Red Men bounce back for 6-1 win over Haly Oil

Saturday afternoon at a sweltering Hoopes Park, the Red Men bounced back from a loss to Englunds two days earlier with an efficient and crisp 6-1 win over Haly Oil in West Chester Adult Baseball League action.

The Red Men got a fantastic five-inning pitching start from Kyle Laing, who allowed Haly Oil just three hits while walking just two batters. Pierce Rucci came in for the last two innings and was also sharp on the mound.

On offense the Red Men got RBI doubles from Brendan O’ Donnell and Hunter Hall and put two runs on Haly Oil (4-5) in the first inning to give Laing some breathing room on a very hot day.

“I was throwing mostly fastballs today,” Laing said. “And the umpire was giving the outside part of the plate and i just kept pounding that zone. I only walked two batters and I have been working on my control and getting more consistent throwing strikes. And getting those two runs in the first inning was big. I love to watch these guys hit because we have a very good lineup.”

Haly Oil, down 2-0 after three innings, threatened in the top of the fourth inning off Laing. With one out, Greg Herman singled and Josh Martin walked. Matt McAnally came up and after a strike, Herman was caught off second and Red Men shortstop Joe Hurley tagged Herman out for the second out. McAnally

then singled and Pat Cummings struck out to end the scoring threat.

After plating a single run in the fourth inning, the Red Men put the game away in the fifth inning. Matt Samson flied out to left field for the first out. Then, an infield error - one of four Haly Oil errors - put Hurley on first base with one out. Hall then drove Hurley home with a ringing double to right center field to make it a 4-0 game.

O’Donnell hit a long fly to right field for the second Red Men out but Hall tagged up and went to third base. Ryan Howe then took a Pat Cummings fastball and drove it to deep left field with Hall scoring and the Red Men were cruising at 5-0.

“We took advantage of their errors and that is what you have to do to score runs,” Red Men manager Charlie Cooper said.

Laing’s day was done, and Pierce Rucci came in, limiting the Haly Oil lineup to just one infield single in two innings of work.

The Red Men (4-6) face the undefeated Jays Sunday.

“We got good starting pitching from Kyle and he threw strikes the whole game and that was a big part of winning the game today.” Cooper said. ******** In WCABL action Friday, the Jays defeated the Barnstormers, 8-0. Jake Reese pitched scoreless innings, giving up just two singles while striking out five to earn the victory. Mike McCardell was 2-for-3 with a long three-run homer to deep left center and a double. Mitch Balint was 2-for-4 with a double for the winners.

Saturday, the Jays improved to 10-0 with a 3-1 victory over England’s. Zac Burke pitched four scoreless innings, giving up just three singles while striking out four to earn the victory on the mound. David Iacobbuci doubled in two runs to break a 1-1 tie in the bottom of fifth inning. JJ Freeman was 2-for-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases for the winners. Mike Douglas singled in England’s lone run.