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Higgins Hurls Complete Game Two-Hitter; 7th Inning Rally Lifts Trojans over North Penn
The Parkland Trojans traveled to Hostelley Field to face North Penn in a non-conference match up where Connor Higgins pitched a complete game, two-hitter to lead the Parkland Trojans to a 4-1 victory. Higgins allowed only one run (unearned), walked four, and struck out seven. North Penn's lone run came in the third inning on a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 North Penn lead.
The Trojans struggled early at the plate collecting their first hit in the 3rd inning on a Brad Vasilik (1-5) bunt single. In the 4th inning, the Trojans put together a two-out rally when Hudson Rabenold (1-4, run) singled and Zack Merkle (2-3, double, BB, RBI) doubled to put runners on second and third, but they were left stranded. The score remained 1-0 in favor of North Penn until the 6th inning where the Trojans again staged another two-out rally, this time with a different outcome. With two out and the bases empty, Rabenold reached base on a North Penn error and Zack Merkle walked to put runners on first and second. Gabe Mosser (2-4, 2 RBI) then delivered a cluth single to score Parkland's first run and tie the game at 1-1. Parkland threatened for more in the 6th when the next batter walked to load the bases, but the inning ended with three more Parkland base runners stranded.
With the score still tied going into the 7th inning, Justin Afflerbach (1-3, run) led off the inning with a single. A sacrifice bunt by Damin Muth put Afflerbach into scoring position at second base. After a walk to Tyler Graeff (0-1, 3 BB), Chris Rabasco (1-4, run, RBI) delivered the game-winning RBI base hit to score Afflerbach and give the Trojans a 2-1 lead. The Trojans were not done, however. Another North Penn error loaded the bases for the Trojans again. Merkle singled to drive in a run to incease Parkland's lead to 3-1. Mosser then followed with another RBI base hit for another Parkland insurance run and a 4-1 lead.
Higgins would make the lead stick. Although North Penn's lead off hitter in the bottom of the 7th inning drove a double deep into the right center gap, Higgins struck out the next two batters. A walk then put North Penn runners on first and second, but Higgins sealed the victory for the Trojans by striking out the next batter for the final out.
The JV Parkland Trojans lost to North Penn by a score of 13-0. Second baseman Tyler Bruno (1-2), third baseman Harrison Rabenold (1-2), catcher Dan Zaccaro (1-1) and shortstop Braeden Duff (1-1) provided the only offense for the Trojans today.
Pitcher Isaac Neal made his first start of the season on the mound and pitched well, however, the Trojan defense committed a season high 5 errors.
Evan McAndrew and Tommy Sather combined for a 3-hitter as the Trojans shut out Nazareth 6-0. McAndrew was dominant for six innings, giving up three hits while striking out 12. Sather finished the game, striking out two.
In the second inning, CF Alec Bartholomew (1-2, 2R, 1BB) singled, advanced to third and scored on a sacrifice fly by C Dan Zaccaro (1-1, 3 RBI, SF). The Trojans struck again in the third when LF Jeff Strisovsky (2-2, 2 R, 2 BB) singled to left, stole second base and scored on a single by McAndrew (1-4, 1 RBI).
The JVs broke open the game with four runs in the fifth. Strisovsky walked. RF Isaac Neal (1-4, 1 R, 1 3B, 1 RBI) got a second life when Nazareth dropped a foul pop for an error. He took full advantage by rifling a triple over the RF's head for an RBI triple. 3B Harrison Rabenold (1-2, 1 R,1 BB) and Bartholomew walked to load the bases. Zaccaro singled to right to drive in two. SS Braeden Duff (2-3, 1RBI) singled in Bartholomew to close out the scoring.
Flynn Pitches 3-Hit Shutout For 4-0 Win Over Easton
The Parkland Trojan pitching staff collected its eighth shutout of the season as Alex Flynn tossed a three-hit, complete game shutout to lead the Trojans to a 4-0 win over Easton. Flynn struck out six batters and walked none. Flynn also collected six outs on infield pop ups. Flynn improved his personal record to 5-0 this season with an amazingly low 0.28 ERA.
Parkland scored two runs in the 2nd inning when Justin Afflerbach (1-for-3, sac bunt, 2 RBI) singled to drive in Tyler Graeff (1-for-2, run, 2 BB) and Chris Rabasco (0-for-1, 3 BB, 2 runs). Graeff had reached on a single, and after Rabasco walked, Zack Merkle (1-for-2, HBP, sac bunt) sacrifice bunted to put both runners in scoring position for Afflerbach.
The Trojans added single runs in the 4th and 6th innings to take the 4-0 lead and eventual win. Rabasco led off the 4th with a walk that was followed by a Merkle single. After Afflerbach sacrifice bunted the runners into scoring position, Rabasco scored on a Jordan Jones RBI ground out. With two out and the bases empty in the 6th inning, Brad Vasilik walked then stole second base. Alex Flynn (1-for-3, double, sac bunt, RBI) then delivered a two-out, RBI double just over the left fielder's head to bring home Vasilik for Parkland's 4th run. Damin Muth was the only Parkland hitter with more than one hit, going 2-for-4 with a double.
The JV Trojans lost for the first time this season by a score of 5-1 to Easton.
The JV Trojans had 7 hits, with 2B Tyler Bruno (2-4, 1 run) and LF Jeff Strisovsky (2-3) leading the way. The pair led off the 1st inning with back-to-back singles. They advanced on two wild pitches, Bruno scoring and Strisovsky stopping at third , where he was stranded. 3B Harrison Rabenold (1-3), C Dan Zaccaro (1-3) and 1B Kyle Novobilski (1-3) contributed the other hits. The Trojans totaled 7 hits and 1 walk, but stranded 6 runners on base, 4 in scoring position.
Alec Bartholomew started on the mound and pitched 5 innings, allowing 4 runs (3 earned) and 7 hits, while striking out four. Braeden Duff pitched the last two innings, allowing an unearned run on 1 hit. He struck out 3 Rovers. Novobilski had a defensive gem with a twisting catch of a pop up in shallow right field.
