Parkland High School Baseball

Senior Night on Thursday saw yet another crop of Seniors take the field at the Trojan Sandlot with their parents, and as hugs and kisses were exchanged all around, past coaches were acknowledged and thanked for their mentoring as Seniors CK Kinsley #2, Cullan Wadsworth #4, Adam Mellinger #5, AJ Palumbo #6, Ethan Russell #7, Dylan Miller #9, Collin Duff #11 and Will Algard #14 offered thanks to many and advice and words of wisdom to underclassmen prior to the Trojans taking on the Blue Eagles from Nazareth.

Fittingly, Senior Collin Duff got the nod on the mound for the Trojans as George Jenkins settled in behind the plate. Duff and the Trojan D were stingy on this night as Duff struck out 5 and held the Blue Eagles scoreless through 5 innings of play, with the Eagles plating there only run of the game with 2 outs prior to Duff’s exit in the sixth. Offensively the Trojans got on the board in the bottom of the 2nd after Jared Kuharchuck singled and was driven in on a Matt Ervolina double to give the Trojans the early 1-0 lead. Cullan Wadsworth had a double to the gap in the bottom of the 3rd but was LOB. In the bottom of the 4th Adam Mellinger led off with a walk and stole 2nd prior to and Adam Smith single who took 2nd uncontested, but the pair were LOB and the score remained 1-0 Trojans after 4. Duff & the Trojans retired the Eagles in order in the Top of the 5th, with the bottom of the frame that saw both Cullan Wadsworth and Dylan Miller reach base via the free pass only to be LOB. The team from Nazareth tied it up in the top of the 6th 1-1 and Koby Staivecki came on in relief of Duff and was treated to a Cullan Wadsworth diving web gem catch in CF to end the inning with a runner on base. In the bottom of the 6th Jared Kuharchuck doubled and Matt Ervolina reached on error, Kuharchuck was moved to 3rd on a Ethan Russell SacFly with Ervolina later taking 2nd uncontested but the pair were LOB. The Eagles got a runner on in the top of the 7th looking to mount a rally but George Jenkins promptly dispatched that theory as he picked the runner off first after a failed bunt attempt by the Nazareth batter at the plate. Dylan Miller was HBP and stole 2nd in the bottom of the 7th but was LOB. With Staivecki still working efficiently in relief for the Trojans the Blue Eagles took another run at a rally in the top of the 8th getting a runner to 3rd with 1 out but Staivecki and the Trojans held and headed to the bottom half tied 1-1. Adam Smith started the inning with a single and was pinch ran for by Austin Imler who was advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch and then third on a Jared Kuharchuck SacBunt. Imler then scored as Matt Ervolina hit the ball to the first baseman and Imler crossed the plate safely for another Trojan Walk Off Victory.

The Trojans and Emmaus took the field at the Trojan Sandlot on Monday evening teaming up to raise money to Strikeout Cancer on Youth Night. AJ Palumbo got the start for the Trojans with battery mate George Jenkins behind the plate. Palumbo pitched well striking out 8 against 2 walks over 6 innings of work while scattering 4 hits. Emmaus was able to get on the board in the Top of the 2nd to take a 2-0 lead over the Trojans. Emmaus held the Trojans scoreless through 2 frames in which the lone Trojan baserunner had been Adam Mellinger after a single in the bottom of the 2nd. In the bottom of the Jared Kuharchuck reached on an error and advanced to 2nd on a wild pitch then third on a dropped third strike scoring later on another wild pitch for the first Trojan run of the game. CK Kinsley then walked took 2nd on a pickoff attempt and scored to tie the score at 2-2 on a Cullan Wadsworth double and after 3 innings of play the score stood at 2-2. In the top of the 4th Emmaus took the lead again plating a run to make it 3-2 as AJ Palumbo fanned 2 in the inning. The Trojans the counterpunched in the bottom of the 4th when Will Algard doubled and later advanced to 3rd on a wild pitch. Jeremy Piatkiewicz then singled Algard home to tie the game at 3-3 after 4. AJ Palumbo and the Trojans then retired Emmaus in order in the top of the 5th with Palumbo notching another strikeout in the inning. In the bottom of the fifth the Trojans scored what would eventually be the winning run when Cullan Wadsworth was hit by a pitch, took 2nd on a wild pitch and advanced to 3rd on a ball in the dirt. Dylan Miller walked and then Miller & Wadsworth executed the double steal with Wadsworth scoring to make it 4-3. Adam Mellinger then walked but was LOB along with Miller.

In the Top of the 6th Trojan Fans were treated to a Joe Webber web gem down the LF line when Joe ran from what seemed to be Cedar Crest Blvd all the way over to make a sliding catch across the left field foul line with runners on base. Emmaus eventually loaded the bases but AJ Palumbo and the Trojans held the lead at 4-3 after the Top of the 6th. In the Top of the 7th Collin Duff and then Koby Staivecki were in to close the door for the Trojans as an Emmaus rally fell short with Staivecki striking out the side with the bases juiced to preserve a 4-3 Trojan Victory over rival Emmaus.