Englunds reaches WCABL final

Regular season champion Englunds Apparel outlasted a gritty Barnstormer team, scoring five times in the last two innings at Hoopes Park Thursday to post a 10-5 victory and close out the West Chester Adult Baseball League semifinal series, two games to one.

The Stormers gave Englunds all it could handle in the series and led 3-0 early following some clutch hitting by Anthony Kyne, Andre Rodriguez and Phil Matranga, who doubled twice and had a strong offensive series. The game was loosely played by both teams and briefly interrupted by rain in the fifth inning.

Andrew Taylor held the Clothiers in check early, but was betrayed by his defense, giving up five runs in the third and fourth innings. The Barnstormers tied the game in the fifth on Matranga’s second double and a game-tying single from Mike Uhle.

Englunds regained the lead on a Shane Stackhouse RBI in the bottom of the fifth and plated four more runs off reliever Dave Levan in the sixth.

Englunds was led by Pat Hoban, who had three hits, and Jack Dovidio, who scored three runs. Stackhouse drove in three runs from his leadoff spot. Mike Douglas was on base all four times and was a consistent force for Englunds throughout the series.

Brad Canan pitched a complete game for the Clothiers, scattering seven hits and fanning five. The Barnstormers season ends with the loss.

Englunds advances to the finals, where they will meet the Bandits, who finished a strong second in the regular season. Game 1 of the best-of-five series will be played Friday night at Hoopes.