Parkland High School Baseball

The JV Trojans continued their hot start to the 2013 season with a 6-1 win over visiting Whitehall and improved their record to 6-0.  The Trojans exploded for five runs in the 4th inning to take the 5-0 lead.  They tacked on one more run in the 6th.  Tyler Bruno led the offense today going 2-for-4 with an RBI.  Harrison Rabenold (1-for-2, BB) hit an RBI double , while Dan Zaccaro (1-for-2, 2 BB), Isaac Neal (1-for-4), Evan McAndrew (1-for-3), and Anthony Sorrentino (1-for-3, RBI) each had one hit apiece.  Alec Bartholomew started on the mound working 5 2/3 innings of shutout baseball, striking out four.  Relief pitcher Tom Sather finished out the game working 1 1/3 innings with one strikeout.

The Parkland Trojans suffered their first loss of the season to the Whitehall Zephyrs at Coca-Cola Park by a score of 1-0.  Even though the Trojans were blanked on the scoreboard, Trojan batters had no trouble hitting the ball hard all game.  However, the batted balls found few holes amongst the Whitehall defenders.  The Trojans' best chance of scoring came early in the game when Brad Vasilik walked and Damin Muth executed a hit-and-run with a hard hit single that put runners on the corners with one out in the first inning, but the inning quickly ended with a ground out double play. 

Pitcher Gabe Mosser had an outstanding outing on the mound today that would have resulted in a win on most days.  Mosser went the distance in six innings of work, only allowing three hits and one walk, while striking out four.  Whitehall's game winning run was scored in the first inning on a triple followed by a sacrifice fly.  Parkland did manage five scattered hits off the bats of Vasilik (1-2, BB), Muth (1-3), Tyler Graeff (1-3), Justin Afflerbach (1-3, 2B), and Adam Schneck (1-3).

Tyler Duff had another dominant outing on the mound today for the Trojans, this time outdueling Liberty's crafty left-hander for the 1-0 victory.  Duff was efficient with his pitches and in control the entire game, scattering three singles while striking out seven Liberty batters, and no walks.  Liberty batters were put down in order several times with Duff recording five 1-2-3 innings.  When Liberty tried for a 7th inning rally after their leadoff hitter reached on a single, the threat was quickly erased when catcher Damin Muth threw out the baserunner on an attempted stolen base.  Duff then promptly struck out the next batter to take command and secure the win when the final batter weakly grounded out.    

Parkland's defense was also in top form.  Left fielder Brad Vasilik made a diving catch on a sinking liner to left in the first inning, while third baseman Adam Schneck made an outstanding play, diving toward the third base line to snag a hard hit ground ball and firing to first base for the out.

Parkland batters also struggled at the plate managing only five hits, and scoring the lone run of the game on a two-base error by Liberty's third baseman after his throw to first off a Schneck ground ball went down the right field line.  Parkland had their chances to do more damage, but left eight baserunners stranded on the bases during the game.  Vasilik had another multi-hit performance at the plate with two singles (2-3), while Muth (1-2, 2B, BB), Jordan Jones (1-3, R), and Schneck (1-3) each had one hit.