Times Chronicle & Public Spirit
Back in the swing of things Cossetti helps power Whiz Kids beat Braves
WARMINSTER » It’s a return home for Andrew Cossetti.
“We all played together when we were younger, growing up, through our travel ball team,” Cossetti said of his new teammates. “I never thought I would get a chance to play with these guys again but this opportunity came around and I wasn’t gonna pass it up.”
Cossetti and the Philly Whiz Kids are enjoying their time in the Pendel League this summer, and on Thursday night they hammered out a 3-2 victory over the Warminster-Centennial Braves on a hot, muggy evening at Munro Community Park.
“We’re finally getting to play baseball again. It feels like it’s been forever,” said Cossetti, a La Salle College High School product who now plays at St. Joe’s University.
BIG START » The Whiz Kids (1-2) went right to work in their first at-bat.
Isaiah Winikur belted a leadoff home run to right to quickly put the visitors in front against lefthander Ryan Rieber.
With one out, Liam Bendo singled to left center and cleanup man Andrew Cossetti hammered a two-run shot to left center, boosting the margin to 3-0.
“I felt pretty good. I was just happy to help the team get off to an early start,” said Cossetti, who reached base all three times he came up to bat (HR, two walks). “We have a lot of hitters, a lot of guys that play in college and do pretty well.”
Rieber settled down, keeping the Whiz Kids off the scoreboard the rest of the way. He retired them in order in the fourth, striking out two that inning, with C.J. Goodz making a sliding catch in center for the other out.
Meanwhile, Philly starter J.P. Nolan didn’t surrender a hit the first three innings as the Whiz Kids built their lead.
Jbari Cox provided the first hit