Rain suspends Rams baseball with Methacton ahead

It took Mother Nature—and the Methacton Warriors—to do something no one else has been able to in the last two weeks: prevent Spring-Ford from winning a baseball game. Temporarily, at least.

After playing in a steady rain for an inning and a half, the heavens opened up as the Rams were coming to bat in the home half of the fifth inning trailing 2-1 to Methacton.

The game was suspended after officials watched two Richie Michaud pitches sail three feet inside in the top of the fifth inning. Common sense prevailed as it was clear that conditions had deteriorated beyond playable.

“We may just continue and bring everything over here, when we are scheduled to play them next,” said Spring-Ford Athletic Director Mickey McDaniel. “It just got to bad to be able to finish it today. We tried to get it in because games are stacking up, but that’s how this spring has gone.” 

Methacton took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Dave Toomey rapped a base hit, scoring Nick Fazzio, who had singled and advanced into scoring position on a fielder's choice.

Rams' starter Michaud had good command despite the conditions. He struck out three while walking two batters and scattered five hits over the first five innings.

Spring-Ford left fielder Connor Simmons led of the third inning by working a walk off of Warriors starter Steve Dunbar, then came across the plate with the equalizer following a two-out double by James Hoff.

The conditions helped Methacton grab a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning when Fazzio, who'd reached base on a walk then advanced on an errant throw as the ball slipped out of Ricky Gorrell’s hand, scored following Toomey’s second hit of the game.

With Methacton shortstop Nick Strizziere in scoring position, following a single and stolen base, Mike Ozcypok made a great play on a ball hit down the third base line and miraculously was able to grip the ball and gun in to Sean Larkin at first. Larkin scooped it out of the mud to end the threat and send the players to shelter from the rain.

The game will be resumed at the point of suspension in accordance with PIAA rules at a later date. 

Methacton             0  1  0  1  0  - 2

Spring-Ford            0  0  1  0      -  1

Pitching             IP            R            ER            H            SO            BB

31 Dunbar            4            1            1            4            0            3

22 Michaud            5            2            1            5            3            2

2B- Hoff ,   SB- Toomey, Strizziere 

Hits – Methacton-  Casselbury, Toomey (2), Fazzio (2)

            Spring-Ford- Grablewski, Cratsenberg, Hoff, Oczypok