Deep Run rallies past Lehigh-Bethlehem
FRr WKH firVW 46 pLWFKHV SDWurday, it looked like Deep Run was about to hit a slight speed bump in its road to repeating as Connie Mack “A” SWDWH CKDPpLRnV.
,n WKH firVW 46 pLWFKHV, Lehigh-Bethlehem, the top seed out of the Lehigh Valley, scored four runs. But that was before Joe Molettiere found his zone.
Deep Run’s hard throwing righty righted the wrong of WKH firVW LnnLnJ DnG wDWFKHG KLV RIIHnVH rDOOy WR D 7-4 YLFWRry DW /LPHpRrW SWDGLuP.
,n WKH ORnJ firVW LnnLnJ, Lehigh struck while MoletWLHrH fiJurHG RuW wKDW WKH umpire’s strike zone was. He rebounded to twirl six scoreless innings in nearly the same amount of bullets KH unORDGHG WKH firVW WLPH around the opposing batting order.
“He was just getting loose,” catcher Ryan Gordon said. “He can be a slow starter, but once he gets going you cannot touch him.”
“There’s no doubt Joe is our number one,” Deep Run coach Todd Alderfer said. “But like most power pitchers they can struggle in the firVW LnnLnJ. HH WKrHw 46 pLWFKHV Ln WKH firVW LnnLnJ DnG 59 the rest of the way. He settled in and pitched great.”
Deep Run remains in the winner’s bracket.
The boys in blue won the tournament last year as the WKLrG VHHG DnG EHOLHYH EHLnJ this year’s fourth seed out of the Bux-Mont does not mean they cannot do it again.
“It does not matter at all what seed we are,” Gordon said. “Especially with Pennridge being the top seed, who only beat us 3-2. We are capable of beating anybody if we put our minds to it and play good baseball.”
Molettiere scattered eight hits and struck out four in WKH wLn. DHHp 5un finDOOy broke through against Lehigh lefthander Jim Downey Ln WKH fiIWK LnnLnJ. /HDGRII hitter Brad Misialek led off the inning with a single and the rest of the team followed.
“BrDG WRRN WKH firVW WwR pitches, got down 0-2 and knew the guy was throwing KLP D FurYHEDOO,” AOGHrIHr VDLG. “HH WRRN WKH FurYHball to left and it created an eruption. It led to a walk of (EYDn 7LFH) DnG wH JRW Ln their head.”
0LVLDOHN DnG EYDn 7LFH each had a pair of hits on the afternoon, while GorGRn rHDFKHG EDVH Ln DOO fiYH plate appearances and recorded three hits. Tice tallied two RBI, while pinch hitter Frank Kerrigan knocked in the tying runs and knocked Downey out of the game. It was pinch hitter Mitch 0F/HRG’V VDFrLfiFH fly WKDW JDYH DHHp 5un LWV firVW OHDG.
“The two-out RBI were huge,” Alderfer said. “We JDYH GLIIHrHnW JuyV D FKDnFH and they came up huge. It’s all coming together.”
After a 13-7 regular seaVRn, DHHp 5un finDOOy KDV DOO the pieces in place and the rHVuOWV DrH HYLGHnW RI WKDW. The defending state champs KDYH wRn VHYHn RI WKHLr ODVW eight games and are playing IHDrOHVV EDVHEDOO. 1RW HYHn D 46-pLWFK, IRur-run firVW Lnning can sink their psyche these days.
“This shows the type of team we are,” Gordon VDLG. “:H FDn JR GRwn 4-0 against a good team like Lehigh and bear down, come back and score a bunch of runs. We are really starting to come together.”