Klein and Boesch help lead Devils to win over Norristown Recreation

Tuesday night’s Greater Norristown American Legion Baseball battle between Collegeville and Norristown Recreation ended with an 11-9 win for Collegeville.

The game was anything but a baseball classic as Ross Greenwood recorded the save by getting Norristown Rec’s cleanup hitter John Iorio to pop out to Devils third basemen Brett Davis with the tying run on second base to preserve the win.

In a game that collectively saw seven runs scored (four on wild pitches, 3 on past balls) without the benefit of a base hit and 18 men left on base, it was ironic that it came down to one at bat to determine the outcome of the game, and perhaps the seeding for the playoffs.

The Devils, who improved to 11-8-1, jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Andrew Kenney and Bret Davis scored in the first inning following an RBI single by Nick Delaney (1-for-4, 2RBI) and a solo home run off the bat of Drew Klein (1-for-1, run, 2RBI) to lead off the second. 

For the second consecutive inning, Collegeville got a lead off round tripper as Mike Booz (1-for-3, run, RBI) started the third by crushing a Robert Bangert fastball into the gap in left center, racing home with the fourth tally for the Devils. Collegeville then added another run on a sacrifice fly by Klein to regain a three-run edge as Norristown had posted two runs in the visitor half of the frame.

“Our seniors that graduated this year have really stepped up,” said Collegeville Manager Steve Banion. “Drew (Klein) and Andrew (Boesch) are just great kids that love to play ball. We are a young team, and their leadership has really helped us get some momentum going.”

Andrew Boesch (.300 season average), who went 2-for-2 with 2 runs scored, belted an RBI double in the fourth inning. In doing that, he snapped off the handle of his bat to give the Devils a 9-5 lead, which they carried into the sixth inning.

“I’ll trade a bat for a win,” joked Boesch. “I love playing with these guys. We have all played together since we were little kids, and we would love to be able to go far in the playoffs. If we keep our defense tight like it has been most of the year and we keep hitting the ball, I think we can beat anyone in the league.”

The Devils’ dynamic duo of Boesch and Klein, should be well rested as neither, ironically were a part of the the Perkiomen Valley varsity baseball team. This past season, the Vikings fell short of the PAC-10 Final Four and districts by just one game.

“I was actually cut as a junior,” said Boesch, when asked of his absence in a roster his presence would have helped. “I love playing baseball and this group has always been more of a team. We all play for each other, and the coaches are fantastic in the way they get us ready to play. It’ a very relaxed atmosphere; we know what we have to do win games.”

First basemen Drew Klein, who made four stretches to record put outs, knew what he had to as he stepped into the box in the home sixth, as Boesch and Chris Leahy had each singled to start the inning. Klein would set up the eventual game winner as he dropped down a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt to advance the two runners into scoring position.

On a pitch in the dirt to Connor Grande, who had taken over the pitching duties for starter Matt Pierce, Boesch raced home. Leahy would score two pitches later as Grande slapped a long drive to left for a sac fly.

“This was a big win for us,” said Klein. “We know we can beat anyone in the league, even Mascaro. But starting the playoffs in the third spot is much better, as we want to stay in the winners bracket for as long as we can. We have a great bunch of guys on this team, and I can go to the beach anytime. This is the last year I will get to play with this team and I wouldn’t trade that. I love to play ball, and this is the opportunity that I have to so.

After some tense moments for the Devils faithful when Norristown recreation got the bats going in the seventh, Greenwood was called on to get the final out and preserve the win for Collegeville.

“Staying in front was huge for us,” said Banion. “We responded every time they got a run or tow, which kept the pressure on them. This was probably our worst defensive effort of the year. We will get to practice and we have another game tomorrow. We will get it tightened up and be ready to go in the playoffs.”       

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

R

H

E

Norristown

0

0

2

3

0

1

3

9

9

2

Collegeville

2

1

2

4

0

2

X

11

11

3

Norristown

AB

R

H

RBI

Collegeville

AB

R

H

RBI

Rota  cf

4

2

2

1

Kenney ss

4

2

1

0

Seltzer  lf

2

1

1

1

Davis 2b  3b

2

2

2

0

Perna 2b

3

1

1

1

Delaney c

4

0

1

2

Iorio, J  c

4

0

0

0

Booz lf

3

1

1

1

Iorio, B ss

4

0

0

0

Kelly rf

3

2

1

1

Curll  rf

4

0

2

1

Boesch cf

2

2

2

1

Ostrander 1b

3

1

0

0

Pierce p 

2

0

1

2

Ortiz  dh

3

3

2

0

Klein 1b

1

1

1

2

Russo 3b

3

1

1

0

Grande  3b  p

3

0

0

0

Leahy  2b

1

1

1

0

Totals

30

9

9

4

Totals

25

11

11

9

IP

R

ER

H

SO

BB

Robert Bangert (L)

3.2

9

7

9

1

4

McAvoy

2.1

2

1

2

2

1

Pierce  (W)

4

5

4

3

2

3

Grande

2.2

4

2

4

2

4

Greenwood  (S)

.1

0

0

0

0

0

2B-Kenney, Boesch   3B-none  HR- Klein, Booz      LOB- NOR- 10  COL-8

time of the game 2:31   game temp 86 degrees

GREATER NORRISTOWN AMERICAN LEGION

Team

Won

Lost

Tied

Pct.

GB

RF

RA

JP MASCARO

17

2

0

.895

--

167

57

WHITPAIN

14

7

0

.667

4.0

118

61

COLLEGEVILLE

11

8

1

.575

6.0

107

96

PRESIDENTIAL CATERERS

11

10

0

.524

7.0

119

101

MT. CARMEL

10

10

1

.500

7.5

90

90

PAUL'S AUTO

7

14

0

.333

11.0

74

134

NORRISTOWN RECREATION

4

13

0

.235

12.0

68

177

VALLEY FORGE

4

14

0

.222

12.5

67

Remaining Schedule

Wednesday

JP Mascaro at Collegeville

Thursday

Norristown Recreation at JP Mascaro

Current Playoff seedings  (double elimination format)

#1 JP Mascaro vs.  #8 Norristown/ Valley Forge

#2 Whitpain vs. #7  Norrsitown/ Valley Forge

#3 Collegeville vs  #6 Paul’s Auto

#4 Presidential Caterers vs #5 Mt. Carmel