Clarke, Oczypok lead Rams to District final

Propelled by 14 hits and a 4 RBI day from Cody Clarke, the Spring-Ford Rams advanced Tuesday to the Class AAAA PIAA District One final with a 9-3 win over defending District One champion Council Rock North.

Spring-Ford senior Mike Oczypok, the staff ace, set down the first eight Indians in order before allowing a bloop single in the third, recording five of his game high 10 strikeouts in the process.

“That pitcher is something special,” said C.R. North skipper Matt Schram.

“He mixed his pitches so well and really was able to keep our hitters off balance. By the same token, that team can really hit the ball. I don’t remember the last time our staff gave up 14 hits in a seven-inning game, if ever. I am going to throw it out there right now, I think the two best teams in the state just played here today,” Schram said.

After scoring a run in the third inning on an RBI double by Ryan Conway, Spring-Ford (21-4 overall) assumed command of the game with a two out, four run rally in the top of the fourth inning that sent ten men to the plate. The big blow was a 400 foot triple off the bat of Clarke that cleared the bases.

“I was able to get ahead in the count all day,” said Clarke, who went 3-for-4 with 4 RBI, a double and a triple, while scoring a run.

“When he got behind, I knew a fastball was coming and was able to get the bat head on it. We all did a good job of working counts today, which is why we had so much success against a very good pitching staff. All three guys we faced were very good and threw hard. We were just very focused,” Clarke said.

After seizing the momentum in the fourth inning, the Rams took the Indians heart in the fifth. Council Rock North had cut the Spring-Ford lead to two with their own three-run rally in the home forth. In the fifth, the Rams quickly slapped two more runs on the board when Pat Medley delivered a first pitch, bases loaded single to score Conway, who had reached on a fielder’s choice. Tom Grablewski then took one for the team getting hit by a pitch to score Sean Larkin, who had singled.

“They finished us off right there,” said Schram. “That was the game. We had just gotten three on them and needed to stop them there. When they got two back right away it just took all of the momentum and our hearts right out of it.”

Oczypok settled back in after the fourth, which was the only inning in which he allowed more than four Council Rock North batters to come to the plate.

“I felt good from the start,” said Oczypok. “What did we put on them? Nine runs. That’s such great run support like these guys have given Sean (Larkin) and I all year. It’s been incredible to take the mound with a lead almost every game. I can’t ask for more than that as a pitcher. When I have a lead like that, it takes away any pressure to have to throw nothing but strikes. If I take a count to 3-1, I know I don’t have to throw one right down the middle of the plate.”  

“That’s how this team has played all year,” said Rams manager Bruce Brobst. “We have had sensational starting pitching from all of our guys. We take care of the ball defensively and have been able to get big hits like Cody’s when we have needed them all year. My guys just never quit and keep coming after it every inning, every out, which is how we put up four today all with two out.”

Oczypok, who improved to 11-0 on the season, allowed just two base runners after the fourth inning to close out a 9-3 thumping of the reigning district champion and three time Suburban One champ, dropping the Indians (18-2) into a state playoff seeding game versus Council Rock South, who lost to Conestoga.

“That kid they had on the mound was unbelievable,” said Indians catcher David Pine. “I don’t know if anyone had a gun on him, but he seemed fast. He really had us guessing all day and kept us off balance with one of the best curve balls we have seen all year.”

The Rams will play Conestoga to settle the District One championship on Thursday. The game will be played a neutral site to be determined.

“I think it speaks to the teams that they (Spring-Ford) see all year,” said Schram. “They see the pitching of teams like Boyertown and Owen J. Roberts, so they are ready to hit. I really think they play in the best baseball conference in the state, which is why they are very disciplined. They don’t make mistakes or swing at bad pitches. ”

Spring-Ford will receive either a #1 or #2 seed when the state tournament begins next week.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

R

H

E

Spring-Ford (21-4)

0

1

2

0

2

2

0

9

14

1

C. Rock North  (18-2)

0

0

0

3

0

0

0

3

6

2

C.R. North

AB

R

H

RBI

Spring-Ford

AB

R

H

RBI

Festa  3b

4

0

0

0

Medley   lf

5

0

2

1

Pine c

2

0

1

0

Grablewski  2b

3

1

2

1

Hartley ss

3

1

1

1

Gorrell  ss

4

1

0

0

Denton lf

2

0

0

0

Huff  c

4

0

3

0

Parker, B rf

3

1

1

1

Oczypok  p

3

0

1

1

Sable 1b

3

0

0

0

Clarke  3b

4

1

3

4

Tentilucci cf

3

0

1

1

Conway  dh

3

1

2

1

Rubino dh

3

0

0

0

Larkin 1b

3

1

1

0

Henritzy  2b

3

0

2

0

Cratsenberg  rf

4

0

1

1

Simmons cr

0

2

0

0

Shronk cr

0

2

0

0

Totals

26

3

6

3

Totals

33

9

15

9

IP

R

ER

H

SO

BB

Lauer     (L )

3

5

5

6

3

2

O’Leary

3

4

3

7

4

0

Sable

1

0

0

2

0

0

Oczypok (W 11-0)

7

3

2

6

10

1

2B-Clarke, Conway, Tentelucci 3B-Clarke   HR- none       LOB- CR North-4     Spring-Ford-12 

time of the game 2:06       game temp 92 degrees