out to be against rival Emmaus. It was decent weather but the winds played a big part in this high scoring game with seemingly obvious foul balls turning into hits and fly balls carrying further than expected. Pitching for the Trojans was a combination of Josh Miiller, Joe Algard and Luke Dauberman. Each showed some success and will be able to take the early season experience into the season. When the Trojan team came up in the bottom of the first and down 2 to 0, it didn’t look like much would happen after 2 quick outs. But successive walks to Nikhil Patel (1 hit, run scored), Josh Miller (double, run scored) and Parker Swartz brought to bat left fielder, Nick Ernst, who hit a nice line drive single to left knocking in 2 runs to tie the score. The next inning turned out to be a key inning as Parkland scored 3 runs to take a 5 to 2 lead. Drew Sorrentino, who had quite a game, led off with a home run that sailed over the centerfielder’s head. Drew’s speed helped him as he was able to round the bases prior to Emmaus getting the ball to the plate. Later in the inning, Freshman first baseman, TJ Khela, hit a nice line drive single to left field and got to 3b on a Chris Lessel single to right field. Vince Gerbasio got an rbi with a sacrifice fly to centerfield enabling Khela to scamper home. With 2 outs in the inning, Josh Miller then contributed with a line drive double sneaking inside the right field foul line to make the score 5 to 2 Trojans. 

The wind played a factor in the game as Emmaus was able to slowly claw back into the game. They actually made a not often seen triple play to take the Trojans out of a 4th inning rally. Joe Algard came into pitch in the 5th and looked impressive early. A nicely executed play by Joe’s battery mate, Jack Giovenco, stopped the tying run from being able to score when runners were on first and third with 2 outs in the 5th. The bottom of the 5th inning saw the Trojans extend the lead when Nick Ernst got on with a single to right and after a bunt by Jack Giovenco, there were 2 on when Joe Algard came to the plate. Joe hit a 2 strike pitch to the gap in left center scoring both runners and putting the Trojans up by 7 to 4. The final 2 innings got interesting and after Emmaus took the lead, the Trojans were able to take advantage of some walks that loaded the bases as Sorrentino got a double to knock in 2 and then Joe Algard got the rbi that turned out to be the winning run with a sacrifice fly. Luke Dauberman came in and got the save when Vince Gerbasio made a nice catch in Right Field with the tying run on 2b. It was good to finally see some baseball after the long winter as the Trojan JV Squad won a close battle 10 to 9.