Englund’s comes back to beat Masons

WEST CHESTER » When you are the reigning West Chester Adult Baseball League champions, and have already won as many games as England’s Apparel has, have you never flinch when things are not exactly going your way.

Monday night, at a sun-baked Hoopes Park, Ramcon Masons hurler Matt Fricker was pitching a gem, shutting out Englund’s on three hits through five innings while not walking anyone.

But, the game is seven innings and Englund’s came alive in the bottom of the sixth inning, trailing 1-0, to plate two runs off the Masons’ ace and Englund’s came back for a thrilling 2-1 victory, to give the Clothiers sole possession of second place behind the undefeated Jays.

“It was getting a little frustrating as the innings went by,” Englund’s shortstop Andrew Czachor said. “We have a stacked lineup and we are not hitting right now but baseball’s a game of ups and downs and this team always seems like it can come through. I knew we would get something going tonight.”

The Masons scored a first inning run off Englund’s (11-5) starter Lou Karcewski on just two hits and were aided by an infield error that allowed the run to score. And that was it for both sides.

Fricker was consistently getting ahead for the Masons (3-12) with first pitch fastballs and a curveball that was falling off the table. But, the Englund’s order, after getting just three hits for the game, came alive in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Russ Kissinger led off the sixth and lofted a long fly ball to right field that was run down for the first Englund’s out. Then Fricker walked Czachor on a 3-2 pitch and then gave a free pass to Mike Douglas to put men on first and second with one out.

After a meeting at the mound, the dangerous Jason Stackhouse stepped in and drove a 1-1 pitch to deep right, scoring Czachor and moving Douglas to third base and the game was tied at 1-1. Scott Stevens then bounced a ground ball through the left side of the infield, scoring Douglas, and it was suddenly a 2-1 Englund’s lead.

“The first two times I was at bat I tried to crush the ball,” Czachor said. “And I was up with one out and I said I’m not going to make the second out of the inning. I was going to get on base anyway I could, walk, hit by pitch, anything. And the 3-2 pitch was close but it was low and we got the inning started.”

The Masons got a one-out single off Englund’s

reliever Jonah Bemelin in the top of the seventh when Will Burgess blooped a single just out of the reach of the Englund’s right fielder. Burgess tried to steal second on the fourth pitch and was gunned down on a perfect throw by Englund’s catcher Tim Kureczz for the second out of the seventh. Bemelin then ended the tense affair by striking out Grant Burgess and Englund’s had a come-from-behind 2-1 win.

“This team has been in so many close games and they have guys who have been here before and they always feel they are still in it.” Czachor said.