Palmen Shuts Door on Red Sox as Athletics Roll

David Palmen spent most of the high school season on the varsity squad, so he is still “getting to know” his junior American Legion teammates.

Following Sunday’ masterful 7-4 win over Spring City, league rival and current top dog of the Twin County league, it’s doubtful that Palmen will have any shortage of friends on the Athletics' roster.

“It was great to beat them,” said Palmen. “I played most of the year on varsity so I am still getting to know a lot of our guys and the way we play. I felt pretty good today. It was hot at the tart of the game, but after the first couples innings I had more than just my fast ball going.”

The Red Sox, who suffered their first league loss, jumped on Palmen and his new mates early as they posted three runs in the opening at bat when David Gulati, who drew a walk, scored on a triple by Cameron Simmons, who later scored along with Corey Rantz on a ground out by Andy Lovre-Smith and an RBI triple by Matt Yost.

“We got off to a great start,” said manager Mike Gancasz. “We hit the ball around in the first inning there ... [Palmen] really battled back after we put up three. It’s hard to do things or get things going without base runners.”

Palmen (IP, 4 ER, 3K 5BB), who allowed five hits in all, settled in and did not allow more than one base runner in any inning until Spring City loaded the bases in the top of the seventh.

“I used my fast ball mostly in the beginning,” Palmen said. “I started getting my curve over and was able to keep them off balance when we were ahead in the count. To get seven runs on the board was great.”

The Athletics got things started offensively in the third frame as Bryan Furr led off with a single followed by Rob Purcell, who reached base on an error, setting the table for Chris Demey, who ripped a single down the line to score Furr. Then Purcell came around and score as the throw got loose in the infield.

“I was very happy with way we responded today,” said Athletics manager A.J. Gray. “They had that big first inning and we didn’t hang our heads. They just battled back and played a solid game against the team that’s first in our league.”

In the home fifth, Phoenixville took a 6-3 lead posting three runs as it was Demey leading off with a single, followed by Anthony reaching on a throwing error and Zach Gallow rapping a base knock scoring Demey. That was followed by a one–out RBI single by Chance DiFebbo.

Spring City loaded the bases to open the final at bat as Palmen walked pinch hitter Connor Klemann then plucked David Gulati, before issuing a free pass to Connor Murphy to fill the bags with Sox with no one out.

“There was a plan in place if needed, but it was David’s game at that point,” said A.J. Gray. "He really did a great job working through that and it’s important to have confidence that he can close out a game like that. We played a very complete game as a team which is great to see this early in the season. These guys have given up a big part of their summer and it’s great when we are successful.”

Palmen allowed a sac fly by pinch hitter Shane Emrich, but retired Lovre-Smith and Corey Rantz on a weak fly to center and a ground out to Mike Anthony to close out the game, giving the Athletics a big league win.

“I know we always have a target on us as one of the top teams in the league,” said Red Sox manager Gancasz. “I like it though. Our guys know they have to step it up every game. Today proves what we have been telling our guys: that we are not good enough to just show up and win games. No one in this league is going to give us anything. We got outplayed by a very good team today.”

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

R

H

E

Spring City

3

0

0

0

0

0

1

4

5

1

Phoenixville

0

0

2

1

3

1

X

7

10

1

AB

R

H

RBI

Phoenixville

AB

R

H

RBI

Gulati ss

2

1

0

0

Hook 2b

4

0

0

0

Murphy rf

3

0

0

0

Furr lf

4

1

3

1

Simmons p

3

1

2

1

Purcell cf

3

2

1

0

Lovre-Smith 1b

4

0

1

0

Demey c

4

1

4

2

Rantz c

4

1

1

0

Anthony 3b

2

0

0

0

Yost rf

3

0

1

1

Gallow  1b

4

1

1

0

Cass lf

3

0

0

0

Cook ss

2

0

0

0

Conroy 3b

3

0

0

0

Palmer p

3

0

2

0

Carter cf

1

0

0

0

DiFebbo rf

3

1

2

1

Emmerick ph

0

0

0

1

Sommers ph

2

1

0

1

Butera ph

1

0

0

0

Keenan ph

0

1

0

0

Totals

26

4

5

3

Totals

31

7

13

5

IP

R

ER

H

SO

BB

Simmons(L)

2

6

5

5

1

4

Breitenback

1

4

3

5

0

0

Palmen (W)

7

4

3

5

3

5

2B-none 3B-Simmons, Yost   HR- none       LOB- S CITY -7     PHX-9 

time of the game 2:11       game temp 85 degrees