Whitpain Starts Strong, Comes up Short in 6-2 Loss to Devils

Graterford- As the Greater Norristown American Legion Baseball League playoffs quickly approach, each game increases in its importance as teams vying for playoff position in the double elimination tournament format to improve their position.

On Thursday night, the league confrontation between Whitpain and Collegeville was decided by Collegeville’s ability to deliver the big hit, with men on and outstanding defense behind right hander Brett Davis, as the Devils defeated Whitpain 6-2 to improve to 8-6-1 in league play.

Davis (2-2), who allowed four hits to the first five Whitpain batters of the tilt, settled in after a first inning that more resembled batting practice for Whitpain, striking out five while scattering three hits for the rest of the game to record the complete game victory.

“They were really jumping on my fast ball,” said Davis. “I started mixing in breaking stuff early in the count and they were not as effective and I was able to get ahead of hitters. Pitching ahead all night was what really helped us get past that first inning.”

Collegeville used the first of its two twin killings on the night to end Whitpain’s threat in the opening frame as Davis and company worked their way out of a bases loaded no out jam, giving up only one run on a sacrifice fly to Pete Bogdon, before shortstop Andrew Kenney snared a line shot off the bat off Alec Linebarger, starting a 6-4-3 inning ending double play.

“That’s baseball, we got out to a great start hitting the ball,” said Whitpain manager Mike Basile. “Then we crush the ball but right at some one, instead of two runs and the inning still going, we hit into a double play, it happens. I thought we came out with a great intensity early, but we kind of settled back into a lull after that.”  

Consecutive singles by Brian O’Donnell, Mike Kropnick and Nate Simon to open the contest gave all indications that it would be a great night for the Whitpain offense, but after snagging just one run in the first inning, the bats went into a lull.

“We did a great job coming out strong,” said right-handed starter Joe McGinley (3.61 ERA, 2-1) who will be a senior at Wissahickon in the fall. “I think we are a much better team than what we showed after that. We kind of let that first inning and only getting one run take our momentum away. We need to come out Saturday and win that first game and I am confident we can do that if we play our game.”

Davis (2-for-2, run, RBI) gave the Devils a spark as he led off the fifth with a bunt single, but found himself stuck at second after two routine outs, until Andrew Kenney (.433 season average) belted a base hit back through the middle moving Davis to third.

Chris Leahy (1-for-3, run, 3RBI) drove in his 11^th run of the season as he followed Kenney with a shot into the gap for a triple, clearing the bases and scoring himself when the relay throw got by third basemen Nate Simon to give Collegeville a 5-2 edge.

“I think we have the team to compete with any one in this league, “ said Nate Simon, who attends and plays ball for Gettysburg College. “We hit the ball hard tonight, but it seemed like every time we got something going, we hit it right at them, that’s the way this game is sometimes. Saturday it is important for us to get the jump and win the first game, we play double headers all the time in college and it makes for a long day when you drop the first game.”

Whitpain (11-7) cut into the Collegeville lead in the fourth when Chase Merrill drew a walk and stole second base to get into scoring position for and RBI fielder’s choice by Ryan McDonough, who improved his season batting average to .455 with a 2-for-2 night at the dish.

After giving up the single tally in the fourth inning, Davis shut down the Whitpain line up, retiring the last ten batters of the game in order to preserve a win that kept Collegeville in sole possession of the four seed and moved the Devils to within one game of Whitpain for the second place overall, who they have a double header slated with on Saturday.

“I have been very happy all year with our pitching,” added Basile. “We have 15 complete games this year, which is astounding. Again tonight Joe gave us a great chance to win the game, we just need to make sure we continue to put the ball in play and force our opponents to make a play. On Saturday we need to keep the energy we started tonight’s game with going all day.”   

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

R

H

E

Whitpain

1

0

0

1

0

0

0

2

7

1

Collegeville

0

2

0

0

3

1

X

6

7

1

Whitpain

O’Donnell ss

4

1

1

0

Kenney  ss

3

1

1

0

Kropnick 2b

4

0

1

0

Leahy  2b

3

1

1

3

Simon  3b

3

0

1

0

Delaney  3b

3

0

0

0

Bogdon  lf

1

0

0

1

Booz  lf

3

1

2

0

Kaissi  cf

3

0

1

0

Boesch cf

3

1

0

0

Linebarger  c

3

0

0

0

Kelly

3

1

1

2

Merrill  dh

2

1

1

0

Davis  p

2

1

2

1

Norwood  1b

3

0

1

0

Pierce c

3

0

0

0

McDonough  rf

2

0

1

0

Klein 1b

3

0

0

0

Totals

25

2

1

1

Totals

26

6

7

6

IP

R

ER

H

SO

BB

McGinley (L 2-1)

7

6

6

7

0

2

Davis(W 2-2)

7

2

2

7

5

3

2B-Davis, Kelly   3B-Leahy  HR- none      LOB- WTP -5   COL-2

time of the game 1:41   game temp 81 degrees