Gebhard Goes Distance, Steelers Fall 8-1 to Sox

ROYERSFORD - The baby Steelers got a complete game effort from Pottstown Middle School eighth grader Tyler Gebhard, but it was not enough to overcome a 13-hit attack by the Red Sox as Pottstown dropped an 8-1 Twin County league decision at Ram Stadium.

“Overall, I was happy with Tyler’s effort," said Carl Sundstrom, manager of the Pottstown Middle School team. “I know he has the stuff to be great. He never seems to get excited out there, which is good to a point. It’s his demeanor. I would like to see him get a little fired up sometimes and believe in himself as much as I do.”

Gebhard has his fast ball working. 

“They must have had eight seeing eye hits,” said Sundstrom. “I don’t know what the heck he could have done about them. We just need to get the bats going. We need to hit the ball, which I know we are capable of. Three hits won’t beat many teams in this league.”

Spring City scored three runs in the third inning when Corey Rantz drove in Matt Yost, who reached on an error.

Andy Lavre-Smith tapped his way on with one of the aforementioned bloopers to give the Red Sox a 5-0 edge as Yost had driven in Connor Murphy who led off with an infield hit.

“I felt pretty good tonight,” said Gebhard. “It was hot and a little frustrating to see those hits fall in. But as a pitcher, you just have to keep your focus and throw strikes. Our defense played great again tonight. They just were fortunate to have ball drop in.”

Pottstown left two runners in scoring position in the third and had runners at the corners in the fourth with one out, but could not push a run across until the fifth inning.

Jimmy Mullen struck out to lead off the inning but hustled down the line as the ball got by catcher Corey Rantz, beating the throw. Mullen was awarded first base. After advancing on a fielder’s choice and a passed ball, Mullen scored on a sacrifice deep to left by T.J. Mullen to get Pottstown on the board.

“We have been playing pretty well, but we can hit more than we did tonight,” said Gebhard. “We just need to keep focused and play our game and we will be fine.”

The Baby Steelers again got two men aboard as pinch hitters Brock Ferguson and Dylan Mauger worked a couple of bases on balls, but that was where the rally ended following back-to-back ground outs to end the tilt.