Jays beat rain and Red Men

WEST CHESTER >> With the forecast calling for heavy thunderstorms around Hoopes Park Monday night, it was imperative for either the Jays or Red Men to get out to a fast start, just in case the game only lasted five innings.

The Jays were the ones who beat the storm, jumping on Red Men starter Joe Hurley for two runs in the top of the first inning, en route to a 6-1 West Chester Adult Baseball League win in five innings.

Ethan Sorosi got things going for the Jays (5-2) with a sharp single to right field. After Hurley got the next out on a fly ball to right field, Sorosi stole second base and scored on an RBI single from JJ Freeman. After Steve McCardell flied to center field for the second out, John Hennessey roped an RBI double to score Freeman and it was a 2-0 Jays lead.

“We knew rain was going to come so we wanted to get out to an early lead,” Freeman said. “Plus, when you score early it gives your pitcher more confidence and that is something we try to do every game. But with the weather forecast it was a little more urgent tonight.”

Jays starter Wes Erdman was the beneficiary of those early runs and he set the Red Men (55) down in the first two innings, with the Red Men getting just one hit. But, the Jays were just starting to get the offense going.

Sorosi led off the top the third with a double to center field, and after Hurley got Tague Davis to ground out to second base, Freeman ripped a fastball to center and it was a 3-0 Jays lead. The Jays were not done as they got singles from Hennessey, Trey Tobinus and Matt Turner and the Red Men also contributed an infield error and a walk. At the end of the frame it was a 5-0 Jays advantage.

“I was seeing the ball well and I was just going up there and I was looking for fastballs,” Freeman said. “I got a couple and was able to put the good part of the bat on the ball and they fell in.”

The Red Men came back to score a run in the bottom of the third inning when Mike Rozich doubled one in to make it a 5-1 game, but Erdman got out of further trouble by getting Matt Samson, Hunter Hall and Pete Giombetti to end the inning. The rains came in the fifth inning and the game was called, giving the Jays a very satisfying 6-1 win.

“It did not go our way but at least we got the game in and don’t have another makeup game,” said Red Men manager Charles Cooper.