Parkland High School Baseball

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.

It was Senior Night at the Parkland High School Baseball Stadium.  As celebratory balloons danced in the breeze the 9 Trojan seniors took the field with their parents for the last time.  As photos were taken, players gave their fathers autographed baseballs and bouquets of flowers went to each mom. The words from the field announcer extolled the accomplishments of each player as they received a nice round of applause for both their on and off the field accomplishments.  A few tears were shed as families recalled all the time their boys had spent on the diamond over the years preparing to become Trojans. Then it was game time.

The Trojans took an early lead as the 2nd inning saw Austin Mueller (1-4, 2B, 3R, BB) lead off with a double and then back to back singles by Matt Mellinger (3-5, 2RBI, 2R) and Isaac Neal (3-6, RBI) loaded the bases.  Kyle Novobilski (1-3, BB, 2RBI) then drove in the first run of the game on a fielder’s choice which scored Mueller.  Ryan Giovenco (1-1, BB, R) singled driving in Mellinger to post a 2-0 lead. 

The third inning again was started up by Mueller who walked.  After taking second on a passed ball he scored on another single by Mellinger.

The next two innings saw Whitehall chip away at the Trojans lead and go ahead by a score of 5-3.

The bottom of the 5th was led off with a Tyler Bruno (2-5) double and he advanced to third shortly thereafter.  Whitehall made a nice defensive play on a Mueller ground ball in which Bruno was tagged out on a fielder’s choice.  The Trojans undeterred, again had back to back singles by Mellinger and Neal which scored Mueller.  Novobilski followed with a single of his own to plate Mellinger and tie the game at 5.

The Trojans took the lead in the 6th as Andrew Roth (2-6, R) singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a passed ball.  Cullan Wadsworth (0-3, 2BB) walked and Mueller was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  Mellinger singled, driving in Roth to give the Trojans a 6-5 lead.

Whitehall tied the game in the top of the 7th leading to extra innings.

The teams played on and as the 11^th inning arrived the game was suspended as the umpires deemed that there was not enough light to continue.  As the stadium lighting inexplicably stood dormant it was determined that the game would be completed at a later date.  Two days later the game was restarted.  Adam Smith (1 inn, 0 ER) pitched well after taking over the game from the starter Giovenco (4 2/3 inn, 2K, 2 ER) and reliever Braeden Duff (5 1/3 inn, 1K, 1 ER) but, Whitehall scratched out a run in the top of the 11^th to take a 7-6 lead.  The Trojans could not even the score in the bottom of the inning.  On this evening they could not best Whitehall in what is now known in Parkland Circles as "the game that took three days to finish".

Adam Mellinger led off the home half of the first inning with a double and scored on Will Algard’s single, putting the Trojans up 1-0 after one inning.  That would be the only run scored by either team until the Hornets evened the score at 1-1 in the top of the 5^th inning.

The Trojans regained the lead in the bottom of the 5^th when Alex Oliver reached base on a Hornet error. Pinch runner, Anderson Hummer swiped second base, advanced to third on a groundout, and scored on a wild pitch for the 2-1 lead.

The Trojans got a more comfortable lead in the bottom of the 6^th inning courtesy of walks by Algard, Ethan Russell and Dylan Miller.  The walks, combined with two wild pitches advanced the runners and scored pinch runner Joe Webber.  With two on and no outs, Justin Petrisko doubled, driving in Russell and Miller.  Petrisko moved to third on yet another wild pitch and scored the final run on Oliver’s sac fly.

Will Algard (6IP, 1R, 3H) and Mark Leiby (1IP, 1H) shared the pitching duties.

The Trojans played away at Emmaus and started the game off by scoring in the top of the first.  Tyler Bruno (1-3, R) hustled and beat out an infield hit and took second on an overthrow at first as the fielder hurried his throw.  Kyle Friebolin (1-3, R) stepped to the plate and promptly singled driving in Bruno. 

The Emmaus pitcher scattered two other Trojan hits to Cullan Wadsworth (1-3, 2B) and Mike Jenkins (1-1).  Matt Mellinger (3 2/3 inn, 2K, 3ER) started and pitched well but Emmaus scratched out 3 runs to take the lead.  AJ Palumbo (2 1/3 inn, 1K, 0 ER) finishing strong to complete the game.