Larkin's bat, Oczypok's arm propel Rams to 6-0 win

During Monday’s evening’s 6-0 win over Pope John Paul II, Spring-Ford again displayed why they are simply the best baseball team in the Pioneer Athletic Conference thus far with a record of 12-1 in league play.

Rams starting pitcher Mike Oczypok (5-0) continued to be masterful on the mound as he dominated a very strong Golden Panther line up. Oczypok struck out ten, walked two and boosted his consecutive scoreless inning streak against PJP2 to 13 innings.

“It’s fun to come to the park,” said Oczypok. “It’s great to take the mound knowing that everyday we are going to hit the ball and have a chance to win to win the game. You look at the board today and we only have six runs, which is probably the least we have scored all year.”

The Rams' line up must lead to restless nights for opposing managers as they try to prepare for a batting order that has no “soft spots” in it.

That balance was evident again Monday as Sean Larkin, batting eighth, got the offense going by crushing a 1-1 fastball over the left field wall in the second inning to spark a four run outburst and post the Rams to a 5-0 lead.

“I was looking fastball and he got it inside to me,” said Larkin of his second home run of the season. “I was able to make as good of contact as I could have. This was a big game for us. Heading into tomorrow's game against Methacton we have to come out and hit right away.”

In a quickly-paced affair, the Golden Panthers’ best scoring chance came in the first inning but Oczypok, who had walked Paul Mills and A.J. Koscelansky, was able to work out of it by striking out Alex DiGenova on a 2-2 curveball.

“I had a pretty good fastball today,” said Oczypok. “My curve came along as the game went on. My job is to just throw strikes, which is what I try to do every time out. My guys play such good defense behind me that it makes it easy. We have been playing so well overall as a team that it gives you confidence on the mound to attack the other team’s hitters.”

Spring-Ford added a run in the fourth as Larkin, who had been walked, scored on a two-out single by Ricky Gorrell. Gorrell opened the scoring in the first inning when James Hoff drove him in with a base hit. Hoff also knocked in two runs in the second with a two-out single, plating Pat Medley and Josh Cratsenberg.

“What a great job by 'Oz' today,” said Larkin. “I think they had only one runner even get to third today and he has shut them out both time we've played them. We hit the ball well again today, which is what we need to. As long as we keep playing solid defense and taking advantage of our scoring chances we can beat anyone.”

On Tuesday at 4:00pm the Rams (12-1 league, 13-2 overall) will continue a rain-delayed game versus Methacton in which the Rams are batting in the home fifth, trailing 2-1.

 2B-none   3B-none  HR-Larkin  LOB- SF-8  PJP2-5  HPB- Zbyszinski, Oczypok