PV Raiders 14/15 y/o American Legion Season comes to a crashing halt

Sat July 21 – PV Raiders bested by Norriton comeback, 8-6

The PV Raiders 14/15 y/o American Legion baseball team's bid for a regional playoff spot came to a crashing end this past Saturday, literally and figuratively, with their loss to a tough Norriton team.   It was a hard played, see-saw battle and in the end Norriton prevailed.  The game featured some up front stellar pitcher from both sides.  The Raider’s Trent Tyson pitched a scoreless first three innings then in the fourth, Norriton put two runs on the board. 

The never-say-die Raiders came right back in their half of the fourth  inning and matched Norriton, putting up two runs of their own.  The inning started off w/ a frightful collision when the Raider’s second baseman, Adam Gaines, grounded to third base then collided with the Norriton first baseman.  Gaines was declared safe at first but lie motionless on the ground for ten minutes until paramedics arrived and took him to Phoenixville Hospital.  As stands, he suffered a mild concussion and will be inactive for thirty days.  Apparently, the Gaines collision awoke the Raiders offense as Liam Grande stepped to the plate and lined a single to left field, PV’s first hit of the game.   Tyler Krause followed with a single to center then John Turner, with the bases now loaded, grounded into a fielder’s choice driving in Danny Quirk and Liam Grande and tying the game at 2-2.

Norriton took the lead back in the top of the fifth, 3-2.  Again, the resilient Raiders did their part in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs.  Austin Lee started it off w/ beautiful drag bunt single then stole second.  Vinny DiLeonardo lined a single into left, scoring Lee.   Quirk and Krause each walked.  DiLeonardo then scored on a wild pitch.  Turner stepped to the plate and lined a single into center driving in Quirk and Krause.  The Raiders held a 6-3 lead after five.

No team scored in the sixth.  Then, the roof caved in for the Raiders.  Norriton put up a crooked five spot in the top of the seventh and never looked back.   They gave the Raiders their final loss of a productive season and will advance to the PA American Legion Regionals.

While disappointed with this season ending loss, the PV Raiders’ Manager Ryan Hinkle, along with assistant coaches Kevin Grande and Tim Tyson, declared this season a great success.  Together since the early days of January, during the winter workout sessions, the Coaches worked diligently w/ this talented group of players.  They bested last year’s 2011 overall record of 12-12 by turning in a solid 19-8-1 record.  Congratulations Coaches and to the PV Raiders 14/15 y/o American Legion baseball team.  Final Team offensive stats can be viewed in the posted image.

Wed Jul 18 – Grande's big day not enough, Raiders lose to Wissahickon,
11-3

In their first playoff game, the PV Raiders Liam Grande put on a spectacular offensive show, going 3-4 at the plate, but the Raiders fell 11-3 at Wissahickon last Wednesday.  Grande had three extra-base hits for the Raiders.  He doubled in the fourth, sixth, and seventh innings.  His double in the sixth had triple written all over it but the ball skipped underneath the fence in right center as he was rounding second base.  

Along with Grande, both Trent Tyson and Sonny Rennard each chipped in with monster-shot doubles.  Tyson’s blast was to the deepest part of the yard into center field, which drove in two runs.  Rennard’s moon shot was off the base of the left field fence.  Gabe Kolb also added a hit, scored a run, and pitched three solid innings for the Raiders.