Parkland High School Baseball

Over his last 21 innings pitched, Duff has allowed only 13 hits and two walks while striking out 13. He is 2-1 with a 2.14 ERA in that span. In total, he has pitched 48 2/3 innings this season.

On an afternoon when the Heroes of our Hometown were celebrated the Trojans pitching staff treated the crowd to some heroics of their own.  Mike Jenkins (7 inn, 10K, 0 ER) scattered 7 hits over seven innings.  The ACC pitcher matched Jenkins effort but when extra frames were needed the Trojans went to the bullpen and Braeden Duff (2 inn, 1K, 0 ER) went to work.  He held ACC scoreless for 2 innings to secure the win.

Offensively the Trojans were led by Cullen Wadsworth (2-4, 2B) but he was stranded both times he reached base. 

It wasn’t until the bottom of the ninth that the Trojans were able to break through for a run.  Tyler Bruno (0-3, BB, R) walked and Kyle Friebolin (1-3, HBP) followed that up with a single to left putting men on first and second with one out.  Matt Mellinger came to the plate and put the ball in play.  It was fielded by the pitcher who threw to the shortstop waiting at second base.  As Mellinger hustled down the line, the relay throw sailed wide of the first baseman.  As Tyler Bruno was rounding third he recognized the ball would not be caught.  He sprinted home to seal the walk off victory in the bottom of the ninth.

Many thanks to all our Hometown Heroes and especially United States Army Major Jeffrey Kuklinski who threw out the ceremonial first pitch to begin the game.  Another round of thanks goes to the Parkland High School Chorale led by Mr. Frank Anonia whose performance of the National Anthem was a special treat for all in attendance.

The Trojan faithful traveled on a cold and gloomy day to Reading for a non-conference game.  They were able to see some glimpses of a bright future, as sophomore A.J. Palumbo (4 2/3inn, 4 H, 3K, 4ER) pitched the first 4 innings without giving up an earned run.  In the fifth the home team was up 1-0 over the Trojans but were able to strike for 4 runs.  Freshman, Adam Smith (1 1/3inn, 2H, 1K) entered the game, finished the fifth, and pitched a scoreless sixth inning.  

The Trojans offense was held scoreless as they could not seem to get their typical timely hit.  The third inning saw E.J. Brandt (1-2, sac) single, Andrew Roth (1-2, 2BB) follow with a hit, and Tyler Bruno (0-1, 2BB) walk to load the bases, but all were left stranded ending the Trojans best scoring opportunity of the day. 

Another opportunity presented itself in the fifth inning as it was led off by a Mike Jenkins (1-3) single.  A double steal attempt then went awry leaving Roth at second.  Cullen Wadsworth’s (1-3) infield single advanced Roth to third but that was a far as he would go on this afternoon.

Matt Mellinger (1-3) chipped in a single in the sixth and Austin Mueller (1-1, 2B) had a hard hit double in the top of the seventh, but again could not be advanced as he became the seventh runner left stranded on this day. 

Next week starts conference play again as sunshine and warm weather return.

Visiting Governor Mifflin scored one run in the second inning, added three more in the 5 th , and another in the 6 th , to jump out to a 5-0 lead as the Trojans bats slumped. The Trojans got on the board in the bottom of the 6 th when Matt Ervolina reached base on a Mustang error to lead off the inning. Julian Colon singled and Adam Mellinger walked to load the bases with no outs. Ervolina scored on Joe Webber’s groundout and Colon scored when Will Algard reached on another Governor Mifflin error, trimming the lead to 5-2. The mustangs added four runs in the 7 th inning, for a final tally of 9. Carson Fracas and Phil Schoch shared the pitching duties.

After a scoreless first inning the Trojans scored seven times in the bottom of the second and sealed the victory as three Parkland hurlers combined for a shutout.

The second inning saw the Trojans send twelve batters to the plate, starting with Kyle Friebolin (1-2, R, RBI) who lined a single to left. Matt Mellinger (1-3, 2B, R, SB) doubled advancing Friebolin to third. Austin Mueller (1-2, 2RBI) followed with a single, scoring Friebolin and sending Mellinger to third. EJ Brandt (0-1, SB, R) was inserted for Mueller as a courtesy runner and promptly stole second base; and on the catcher's throw to second, Mellinger stole home. That brought Isaac Neal (1-2, 2B, R, RBI) to the plate who doubled scoring Brandt. Ethan Imler (1-3) hit a hard ground ball advancing Neal to third base. An aggressive Neal then scored when he beat the tag at home as a passed ball trickled a short distance away from the Wilson catcher. That gave the Trojans a four run lead.

Now with the bases empty the Trojans reloaded as Adam Smith (1-3, R) stepped to plate and singled sharply to centerfield. Parkland continued their aggresive style of play when Andrew Roth (1-3, R, SB) hit a single on a well executed hit and run play. His liner found the hole created when the shortstop covered second base as Smith was breaking from first. Smith advanced to third on that play and scored on a wild pitch. Kyle Novobilski (0-2, R, 2BB) walked and Tyler Bruno (2-3) singled loading the bases. Friebolin was then hit by a pitch scoring Roth. Mueller worked a walk which scored the final run of the inning as Novobilski advanced home from third.  

The Trojans were held scoreless for the remainder of the game.  The only other scoring threat was when John Amato (1-1, 2B) laced a double down the left field line to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning.  He was left stranded at second, but the Trojans had more than enough runs to secure the win on this day. 

Ryan Giovenco (4 inn, 3K, 0 runs), Mat Mellinger (2 inn, 2K, 0 runs), and Braeden Duff (1 inn, 2K, 0 runs) combined for the shutout victory over Wilson West Lawn.