[Updated] Legion Baseball: Kohler Fans Seven in 2-1 Ft Washington Loss

Be it a December meeting of the Eagles and Cowboys, a classic Sixers and Celtics match-up, or even Philadelphia’s classic Army Navy game, there is something special about a rivalry.

In Lower Montco American Legion baseball, there is no bigger rivalry than that of Warminster and Fort Washington.

Something about the rich history of these two powerhouses, exchanging spots at the top of the league over the last 10 years, always brings out the best, and worst, when the two clubs face off.

Last Friday night, Upper Dublin junior Jesse Kohler struck out seven and did not allow an earned run in a 2-1 loss to the Warriors, as Warminster ace Matt McAllister fanned 12 and allowed just two hits in a complete game victory.

“We want to play in games like this,” said Fort Washington manager Gary Bonitatibus. “We were inches away from a tie game and one pitch away from winning the thing. When it comes time to talk about playoffs and winning the league again, we need to have games like this under our belts.”

Warminster (7-2), took a 2-0 lead in the third inning when Cameron Goodell smacked a two run double, scoring Steve Gardener, who had also doubled, and Jimmy McNally, who singled. All three hits occured with two outs, after Fort Washington had committed two errors that would have ended the inning.  However, the Generals started to make rumblings of their own in the top of the fifth. 

With Doug Bauer on third following a single and two stolen bases, coach Bonitatibus called on Bob Andris to drop down a suicide squeeze. Andris could not get his bat on top of the high fastball, and the ball popped up and fell into the glove of third basemen Tim Greenfield, who calmly jogged to the bag, doubling off Bauer and ending the threat.

 “I am glad we were playing up,” said Warriors manager Rick Penecale. “We had seen them do that in the past, and with Matt throwing well, I thought they might try it.”

An inning later, the Generals were at it again, this time succeeding with a textbook squeeze when Jared Zarwin tapped a perfectly placed bunt between third and the mound, scoring Andrew Yekel, who had drawn a walk and stole two bases to move up to third. The squeeze cut the lead in half at 2-1.

“It’s part of our game,” said Kohler. “As a pitcher, I like when we run; it gets the other pitcher thinking about the runners and makes them work. I felt really good on the mound tonight, my fastball had pretty good movement. I look forward to legion ball; it’s a much more relaxed environment with guys I have played with since we have been kids.”

McAllister was able to retire Fort Washington in order in the seventh to close out the game and stop the Generals four-game winning streak.

“We have a lot of baseball to be played,” said Bonitatibus. “If we want to get back to regionals like last year, it’s games like this that will get us ready.”

“We are always fired up when we play them,” said Warriors righty McAllister. “It always gets me going when it gets chirpy. The more a team chirps, the more it gets me going. They (Fort Washington) are always the team that we have to beat if we are going to make it into regionals, so we know that every game with them is huge.”

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

R

H

E

Ft. Washington

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

2

2

Warminster

0

0

2

0

0

0

X

2

6

1

Fort Washington

AB

R

H

RBI

Warminster

AB

R

H

RBI

Felix ss

3

0

0

0

Devine rf

3

0

0

0

Zarwin 2b

3

0

1

0

Gradner cf

2

1

1

0

Acierno 3b

3

0

0

0

Goodell ss

3

0

1

1

Vido cf

3

0

1

0

McAllsiter p

3

0

1

0

Gregg c

3

0

0

0

McCloskey 1b

3

0

1

0

Miller 1b

3

0

0

0

Greenfield 3b

3

0

1

0

Bauer dh

1

0

0

0

Delagol lf

2

0

0

0

Andris rf

1

0

0

0

Browne dh

2

1

1

0

Yekel lf

1

1

0

0

Doll  2b

1

0

0

0

Kohler p

0

0

0

0

McNally c

0

0

0

0

Totals

21

1

2

1

Totals

22

2

6

1

IP

R

ER

H

SO

BB

Kohler (L)

6

2

1

6

7

1

McAlliter (W 3-0)

7

1

1

2

12

2

2B-McClosky, Goodell, Gardner, Greenfield 3B-none   HR- none       LOB- Fort-1     Warminster-4 

time of the game 1:58       game temp 90 degrees