Coatesville bats stay hot in runaway win over D-West

DOWNINGTOWN >> The weather is getting warmer, and the Coatesville baseball team is enjoying what former Phillies manager Charlie Manuel called “Hittin’ Weather.”

One game after the Red Raiders put up 13 runs on Unionville, the potent Coatesville attack banged out 15 runs on 12 hits Monday afternoon in an overwhelming win over Downingtown West, 15-8, in Ches-Mont League National Division action.

Coatesville (6-4 league, 6-4 overall) overcame an early 3-0 hole against the Whippets (7-4, 7-4), by putting up four runs in the top of the fourth inning and then getting a grand slam home run from sophomore Harrison Susi in the fifth, as Coatesville broke things open with a seven-run top of the fifth.

“Well, with the bases loaded I was looking to drive something in the gap between first and second and do some damage,” Susi said. “I got a low fastball over the plate and I really got into it. We are starting to hit now. Early in the season we were struggling at the plate and I think most of it was mental. But, if we hit like we have the last two games we are going to be a tough team to beat. And D-West beat us the first time so we had a lot of motivation and confidence to get them back today.”

Downingtown West took their early 3-0 lead on a solo home run from Greyson Kovatch, and a two-run bomb from Cooper Jordan in the bottom of the third inning off Coatesville starter Alex Keuhn. But, the Red Raiders were not down for long. Coatesville sent 10 men to the plate in the top the fourth inning, scoring four runs on three hits to take a 4-3 lead against West starter David Catanese. Junior RJ Rickenbaugh, Kuehn and Jake Stewart had big hits and the Red Raiders were back on top at 4-3.

That was only the appetizer for the Red Raider offense, though. In the top of the fifth inning, Coatesville opened the game up with Susi’s blast being the big blow. But, Rickenbaugh ripped a long double and Kuehn and Marc Garcia had big hits, as well, and Coatesville was up, 11-3.

“I saw six straight curveballs so I had to change my approach at the plate,” Rickenbaugh

said. “I got a fastball and I ripped it pretty good. We are all hitting the ball well right now. Early in the season e struggled a little but we have confidence now and I think we may be the team to beat in the Ches-Mont if we keep hitting like this.”

With an eight-run deficit staring them in the face, the Whippets decided to fight. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Jack Benis led off with a double to left field. Two straight Whippets walked to load the bases with no one out. Young ripped an RBI single to make it a 11-4 game, and then Jack Ginsburg unloaded a long grand slam to trim the lead to 11-8.

Coatesville kept up the pressure off Whippet reliever Tyler Conlan in the top of the seventh inning. Will Dean led off with a single and was bunted to second base. After Zach Kudalchik walked, Rickenbaugh was hit with a pitch to load the bases with one out.

Matt Stout got a fastball and ripped it to center field for a two-run double, and the

Red Raiders were back in business at, 13-8. Two batters later, Garcia iced the Coatesville win with a two-run double of his own and the Red Raiders had a 15-8 lead heading to the bottom of the seventh inning.

The Whippets went quietly in the final frame against Coatesville reliever Will Dean, and the Red Raiders had their third win in a row while the Whippets dropped their third straight game after a good start to the season.

“Early on everybody was trying to hit a five-run homer,” Coatesville coach Hal Ziegler said. “They were waiting for our leaders to show the way and now our leaders are hitting. And this team can scrap. I like they way they fought back today.” Coatesville 15, Downingtown West 8

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2B-Rickenbaugh, Stout, Garcia, Benis. HR-Susi, Kovatch, Young, Ginsburg. WP-Kuehn. LP-Catanese.