West Chester Henderson stays hot, thumps Great Valley

EAST WHITELAND » The West Chester Henderson baseball team wrapped up the Ches-Mont National Division last week, and Tuesday afternoon at Great Valley High School the Warriors showed no signs of a letdown as they thumped the Patriots, 13-2, in a five inning game.

West Chester Henderson (16-1 Ches-Mont, 18-1 overall) got a strong five-inning pitching performance from senior Jackson Snyder, who allowed the Patriots (6-10, 7-10) just three hits while striking out seven batters. On offense, Eddie Smink ripped three hits while knocking in four runs and Dylan Grim roped two hits with two RBIs.

“We just work hard in practice and take one game at a time,” Smink said. “Last year we won the league and got knocked out in the Districts. We don’t want

that to happen again this season and we are working very hard every day to make sure that does not happen again this season. We loved winning the league but we have other goals also.”

The Warriors jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. West Chester Henderson scored three runs on three hits with Great Valley pitcher Luke Nemeth walking two batters.

But the Patriots came right back to score two runs in the bottom of the first inning on singles by Danny Carr and Nemeth and a costly balk by Snyder which scored a Patriots run.

The Warriors busted the game open in the top of the second inning as West Chester Henderson scored four runs on just two hits with Smink ripping a two run single and Grim roping an RBI single. Nemeth got himself in trouble by walking two Warriors batters and it was suddenly a 7-2 Warriors edge.

In the top of the third inning Zach Klein hit a one out single, Wheeler reached on a Great Valley error and Smink singled. When the third inning was over the Warriors held a commanding 9-2 lead.

With all the early run support Snyder went into lockdown mode for the Warriors. Snyder did not allow a hit after the second inning and struck out three batters after the second frame. Snyder mixed a live fastball with a nasty off speed pitch and was in complete control after the first inning.

The Warriors did not score in the top of the fourth inning against Great Valley reliever Ryan Barrow but picked things right up in the top of the fifth inning. Wheeler started the inning by hitting a ground ball to third base that Matt Curtis threw high to first and Wheeler was on with none out. Eric Lintelman then roped a long RBI double to left center field and Dean O’Neill ripped a single to right field. Smink then knocked in two runs with a ringing double to the right field fence.

After striking out Dylan Grim, Barrow was tagged for another single, this one by Brett McCartney. Logan Laurento then lofted a long sacrifice fly to center field and the Henderson rout was on at 13-2.

Snyder retired the Patriots in order in the bottom of the fifth inning, striking out the first Great Valley batter and then getting Tyler Iams and Carr on fly outs and the Warriors had an impressive 13-2 five inning win.

“We take every game as a seven inning game against a team and we try to win that day,” Warriors coach Luke McNichol said. “This may not have been for a Ches-Mont championship but it was a big game because it was a Ches-Mont game and a big game in District 1. There are a lot of very good teams in the district and we try two not get too far ahead of ourselves and stay focused on the team we are playing that day.” WC Henderson 13, Great Valley 2, five innings