Glendora Wins Pitchers' Duel in Opener

MOUNT EPHRAIM—Glendora Little League's 11-12 all-star team didn’t find its offensive groove in the first game of tournament pool play Tuesday night.

The way Brandon Jones pitched, it didn’t matter.

Jones came within one out of a complete game, allowing just one hit in 5 2/3 innings, with eight strikeouts, to lead Glendora to a 2-1 win over Mount Ephraim in the team's District 14 opener.

Jones came out with two outs in the sixth after he had reached his pitch limit. Dante Masino struck out the only batter he faced to record the save. 

“I thought (Jones) played awesome,” said Glendora manager Mark Lesch. “In the first inning he had some jitters, but after that he shut the kids down. We were worried that they were a tough-hitting team. Our defense stood up at the right time and made plays. Brandon just kept throwing strikes and that’s what kept us in the game.”

Jones ran into some self-made trouble in the top of the first when he allowed Mount Ephraim to load the bases with no outs on two walks and a fielding error of his own. With the pressure on early, Jones dug deep and allowed just one run to score in the frame. He finished the inning with consecutive strikeouts, setting the tone for the rest of the afternoon.

“I was doing a little bit bad in the first inning, but came back in the other innings,” Jones said. “My teammates cheered me on. We got a couple of people on base and got two runs, and got the win.”

Lesch said Jones being able to work out of the jam gave him momentum for the rest of the game.

“It helped him a lot,” the manager said. “It built his confidence and got rid of his jitters.”

Glendora tied the game in the bottom of the second inning without a hit. Jones was hit by a pitch to open the frame and moved to third on a pair of wild pitches. Colin Taylor drove him in with an RBI groundout to second base.

After Jones struck out the side in the top of the fourth, Glendora took the lead in the bottom of the frame.

Masino opened Glendora's fourth with a single—the team’s first hit of the game—and stole second. After a wild pitch allowed Masino to move to third, he was able to score on another pitch that got by the catcher.

RJ McGettigan, who sported a yellow and blue mowhawk Tuesday night, later singled in the inning, collecting the only other hit Glendora would produce in the game.

Lesch said he expects the hitting to improve as the tournament goes on, but was also quick to credit opposing pitcher Austin Rampolla, who struck out 10 in five innings.

“We ran into a great pitcher,“ he said. “We knew we were going to be challenged but we took advantage of the opportunities we could.”

Glendora will be back in action Saturday night at home against Gloucester City. That game is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m.

The majority of the players on this current team also comprised the 9-10 team that won District 14 two years ago so the team will not be creeping up on anyone.

Lesch expects his team to face everyone’s best pitcher in the tournament. Jones thinks the team is ready for the challenge.

“I think we can make it far in the districts. Maybe we can win in sectional,” Jones said. “We have a pretty good team.”