Downingtown beats Spring City, heads into title game

DOWNINGTOWN >> Monday afternoon at a sun-splashed Downingtown West High School, the Downingtown Diamond Dawgs left no stone unturned.

Whether it was pitching, defense, or clutch hitting, Downingtown was at the top of its game, as it needed to be against perennial powerhouse Spring City. The wellrounded Diamond Dawgs got a clutch six-inning pitching performance from Joey Blackburn, and three hits and two RBI from Aaron Sipes, to hold off the Red Sox, 4-2, in Chester County League American Legion playoff action.

With the victory, Downingtown moves into Tuesday’s Chester County final (2 p.m.) against either Spring City or Westtown, who played Monday night at Spring Ford. The winner there will have to beat the Diamond Dawgs (151) twice to claim the title. All Downingtown has to do is win one out of two to reach the Region 3 Tournament, which begins Friday at Spring Ford.

Blackburn pitched in and out of trouble in all of his six innings of work as Spring City (11-5) had men on base in every inning, but could never deliver the knockout blow. The Downingtown hurler allowed just two runs on six hits in six innings, walking two and striking out three.

“I mean, for me, I do not change my mindset or anything with men on base,” Blackburn said. “I try not to worry too much about the baserunners, I mean they are important but I focus on the next batter and let things take care of themselves. Today, I was locating my fastball really well, moving it in and out, and trying to get ground balls, so my defense can do its thing.”

The Red Sox struck first in the top of the second inning against Blackburn. Tyler Horgan led off the inning with a walk and went to third when Colin Amerine doubled to put men on second and third with no one out. Brandon Fink popped out for the first Spring City out but a pretty RBI bunt single by Jason Bilotti and a RBI fielder’s choice from Harrison Moyer made it a 2-0 game.

Downingtown came right back to tie the game off Spring City starter Tyler Leonard. Downingtown got a leadoff double from Kevin Small before Jack Dovido earned a walk and Dylan DiRocco singled to load the bases with no one out. Sipes then stroked the first of his three hits, this one a two-run single up the middle, and Downingtown had tied it up at 2-2.

“I was seeing the ball really well today,” Sipes said. “I was picking up the fastball out of his hand right away and seeing the curveball well too. These games with Spring City are always a battle. They won the league the past two years so we feel this year is our year. We have a strong team.”

The game stayed tied until the bottom of the sixth inning, although Spring City threatened in the third, fourth and fifth, leaving five men on base in those three frames. But, the big Red Sox threat came in the top of the sixth, with two on and two out. But Evan Williams made a great diving grab of a Moyer liner headed down the third base line and the game stayed tied.

“We had our chances today,” said Spring City coach Rick Pizzico, who took over for manager Mike Gancasz, who was away due to a death in the family. “Baseball is a fickle game sometimes. If that ball would have gone down the line for two runs and sometimes you get a bleeder to right field that clears the bases. That is what this game is all about.”

Leonard got Tommy Elision to fly out for the first out of the inning. Ryan Howe then singled and stole second base before Leonard got the second out by striking out Kevin Small. After walking Dovido to put two men on, DiRocco and Sipes both stroked RBI singles to left field and Downingtown had a 4-2 lead.

Blackburn was pulled by Downingtown manager Scott Rambo to start the seventh, and Small came over from first bast to pitch. Small allowed the leadoff hitter to reach on a single but then got the next three Spring City batters to end the game, and Downingtown closed in on another championship.

“We have been getting a lot out of the bottom of our order all year,” Rambo said. “And Joey was great today. He pitched out of trouble and this was the longest he has gone this year. We come back tomorrow and hope to wrap things up and head to regionals.”