Refreshed Red Sox rip Oxford
No. 1 seed Spring City makes quick work of first-round opponent
UPPER PROVIDENCE » Such was the difference between four days’ rest ... and no days’ rest.
Spring City’s American Legion baseball team was in the better position for Friday’s game with Oxford. The Red Sox, sporting the Chester County League’s top seed, came into Ram Stadium off a four-day rest period and handled Oxford 10-0 in the opening round of the Chester County League playoffs.
The Sox showed themselves to be much fresher than the Braves, who had to play their way into the circuit’s main bracket by winning Thursday against West Chester. They got two-hit shutout pitching from Chris Sparacino and run production sufficient to bring the “mercy rule” into play after 4½ innings.
“The days off helped,” Sparacino said. Spring City’s last on-field action was Monday, a non-league game with Norchester manager Mike Gancasz saw as beneficial for his club heading into the postseason grind.
“That was a good warmup for us, to get our pitching staff work,” Gancasz said. “We had practices a couple days after that, refining things. The boys executed things tonight.”
The Sox tagged Oxford starting pitcher Jackson West for three runs apiece in their first three atbats. They brought the “mercy rule” into effect with a solo run in the fourth, bolstering a ninehit offense with four walks, two Oxford errors and a crucial wild pitch.
Andrew Huang had four RBI and Patrick Jucker drove in another pair or runs, in a Sox lineup seven of its batters hit safely. J.C.
Reed had SC’s longest hit, a double to the corner of left field that scored Nick Price (single) with the 10th run in the fourth.
“The bats were a lot better,” Huang said. “I was looking for fastballs and trying to let curves go. I try to keep it simple.”
Spring City jumped on Oxford in its first at-bat. Kasey Caras led off with a single, and he went to third while Brad Clemens was reaching base on a throwing error. Huang followed with a looping single over third base to score Caras and Clemens.
Huang moved up to third off Nick Price’s sacrifice fly to center, then came home as Ryan Harvey’s bouncer to second was misplayed.
The Red Sox added another three-spot in the second, the big hit Huang’s two-run single to right that brought in Caras and Clemens (both singles). Caras also had an RBI in the frame, driving in Jucker (walk).
With another three-run performance in the third, Spring City went up on Oxford 9-0. Jucker had the Sox’ productive bat in the frame, hitting a two-run single after Harvey and J.C. Reed led off with walks and Thomas Hughes laid down a textbook bunt along the thirdbase line to load the bags.
“Thomas’ bunt was perfect,” Gancasz said. “They weren’t expecting it.”
Jucker scored later off a wild pitch after moving to third off a Coy Walters fielders-choice play.
Sparacino closed out the game in solid fashion, giving up just one walk alongside the two hits. Oxford managed no more than two baserunners in an at-bat, the fourth inning marked by Jack Brundige reaching base on an error and Cam Baughman singling to center.
“Whenever the guys are hitting,” he said, “I attack the hitters more and trust my defense.”
Needing just under 70 pitches to close out the complete game, he figures to be back available after three days’ rest.
“We’re really deep in pitching,” Sparacino said. “We have nine pitchers, nine aces. Whoever is on the mound, we have 100 percent confidence in them.”
The Sox will look to continue their run in the CCL playoffs Saturday, returning to the Ram at 1 p.m. to face Lionville — a 9-5 winner over Caln in another playoff opener.
By virtue of its top seed, Spring City will play the remainder of the tournament on its home field ... a situation much to Huang’s liking.
“It helps to play on a nice field,” he said. NOTES » Hunter Hall was the only other Oxford player to hit safely, getting a single in the first . ... Harvey and Jucker each stole bases for Spring City . ... Lionville, the league’s fifth seed, will be serving as host team for the Pa. Region Three Tournament July 21-25. Downingtown East High School will be the game site.