TRUMAN:
Tale of two Tiger teams
Sports Editor
Looking at the Harry S Truman baseball team now versus the one that took the field the first half of the season is like seeing a mirror image--mirror meaning everything in reverse.
Whereas the Tigers seemed to find a way to lose their league matches the first half of the season, the same team has turned that trend on its head and is suddenly winning.
Yesterday’s 9-5 victory at Neshaminy, coupled together with previous wins at Abington and against Council Rock North, pushed Truman to 6-4 in the SOL National conference.
Of course, it has helped that lefthander Josh Patman and third baseman Frankie Morris have returned to the lineup. Patman held the Redskins in check, surrendering 3 runs in the first two innings before settling down to blank Neshaminy through the next three frames.
When Patman left the game in favor of reliever Tyler Erhard in the sixth, the Tigers exploded with a 5-run outburst in the top of the frame that put the visitors on top, 9-3.
Up 6-3 in the top of the sixth, Truman manufactured the next three runs on nary a hit. First, Brian Beyer scored on a Bob Monahan fly ball that was caught in foul territory by Matt Wenclowicz.
Beyer reached home when Wenclowicz tried to nail Tigers CF Chris Bechter in a rundown between first and second base. Even Bechter was safe when Neshaminy failed to covered second base on the rundown. The Truman outfielder then scored on a throw to first base.
“Our plan today was to take it an inning at a time,” stated HST outfielder Adam Ashwell. “With Bechter getting in a couple of rundowns there, we played small-ball and got the runs in.
“We needed a win today; by taking it a game at a time, we got one,” stated Ashwell.
Morris became the ninth Truman runner to cross on Eddie Connolly’s fly ball to deep center that looked destined to clear the basepaths. Connelly’s ball was caught but the damage was done. A six-run lead would be all the Tigers would need.
Oh, Neshaminy looked primed for a comeback a couple of times, loading the bases in each of the last two frames, including the sixth when the ‘skins had the bases loaded and no outs.
Each time, Truman had the answer. Pulling Erhard off the hill in favor of Mike McLeod, the sophomore righthander pitched out of a jam in both innings.
When Erhard lost control in the sixth and walked Brian Cleary, Brian Fiocco and Rick Brebner to load the bases, McLeod nearly got out of the inning with no damage at all.
First, he fanned Mike Kusters and then he got Tyler Orr on a rope to rightfield.
When John Burns bounded a ball toward shortstop Zach Philippi, it looked like out number three. Except that Philippi’s throw pulled the first baseman off the bag, allowing pinch runner Nick Strickler to cross.
Cleary, Fiocco and Brebner loaded the bases again in the bottom of the seventh but McLeod retired the game’s last batter when he got Orr on a right field flyout in foul territory.
The Tigers win over Neshaminy gave Truman sole possession of third place in the SOL National conference. The ‘Skins dropped to 5-5 with the loss. Unbeaten Council Rock South sits atop the division with Rock-North a game behind with its only loss to the conference leader.
“We’ve struggled with this team over the years so this is huge,” stated Connelly.
“We struggled earlier in the year but right now we’re fighting for the number three spot in the conference so this is a real big win for us.”
The Tigers tussled with Neshaminy earlier in the month, losing 14-6 the first time the sides squared off at Truman. Winning three straight league games puts Truman right back into the thick of things.
“We were looking for revenge,” added Connelly. “We were trying to send a message--Truman's not dead.”
“Everybody is starting to come together, hitting the ball well--that’s about it.”
Unity among the rank and file, a healthy pitching staff and lots of hitting--it's about all a baseball team needs.
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Ghosts Vanquished
The Tigers certainly came together in an April 24 win over Abington. Bechter went 3-for-4, with 2 RBIs and a run scored. Connelly dropped hits in all three of his at-bats while also plating three runners. And Jonny Schiotis went 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs.
While the satisfaction of beating the MontCo team is not as significant as say a Neshaminy or a Pennsbury, it’s still a league game and another notch in Truman’s win column.
“They are definitely a team to beat in the SOL,” stated Connelly. “Definitely a good win for us--a morale booster.”
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Indians Scalped
Just two days before the win at Neshaminy, Connelly and company gave CR North their first loss of the season. Mind you, the Tigers lost to the Rock, 11-7, the first time out and North had taken an early lead on a 2-run shot by Scott Runzer in the top of the first.
But Connelly settled down after that and while he didn’t strike out a slew of the Indian batters, he scattered 4 hits and allowed just a single run the rest of the way in a complete game win, his third victory of the season.
Schiotis went 2-for-3 against Rock while Tepper (2 RBIs), Bechter (double), Philippi (RBI) and Dustin Milewski also contributed.
“We’re a good team,” said Patman. “The first half of the season, we had some issues with some of the guys not getting along. The past couple of weeks, we really bonded and now we’re all getting along now.
“And that’s really helped us a lot.”
All of it has played itself out on the Tigers' playing field.
Labels: Baseball, Truman, Truman Baseball