Phantoms play to 3-3 tie against Daniel Boone
Limited numbers, pitching on both sides halts game
Host Phoenixville and Daniel Boone played to a seven-inning 3-3 tie in 16-19-yearold baseball action at Doc Kennedy Field on June 15.
The game was halted at that point since neither side had the necessary numbers to deal with pitching if the contest had continued into extra innings.
The visiting Orioles scored one run in the top of the first inning and then tacked on two more in the seventh to create the 3-3 tie.
The Phantoms countered with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and one in the sixth. Phoenixville did not score in the last of the seventh. So with the score still standing at 3-3 at that point, the game was halted.
Phoenixville used five pitchers in the outing with starter Colin Bowdish (two innings), Kevin Cushing (two), Jon Miller (one), Luke LeBeau (one) and Quinn Danna (one). The Phantom hurlers combined to scatter eight hits with two strikeouts and onewalk.
Daniel Boone used two pitchers. Starter Zach Brightbill hurled six innings and allowed six hits and three runs (two earned) with seven strikeouts and four walks. Brent Schwoyer relieved for the final frame. Schwoyer, who started the game at shortstop, laced a two-out, two-run double in the seventh inning that knotted the score at 3.
Matt Osisek-Byrne and LeBeau, the starting catcher, each picked up two hits for Phoenix- ville. Osisek-Byrne also scored the Phantoms’ third run on a delayed steal in the sixth inning and two stolen bases for the evening.
Danna, the leadoff man/shortstop who attends Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown, Morgan Bennyhoff and Joe McCartney had the other hits for Phoenixville. Kyle Bennick (walk) and Zach Masalski (walk) scored the other Phantom runs in the fifth inning. McCartney, the starting second baseman, provided a clutch two-out, run-scoring single to right field in the fifth.
Phoenixville manager Neil Herman said he did not want to put any of his pitchers or regular position players pressed into pitching duty in a situation that would have possibly risked injury had the game extended into extra
innings.
“We made a couple mistakes there, but for the most part, we played good defense,” said Herman, who is assisted by Dave Cimina. “We played small ball with the bunt and moved runners. In the end, we used the break early to score the third run for insurance.”
Cimina previously worked with Herman at Sun Valley High School as the junior varsity coach for the Vanguards while Herman served as the varsity head coach. Now that Herman has also assumed duties as the head coach for summer baseball here, Cimina has joined him in a similar capacity.
The Phantoms used a lineup of Danna, OsisekByrne, LeBeau, Bennyhoff, Bennick, Miller at first base, Cushing at third base, Masalski, McCartney at second base, ColinHook in center field and then as a catcher and Freddy Bieler in right field. Bieler was used almost exclusively as a pinch runner for the varsity Phantoms during the spring while also playing junior varsity ball. He is receiving the chance to play a regular position during the summer and is making the most of the opportunity while learning more about the game and to use his good speed at the same time.
There were numerous fine defensive plays by both sides throughout the game.
This was Phoenixville’s fourth such non-league game of the summer. The Phantoms also have a busy weekend ahead with a showcase tournament in Staten Island, New York, on June 18-19. That was another reason he did not want to tax his pitchers anymore than he had to.
Herman talked about McCartney.
“Joe played good defense and he came through in the clutch,” said Herman. “He came up with two outs and got the sacrifice bunt down. He is a very good role player for the team, and he did a great job.”
The Phantomswill play their final non-league game of the year on Friday night, June 24, against Exeter at Doc Kennedy Field, also at 6 p.m. The rest of their actionwill be in tournaments that Herman has arranged.