Moses and Ammon Pitch Phoenixville into Third Round of Playoffs

Norchester scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on an inside the park, three-run home run by Brad Solomon to break open a game that was deadlocked at one apiece. The Bulldogs knocked out 13 hits en route to a 4-2 winner’s bracket semi-final victory over Phoenixville.

The win advances third-seeded Norchester into the winner’s bracket final of the Chester County League American Legion baseball playoffs on Sunday at 11 a.m. versus #1 Spring City. The Athletics will host No. 8 Kennett who defeated Lionville 20-7 to stay alive in the tournament.

Athletic of the game-Left fielder Ryan Yenchick, who has been dominant with his bat for most of the season, made two great fully extended diving catches in the early innings to prevent Norchester from getting on the board. The Phoenixville High sophomore also snared a ball destined to drive in two runs at the wall in the sixth inning.  

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Other key performers-Starting pitcher Colin Ammon, who also doubled and scored a run, worked his way out of trouble, forcing the Bulldogs to strand seven runners through the first five frames before allowing three earned runs in the tilt while striking out two and not issuing a walk all game. Phoenixville catcher Jack Ashburn terrorized Norchester pitching going 3-for-4 with a run scored and a double, while calling back-to back outstanding games behind the plate. Yenchick was also 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI.

Inside the lines-“It was huge for a to win against Exton earlier today,” said Ammon, a member of the recently formed AAA Batteries of Phoenixville (Ammon, Allen and Ashburn). “Gary threw the game of his life today, but that’s what we are about. We have played so well as a team this year. When it gets down to this point in the season, there is no room for error. We had a lot of chances to beat Norchester but needed one more big hit with guys on.”  

Say what?-“I felt really good today,” said Gary Moses, who pitched the A’s to a 3-1 opening round win over the No. 2 seeded bandits in Exton. “Staring the game with two 1-2-3 innings back-to-back really got my momentum going and our defense played outstanding against a very good hitting team. This is why I came back this year to play legion ball, we want to go as far as we can and just keep winning.”

Next on the schedule-Phoenixville will host No. 8 Kennett, following the Colts eliminating the Hillcats from the tournament, at 11 a.m. on Sunday at Kennedy Field in Phoenixville.

Extra innings-Phoenixville’s defense turned three double plays on Saturday, holding two of the leagues most potent offenses to a combine four earned runs. Battery mates Jack Ashburn, Shane Allen and Colin Ammon, who have been solid all season for the Athletics and have led them to a 13-9 record overall thus far this season, have asked to be known as the triple A batteries and we are happy to oblige them. Congrats AAAs and keep on charging.