Jays come back, stay perfect

WEST CHESTER » Early in this West Chester Adult Baseball League season, the Jays have won games they were leading in most of the way.

Well, Thursday night at Hoopes Park, the Jays had to battle back from a two-run deficit with a fiverun top of the seventh inning that propelled them to a thrilling, 7-5, win over the Red Men, keeping the Jays undefeated after five games.

Former West Chester Henderson star Sean McCormick came on in relief of Jake Reese and pitched two and two thirds innings of shutout baseball and got the game-winning two-run double in the top of the seventh inning.

“When you come in a game where you are behind, I was just thinking I just have to do my job,” McCormick said. “And with this team you know they are going to score some runs so I just concentrated on getting out of the inning and I felt we would come back. And on the hit in the seventh inning I hit a slider a little up and it was since to just be able to contribute. I just am glad to be out there playing baseball. I was on the Jays for five years starting in 2009 but I have not been out in three years and it is a good feeling to be out here playing baseball again.”

The Red Men held a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning after a towering two-run homer by Brendan O’Donnell, which paired well with a sterling starting pitching performance from Alex Cornell. Cornell went five innings and allowed the Jays (5-0) two runs on just four hits while striking out four batters. But, Cornell tired and the Red Men went to the bullpen for Pierce Rucci.

Rucci pitched a one-two-three sixth inning, but the roof fell in on the Red Men in the top of the seventh. The Jays sent 11 men to the plate and scored five runs on five hits while the Red Men contributed to the cause with three errors, leading to their disappointing loss.

Nick Campana led off with a single and went to second when the Red Men (2-3) outfielder bobbled the ball. Steve Posner ripped an RBI single, his third hit of the game, to make it a 5-3 game. Kevin Berry laid down a perfect bunt and Red Men catcher Cole Chesnet threw past first basemen O’Donnell to put men on second and third with no one out.

McCormick then ripped a two-run double and after the Jays got an out, they intentionally walked Mike McCardell to load the bases. Jason Lamborn ripped an RBI single to right field and the Jays had a 7-5 lead after six and a half innings.

“We never got down after O’Donnell hit the home run,” Campana said. “We know that pretty much one through nine, the lineup can hurt you.”

With a 7-5 lead, all McCormick had to do was keep the Red Men at bay for three outs.

No problem. McCormick got the Red Men to hit harmless ground balls, and the Jays had a very improbable 7-5 victory to stay undefeated in the young season.

“We just needed to keep our heads in the game and let our offense go to work.” Campana said.