Boyertown sweeps Daniel Boone in doubleheader

BOYERTOWN >> Jared Waldman shook off a three-error inning by the Boyertown defense early in Saturday morning’s double header opener against Daniel Boone and the Bears’ defense and offense eventually came alive in a 7-1 Berks County League win at Bear Stadium.

Left-hander wound up with a complete-game fivehitter with no walks and eight strikeouts to remain undefeated on the season. In the second game, Boyertown took advantage of walks and hit batters, leadoff man Broc Babb reached base four straight times, and Nolan Kline pitched five strong innings in an 8-2 win.

The Bears (11-2 Berks, 17-5 overall) led 1-0 in the third inning of the first game, but Boone (5-9 Berks and overall) tied it on three consecutive errors. After a mound conference, Waldman got out of the inning on a pop to center field and a liner back to the mound.

“Just to talk to everyone, just to get everything settled down,” Waldman said concerning the talk on the mound. “I wanted to do something myself. I needed to be strong and attack the hitters a little more than I usually do.”

“Other pitchers think they have to strike everybody out,” said Boyertown manager Rick Moatz. “He did a good job of keeping his composure. We told him the only thing he can control is what he does on the mound.”

The Bears regained the lead with two in the fifth on a single by Chase Mercon, an error, an RBI single by Billy Coleman and another Mavrik miscue. Then Boyertown pulled off a nifty double play when second baseman Babb made a backhanded grab on a hard-hit, short-hopper and tossed to shortstop Chris Davis for a strong relay throw to first.

“Real clean, real smooth, making sure our defense is there,” said Babb. “That’s what we work on.”

“In the beginning, we were struggling,” said Waldman. “It was hot. It was early. We got the double play and after that one inning, the defense was solid. We got one run, two runs, building it up. We hit the ball and the defense made the plays.”

Waldman is now 5-0 (4-0 Berks) and has allowed only one run in 36 innings of work.

“From last year, I had the injury,” he said. “I really worked in the off-season every day to increase my stamina. This is my last year. I want to give it everything I’ve got. I couldn’t be happier with the team.”

“He’s been consistent all year,” said Moatz. “He’s thrown strikes. He’s made the other team earn whatever they’ve gotten.”

The Bears broke open the first game with four runs in the sixth, including an RBI double by Ethan Martin.

In the second game, Daniel Boone scored in the first on a leadoff double by Matt Stevens, a single by Chase Lacey and an error. But Boyertown combined two singles and five walks for four in the second.

Then two hit batters, two walks, a two-run double by Coleman and a throwing error made it 8-2 in the fourth. Kline allowed only one earned run in five innings to pick up the win.

“I felt that I was throwing hard today,” said Kline. “I couldn’t really locate my curveball. Later in the game it got a little better. We definitely play hard and we definitely don’t get flustered when we get behind. We have innings where we get five or six runs and that definitely puts us back in the game.”

Martin had two singles and a walk in the second game and knocked in two. Babb picked up a bunt single and knocked in a run with a grounder in the opener and was hit by a pitch and walked three times in the nightcap.

“I’m loving it,” Babb said concerning batting in the leadoff position. “It’s awesome. I feel I can work the pitcher better there. I’d say I’ve improved from last year. I just have to keep pushing.”

With the sweep, the Bears moved into first place, a half game ahead of Norchester (10-2).

Last year, Daniel Boone made it to the Berks playoff championship game and the Mavriks hope to turn things around for another post-season push.