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7th Inning Rally Comes Up Short; Trojans Fall to Emmaus, 2-1
After failing to get a base runner past second base through six innings of play today against Emmaus, the Parkland Trojans found themselves down by a score of 2-0. In the 7th inning they would finally get to Emmaus pitcher Jack Moore with three base hits and score one run, but the rally would fizzle and the Trojans lost by a score of 2-1.
In a matchup of rivals and division leaders, Emmaus got to work quickly when their lead off hitter in the first inning doubled and then later scored to put Emmaus up by a score of 1-0. Starting pitcher Rhett Jacoby worked 5+ innings for the Trojans allowing two runs on five hits, while walking three (one intentionally) and striking out four. Jacoby and Emmaus' Moore would hold both sides scoreless through the next three innings of play before Emmaus scored another run in the 5th inning for the 2-0 lead.
Jeff Strisovsky (1-for-3) singled in the first inning to get things going for Parkland, but they would come up empty. In the 3rd innning, Alex Flynn (2-for-3) singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Justin Afflerbach (1-for-2, sac bunt, RBI), but Flynn would be stranded at second base. In the 6th inning, Chris Rabasco (1-for-3) singled, but he would be erased on an inning ending double play. Relief pitcher Evan McAndrew entered the game in the 6th inning after an Emmaus lead off double. McAndrew retired the two batters he faced with one strikeout, while the Emmaus base runner was thrown out stealing third base for the other out in the inning.
Down 2-0 in the 7th inning, Zach Miiller (1-for-3, run) got the rally started with one out in the inning for the Trojans with a single to left field. After a fly out for the second out in the inning, Flynn collected his second hit of the day with a single up the middle to put the tying runs on first and second base. Afflerbach then came through with a clutch base hit to right-center to score Miiller to cut the lead to 2-1. While trying to advance to third base on Afflerbach's base hit, Flynn got caught in a rundown and tagged out for the final out of the game and the 2-1 loss.
Mosser Shuts Out Whitehall Again; Rabasco & Strisovsky Lead Offense for Win at Coca-Cola Park
For the second time in just over a two week time span, Parkland's senior right-hander Gabe Mosser shutout division rival Whitehall to lead the Trojans to a 4-0 win at a game played at the Lehigh Valley IronPigs Coca-Cola Park. Both teams entered today's play tied for first place in the LVC North Division with identical conference records of 8-2. Today's victory puts the Trojans atop the division with three games remaining in the regular season.
Although Whitehall managed more hits against Mosser this time around compared to two weeks ago, Mosser did not let one of those base runners cross homeplate. In his seven inning complete game performance, Mosser allowed seven scattered hits with two walks while collecting 10 strikeouts. Mosser was also 1-for-3 at the plate with a single. Whitehall's best chance to score came in the 2nd inning when they put runners on second and third with one out, but Mosser got himself out of the jam by striking out the next two batters.
The Trojans took an early 1-0 lead in the 1st inning when Jeff Strisovsky (2-for-3, 2B, BB, RBI, 3 runs) walked with one out. Chris Rabasco (3-for-3, 2B, BB, 2 RBI) drove a ball into the right-center gap for a double to score Strisovsky. The score remained 1-0 until the 5th inning as both Mosser and Whitehall pitcher Jake Meyers took control of the game. After two quick outs to start the 5th inning, Strisovsky doubled to the left-center gap. Rabasco collected his third base hit of the day driving in Strisovksy with an RBI single to increase Parkland's lead to 2-0 after five innings of play.
Whitehall did try to mount a threat in the bottom of the 6th inning when the first two batters singled to put runners on first and second with no outs. Mosser quickly put a damper on any potential Whitehall rally by inducing a ground ball for a 4-6-3 double play and getting the next batter to ground out to end the inning. The Trojans got two insurance runs in the top of the 7th inning. Brad Vasilik (1-for-3, run) lined to left field for a single with one out. Vasilik advanced to second on a fielder's choice. With two outs, Strisovsky singled to score Vasilik to put the Trojans up 3-0. With an 0-2 count on Rabasco and Strisovsky on second base after a successful stolen base, Rabasco was intentionally walked to bring Hudson Rabenold (1-for-3, BB, RBI) to the plate. Rabenold answered with an RBI single to plate Strisovsky and give the Trojans the 4-0 lead. Mosser did walk one batter in the bottom of the 7th, but Mosser secured the victory with a strikeout for the final out of the game.
Williams College freshman and right-handed pitcher Tyler Duff (PHS 2013) earned his first save of his collegiate career. In a a game today against the Springfield College Pride, Duff came on in relief during the 7th inning with the bases loaded and no outs. Duff was able to induce a ground ball double play and then a fly out to secure the 8-6 win for the Williams College Ephs.
