Rams open tourney with blowout; two wins from state final

MALVERN — If it's possible for a 15-1 game to not be as close as the score would indicate, Spring-Ford's trouncing of District Three #3 seed Spring Grove in the opening round of the PIAA state tournament on Monday would qualify.

Led by a 3-for-3, 5 RBI performance by designated hitter Ryan Conway, who belted two home runs to bring his season total to six, the Rams cruised to a mercy-rule shortened victory to set up a match up with District One #4 seed Council Rock South on Thursday.

The Rockets (16-10) fizzled in the sun, as Mike Oczypok continued his mastery on the mound. Oczypok struck out seven and allowed two hits in four innings of work before senior lefty Josh Mellon took the hill in the final inning, dispatching Spring Grove on 13 pitches, fanning two in the process.

The Rams hurlers were so dominant, they recorded eight strike outs in ten at bats against the #5-9 hitters in Spring Grove's lineup. A weak fly ball and a dribbler to the mound were the only balls put in play.

“We’ve been scoring the most runs I’ve seen,” said Oczypok. “With the kind of run support I’ve been getting, it’s easy to take the mound, relax and just throw strikes. Our entire line up as been hitting so well, especially Ryan (Conway). It’s been unbelievable.”

“I have been trying not to think too much,” said Conway. “The ball is just looking really big right now. On the first one, he threw me middle in, which is my bread and butter, and I was able to drive it. We have everyone hitting consistently up and down our lineup, which makes it tough to pitch against us.”

Conway was not the only Ram to bomb Spring Grove pitching. Catcher James Hoff drove in four runs on a 3-for-3 day at the plate.

Though overshadowed by the fireworks display put on by the Spring-Ford bats, it was Tom Grablewski (2-for-2, 2 runs scored) who got things started for the Rams by dropping down a bunt single in the opening frame, recording the first of 13 Spring-Ford base hits. Grablewski later scored on the first of Hoff’s three doubles to get the Rams on the board.

With the offense rolling to a 12-0 lead after two innings, head coach Bruce Brobst gave some thought to pulling Oczypok and saving his ace for later in the week.

“I thought about it,” said Brobst. “But honestly, he needed the work. The last time he pitched was a week ago. You can’t take anything for granted and don’t want to get into a situation.”

“I feel great right now,” said Oczypok. “I just wanted to keep throwing strikes and get us back in to bat. You can’t score playing defense. My arm feels good, and honestly, I’ve rarely had to throw seven innings the way we have been hitting. I’m ready to go.”

Many members of this 2011 squad have played together since they were members of Central Perk Little League, and most were part of both a Pennsylvania State junior legion championship and the 2010 Pennsylvania State American Legion Championship. As the senior group of Ricky Gorrell, Hoff, Mike Oczypok, Sean Larkin, Pat Medley and Josh Mellon prepares to disperse following graduation, can they bring a state championship home to Spring-Ford?

“They have a quiet confidence,” said Brobst. “They don’t talk about it, but you know it’s there. They know if one person doesn’t get it done, another will pick it up, which makes it a special bunch to coach.”

“I think what defines our team is that we don’t stress,” said Conway. “We come in ready to play and when we take the field we are ready to go. We are, without a doubt, playing at the top of our game right now and I hope we keep it going through the summer.”

1

2

3

4

5

R

H

E

Spring Grove

0

0

1

0

0

1

2

1

Spring-Ford

5

7

1

2

X

15

13

1

Spring Grove

AB

R

H

RBI

Spring-Ford

AB

R

H

RBI

Reigart ss

3

0

0

0

Medley   lf

3

1

1

1

Krause 1b p

2

1

1

0

Grablewski  2b

4

2

2

0

Rohrbaugh lf

2

0

1

0

Gorrell  ss

3

2

1

1

Smith c

2

0

0

0

Huff  c

3

0

3

4

Schetzka rf

2

0

0

0

Oczypok  p

3

0

1

2

Hoover 3b

2

0

0

0

Clarke  3b

1

2

0

0

Rohrbaugh, A p

2

0

0

0

Conway  dh

3

3

3

5

Molison dh

2

0

0

0

Larkin 1b

3

0

0

1

Dell cf

2

0

0

0

Cratsenberg  rf

3

2

2

0

Simmons cr

0

2

0

0

Shronk cr

0

1

0

0

Totals

19

1

2

1

Totals

26

15

13

14

IP

R

ER

H

SO

BB

Rohrbaugh, A    (L )

1

9

9

5

0

3

Krause

2.3

6

5

6

1

1

Smeltzer

.6

0

0

1

0

0

Oczypok (W 12-0)

4

1

0

2

7

0

Mellon

1

0

0

0

2

0

2B-Hoff (3), Conway, Rohrbaugh       HR-Conway (5, 6)       LOB- Spring Grove-3     Spring-Ford-3 

time of the game 1:35       game temp  85 degrees