Upper Makefield splits a pair
A two-way pitchers’ duel opened the 11-year-old Pennsylvania PONY State Championships as the Upper Makefield Mavericks fell, 3-1, July 18 to reigning champ Washington Township.
Representing Bucks County, Upper Makefield rebounded with a 10-0 shut-out of Vesta in their second game, as the Mavs both stayed alive in the double-elimination tournament and ensured an appearance in the semifinals with the win.
The difference in the Upper Makefield-Washington Township game came in the first inning when the Bucks County team gave up two quick runs, while many of their players seemed to be still shaking off the effects of a five-hour car ride to far-western Pennsylvania. A thunder and frightening, epic rain delay pushed the rest of the game to Saturday morning, when the Mavericks were rested and equal to everything the Washington team had to throw at them.
Upper Makefield starter Juliano Kovalcik threw a three-hitter through four innings. He only allowed those two runs, which came in that two-hit, one-walk first inning. Michael Kalosky and Guy Markley scored the runs for Washington before the Mavs could loosen up their legs, backs and gloves that had seemed to stiffen up during the long trip west. Riley Thompson relieved Kovalcik, and allowed one run, scored by Christopher Gouin, in his two very solid innings.
Washington starter Christopher Gouin baffled the Mavs with sweeping sliders, cutting curveballs and fiery fastballs. Evan McDaniel and Cole Griffin, Washington relievers, shut down the Upper Makefield bats as well. That only one run was allowed by Washington could also be attributed to their tremendous defense. Upper Makefield crushed grounders through the game, but the Washington infielders ranged to play them consistently, notching 11 infield put-outs.
Washington Township looked as good at the start of the tournament this year as they did at the end of it last year. For Upper Makefield, the silver lining was that they played an extremely competitive game against the defending champs, much more so than last year.
But even with the silver lining, the forecast was cloudy as Upper Makefield could not lose another game in this double-elimination tournament without being ousted.
With their game legs underneath them, the Mavericks took the field primed and ready to play in its second game of the day, as they mercy-ruled Vesta, 10-0, in five innings. A complete game saw the Mavs’ hitting and pitching come together at once as they chipped away at Vesta with a small ball combination of walks, singles, and steals, in the first four innings.
Riley Thompson used his speed to score in the first, Nick Roda singled, stole second and third and scored on a past ball in the third, and TJ Roberts segued his line single down the third base line into a run after stealing second, and scoring on a shortstop error in the fourth. In the meantime, TJ Roberts and Brett Miller threw shut-out after shut-out inning.
The game was blown open in the fifth inning as Brett Miller singled, and Nick Roda and Joe Rutkowski walked to load the bases. After Drew Burschlag knocked in Miller with an infield single, Chase D’Arcangelo cleared the bases, crushing a line drive triple to the left field fence. TJ Roberts scored D’Arcangelo on an infield sacrifice, and Riley Thompson knocked in Anthony Stefani (who had walked) with a single to close out the game.
With the win, Upper Makefield assured itself of an appearance in the semi-final game, and no worse than a third place finish. So far, their trip to the PONY PA State Championships seems well worth the five hour drive and car-lag.
Representing Bucks County, Upper Makefield rebounded with a 10-0 shut-out of Vesta in their second game, as the Mavs both stayed alive in the double-elimination tournament and ensured an appearance in the semifinals with the win.
The difference in the Upper Makefield-Washington Township game came in the first inning when the Bucks County team gave up two quick runs, while many of their players seemed to be still shaking off the effects of a five-hour car ride to far-western Pennsylvania. A thunder and frightening, epic rain delay pushed the rest of the game to Saturday morning, when the Mavericks were rested and equal to everything the Washington team had to throw at them.
Upper Makefield starter Juliano Kovalcik threw a three-hitter through four innings. He only allowed those two runs, which came in that two-hit, one-walk first inning. Michael Kalosky and Guy Markley scored the runs for Washington before the Mavs could loosen up their legs, backs and gloves that had seemed to stiffen up during the long trip west. Riley Thompson relieved Kovalcik, and allowed one run, scored by Christopher Gouin, in his two very solid innings.
Washington starter Christopher Gouin baffled the Mavs with sweeping sliders, cutting curveballs and fiery fastballs. Evan McDaniel and Cole Griffin, Washington relievers, shut down the Upper Makefield bats as well. That only one run was allowed by Washington could also be attributed to their tremendous defense. Upper Makefield crushed grounders through the game, but the Washington infielders ranged to play them consistently, notching 11 infield put-outs.
Washington Township looked as good at the start of the tournament this year as they did at the end of it last year. For Upper Makefield, the silver lining was that they played an extremely competitive game against the defending champs, much more so than last year.
But even with the silver lining, the forecast was cloudy as Upper Makefield could not lose another game in this double-elimination tournament without being ousted.
With their game legs underneath them, the Mavericks took the field primed and ready to play in its second game of the day, as they mercy-ruled Vesta, 10-0, in five innings. A complete game saw the Mavs’ hitting and pitching come together at once as they chipped away at Vesta with a small ball combination of walks, singles, and steals, in the first four innings.
Riley Thompson used his speed to score in the first, Nick Roda singled, stole second and third and scored on a past ball in the third, and TJ Roberts segued his line single down the third base line into a run after stealing second, and scoring on a shortstop error in the fourth. In the meantime, TJ Roberts and Brett Miller threw shut-out after shut-out inning.
The game was blown open in the fifth inning as Brett Miller singled, and Nick Roda and Joe Rutkowski walked to load the bases. After Drew Burschlag knocked in Miller with an infield single, Chase D’Arcangelo cleared the bases, crushing a line drive triple to the left field fence. TJ Roberts scored D’Arcangelo on an infield sacrifice, and Riley Thompson knocked in Anthony Stefani (who had walked) with a single to close out the game.
With the win, Upper Makefield assured itself of an appearance in the semi-final game, and no worse than a third place finish. So far, their trip to the PONY PA State Championships seems well worth the five hour drive and car-lag.
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