Oczypok leads Rams; results roundup

It’s fitting that Spring-Ford senior Mike Oczypok will be attending the University of Alabama next fall on an academic scholarship to pursue a medical career. The right-hander’s surgical precision has been carving up PAC-10 opponents all season.

On Monday afternoon, Oczypok extended his streak of innings with out allowing an earned run to 25, posting his fourth shutout in as many starts as the Rams defeated Methacton 7-0 to regain their hold on the number one spot in the PAC-10 standings. Oczypok hasn't allowed an earned run since an 11-1 win over Pottsgrove on March 30.

“Mike has been unbelievable all season,” said Sean Larkin. “He goes out and pitches quickly, which really keeps everybody into the game. He throws strikes and gives us a chance to make plays behind him. We need to take care our end this week.”

The Spring-Ford bats, which were silenced Friday night in a 3-0 loss to the Wildcats, banged out 16 hits.  The Rams posted runs two runs in the first inning to put the pressure squarely on the shoulders of the Warriors, who dropped to 11-6 in league play (12-7 overall). Methacton is now just a game and a half ahead of Perkiomen Valley for the final playoff spot.

The Rams (13-3 league, 14-4 overall) remained one half game ahead of Boyertown for first place overall. They will host the Bears on Wednesday night.

Pat Medley, who set the tone by going 3-for-5 with a home run and 2 runs scored, led off the game with a double and was quickly driven in by Tom Grablewski.

Third baseman Cody Clarke, who has not has his typical spring at the plate, finally had a breakout day at the plate. Clarke went 4-for-4 with a run scored and a RBI.

Oczypok gave up four hits, allowing only one runner into scoring position. He fanned six and walked two.

“We need to hit,” said Kutztown bound shortstop Ricky Gorrell. “We know what we have to do. We have got too many guys on this squad that can hit to have another game like Friday night. We hate to lose any game. We dropped two last week, which really got us motivated for this week. We will be playing the best teams on our schedule.”

Spring-Ford continues to get outstanding production from the bottom of the lineup. Josh Cratsenberg (3-for-3, RBI) and Sean Larkin (1-for-3, RBI) helped fuel the Rams assault on Warriors pitching.

“The first time we played them, we didn’t really hit the ball well,” said Larkin. “It's important for us to look for good pitches to hit and continue to put the ball in play, forcing them into mistakes, which is something we didn’t do Friday night. I am looking forward to Wednesday against Boyertown. We beat them pretty bad at their place, so I know they will be looking to pay us back. It should be a great game.”

                                                                       R   H   E

Spring-Ford   2  0  0  1  3  1  0   -       7   16  0

Methacton      0  0  0  0  0  0  0  -        0   4   2

Spring-Ford                          AB            R            H            RBI

Medley  lf                                 5            2            3            1

Grablewski  2b                       3            2            2            0

Michaud  ph                             0            0            0            0

Gorrell  ss                                 5            1            2            0

Hoff c                                       4            0            0            0

Oczypok  p                              3            1            0            1

Clarke  3b                                4            1            4            1

Conway  dh                              3            0            1            0

Larkin  1b                                3            0            1            1

Vining cf                                   1            0            1            0

Cratsenberg  rf                         3            0            2            1

Mellon  ph                                1            0            0            0

                        Totals               32            7            16            5

Methacton                                AB            R            H            RBI

Strizziere                                  2            0            0            0

Dale                                         3            0            1            0

Surine                                       0            0            0            0

Casselberry                              3            0            2            0

Hart  p                                     2            0            0            0

Fazio                                        2            0            0            0

Collins                                      2            0            0            0

Fernendez                                2            0            0            0

Herber                                     1            0            0            0

Bradley                                    1            0            0            0

Kirkpatrick                               2            0            1            0

Toomey                                    2            0            0            0

Ahlberg                                    2            0            0            0

                        Totals               24            0            4            0

Other scores:

Baseball

• Pope John Paul 10,  Pottstown  0

Tennis

• Wissahickon 5, Spring-Ford 0   PIAA district one playoff

 Singles: Ricardo Prince (W) def. Tyler Triolo 6-3, 6-2; Andres Prince (W) def. Gary Williams 6-4, 6-3; Boo Callahan (W) def. Kevin Chang 6-0, 6-2.

Doubles: Josh Heich-Matt Soffer (W) def. Lewis Cooper-Kyle Emerson 6-1, 6-0; Evan Horn-Gabe Cohen (W) def. Blake Emerson-Joey Garziadei 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.

• Pottsgrove 5,  Pope John Paul II 2

Softball

• Methacton at Pope John Paul II  ppd  (no officials)
• Spring Ford 8, Phoenixville 3

Lacrosse

• Perkiomen Valley 18,   Pope John Paul II  7