BUCKTOWN - When Norchester took the field Wednesday night against the up start Phantoms, the Big Dawgz had the pressure sitting squarely on their shoulders.
Entering the game with a 9-5 league mark, Norchester trailed Phoenixville -- who more importantly held the head-to-head tie breaker after winning their previous meeting -- by a half-game in the race for top spot in the Twin County American junior legion baseball League and more.
Ben Condello and Dave Clay helped the Dawgz rebound and score five runs in the sixth inning to record their second come from behind win with a 6-5 win and sole possession of first place.
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“These are the (games) you want to play,” said Norchester centerfielder Ben Condello. “This was such a big game . . . to win and it really affects your momentum as a team. We never gave up and just had to stay back on the ball and we knew hits would come.”
Starting right-hander Tony Gruenling was sensational even after allowing three runs in the second inning on two Phantoms hits. Gruenling, who will be a sophomore at Malvern Prep High School, settled in and at one point retired 10 consecutive Phoenixville batters, racked 11 strike outs and allowed six hits.
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“Tony’s curve ball was just flat out dangerous tonight,” said battery mate Dave Clay. “He hit his spots with the fast ball pretty well and worked ahead in the count all night but his breaking stuff was lethal and that’s how he kept them off balance.”
Trailing 4-0, Gruenling mowed through the Phoenixville lineup through the middle innings, allowed a double and two singles in the final five innings.
“I felt great tonight. Early on I didn’t really have the breaking stuff going,” said Gruenling. “After the second inning it came to me and I really felt if I just kept us in it the hits would come and they did.”
Norchester sent 11 men to the plate and Condello crossed the plate with the eventual game winning run on a sacrifice fly by Kutter Endy following an RBI double by Tony Salerno and single by Clay.
“It’s easy to coach when you have great kids,” said Norchester manager Ken Long. “I can teach and coach them in game situations, but when you have quality kids like we do, it is special to see them get themselves going and respond in a situation like that. I could not be prouder of these guys right now. Tony kept us in and our bats eventually came through, giving us a chance to win.”
“We need to work on staying out of holes like the last two games,” said Long. “We get that taken care of and I feel pretty good going forward. Now, it’s on us to stay in first place.”
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Phoenixville
1
3
0
0
0
1
0
5
6
2
Norchester
0
0
0
0
1
5
X
6
8
1
Collegeville
AB
R
H
RBI
Norchester
AB
R
H
RBI
Arney 2b
4
1
2
1
Salerno 2b
3
2
2
1
Furr rf
3
1
0
1
Condello cf
2
1
0
0
Purcell cf
4
0
1
0
Clay c
3
0
2
1
Demey c
3
0
0
2
Beebe lf
3
0
0
2
Anthony 3b
2
0
0
0
Endy 1b
3
0
1
1
Gallow 1b p
2
0
0
0
Gruenling p
2
0
0
0
Palmen p 1b
3
0
0
0
Zeborowski rf
4
1
2
0
Landis lf
2
2
2
0
Line ss
3
0
1
0
Cook ss
3
1
1
0
Raymond 3b
3
1
0
1
McCourt, C pr
0
0
0
0
McCourt, B pr
0
1
0
0
Line rf
2
2
2
3
McCourt, C 3b
1
1
0
0
Totals
28
5
6
4
Totals
26
6
8
6
IP
R
ER
H
SO
BB
Palmen (L)
5.3
5
3
8
4
2
Cullen
.6
0
0
0
0
0
Gruenling (W)
7
5
3
6
11
3
