Fort holds off Angels, forces title game
The Fort Washington Generals knew they were far from their best the first time they played Jenkintown in the Lower Montco Legion playoffs.
With a chance to face the Angels again and needing to win to keep their season alive, the Generals were much better the second time around. Much of that was due to Brian McPeak, the 15-year-old right-handed pitcher that’s been one of the team’s best players this summer.
McPeak pitched a complete game five-hitter as Fort Washington won 9-3 to force a winner-take-all championship game Tuesday.
Fort certainly didn’t come out like the team with the pressure on it to win. Jenkintown starter Dale Jacobs started with a little too much energy on the hill and couldn’t locate the strike zone at the outset.
The result saw Justin Horn and Matt Hebling walk and Horn advance to third on a wild pitch and stolen base. After a fly out to left, Horn scored on an infield error and Hebling rushed home on a wild pitch, avoiding the tag of Dan Gordon at home plate.
Gordon, the Angels’ catcher, did throw out two runners in the first.
Fort starter Brian McPeak did not have much trouble in the first, retiring the side on just eight pitches. While the game was played at Fort’s home field at Upper Dublin High School, Jenkintown was the home team by value of advancing through the winner’s bracket.
So, the “away” Generals took a big step toward forcing a decisive game on Tuesday with a five-spot in the second inning. Noel Franczyk singled, Owen Lawn walked and Riley Brink singled to load the bases against Jacobs.
The Jenkintown righty was still fighting with his command and hit Jack Jamison and Horn to bring in two more runs. Matt Hebling hit a sac fly to right, scoring Brink and an error
on an Angels relay throw plated Jamison.
Fort finally got a run producing hit when Dianno singled in Horn for a 7-0 lead.
For the next four innings, Jacobs was untouchable, holding the Generals to just one hit and two total runners from the third
through the sixth. His offense also found a pulse, but couldn’t quite find the difference-making hit.
The Angels got on the board in the fourth when Jake Gaev scored on a passed ball, but Jenkintown stranded John Contoudis at third. An inning later,
Jared Smith singled home Gordon and Skylar Marsh raced home on a throwing error trying to get a base stealer. Again, the Angels left men on base with Smith and Christian Geer both in scoring position.
In all, the Angels left six men on the bases.
McPeak avoided giving up the big hit all game and he found a way to help himself in the seventh inning. Horn singled to lead off, JT Breslin walked and both moved up on a one-out fly to center by Dianno.
It wouldn’t have matter what base either was on as McPeak bombed a two-out double to the fence in left field, plating two runs and giving himself a five-run lead to work with.
He had little trouble finishing things off, working around a one-out walk to wrap up the game with a scoreless seventh.
Horn reached base all four times he went to the plate and scored two runs. Marsh was 2-for-3 for Jenkintown.