Spring City takes care of Westtown
WESTTOWN >> With the Chester County American Legion playoffs less than a week away, it is time to see if a team has the makings for tournament success, and possibly a shot at the Region 3 tournament.
Friday night at West Chester Rustin, Spring City showed off plenty of attributes that should serve it well in the postseason.
The Red Sox pounded out 12 hits, scored four runs, and got a marvelous complete game four-hitter from Tyler Leonard to post an impressive 4-1 victory over host Westtown. Leonard kept his pitch count in the 80s and struck out seven Westtown (5-8) batters while walking just one.
“I really tried to keep the pitch count down so I could get as many innings in as possible,” Leonard said. “And tonight I was getting ahead with my fastball and I thought my curveball a pretty good too. They were the two pitches I was using mainly tonight.”
Spring City (9-4) broke out early against Westtown starter Pat McDonough. The Red Sox got rolling in the top of the second inning when Nick Caglio led off the inning with a single to center. Harrison Moyer bunted him over to second and Nolan Gancasz ripped an RBI single to right field for a 1-0 Spring City lead.
The Red Sox continued to pour it on as Kevin Hynes doubled to put Spring City runners on second and third with one out. Zach Kratz, who had three hits for the game, ripped a McDonough fastball to left field for a two-run single, and Spring City jumped out to a 3-0 lead.
“It was great to get those runs early,” Leonard said. “But, it really does not change the way I pitch during the game. I kept the same mindset whether we are up or it is still 0-0.”
Meanwhile, Westtown had just two hits through four innings, but the Express had a man on first in the bottom of the fourth when Gabe Puzzangara singled with two out. But, Leonard got McDonough to loft a soft fly ball to center for the third out and the threat was over.
“We just are not hitting right now,” Westtown manager Tom Travers said. “They beat us 5-0 on Monday and held us to one run tonight.”
Spring City plated an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning off Westtown reliever Andrew Hoff to make it a 4-1 game.
Westtown finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Ben Watson poled a long double to left field that bounced off the left field fence. Watson moved up to third on a wild pitch and scored the Westtown run when Connor Bartholomew grounded out to third base and it was 4-1 game. Leonard bore down and after hitting Puzzangara with a pitch and giving up an infield single to Hoff, got Fricker to ground out to second and that was it for the Express.
“We seem to have enough pitching for the playoffs but we have to start hitting,” Travers said. “But, these kids will keep battling and battling and we wills what happens next week.”