Stovern, Tompkins eliminate Kempner
A one-game playoff with Simeon Woods-Richardson on the mound for Kempner is not an ideal situation for most teams.
Then again, a one-game playoff with Harrison Stovern starting for Tompkins is equally daunting.
The Falcons’ ace lefthander pitched into the sixth and limited Kempner to three hits and an unearned run, holding up an early lead as Tompkins eliminated the Cougars 6-1 Thursday night at Stratford High School. District 19-6A champion Tompkins, which earned its first playoff series win last year, advances to the area round to face the winner of the Westside-Jersey Village series.
“Stovern, I think, has thrown six complete-game shutouts in his last seven starts,” Tompkins coach Kyle Humphreys said. “He had a one-run game tonight. (Carson) Rollins came in and did a great job, closed the door. He looked great tonight. They’ve been doing that stuff all year. We’re going to need the other guys too. In two out of three, we’re going to have to have some guys step up in a relief role and take care of business.”
Stovern struck out nine and walked three in 52⁄3 innings. Two of the walks were intentional passes to Richardson with runners on. He did not encounter significant trouble until the fifth, when Alex Cellner’s leadoff single and an error helped load the bases.
Aydin Halimi scored on a wild pitch to break the shutout, but Stovern responded with consecutive strikeouts to end the inning with a 3-1 lead.
The side-arming Rollins relieved with two on and two out in the sixth and sealed the victory with three strikeouts and a pop-up from his four batters.
Stovern helped himself at the plate with three hits, including an RBI triple during Tompkins’ three-run seventh. His leadoff single opened Tompkins’ threerun first as the first four Falcons reached, one on an error. Rob Gonzalez singled home one run, Rollins drove in Weston Velasek with a sacrifice fly and Wilson Ehrhardt stole home with two outs.
Richardson settled down to strike out 11 and pitched five straight scoreless innings, but the early runs proved key.
“I think it’s huge,” Humphreys said. “We have a lot of kids who play with him. We played them last year. We were real successful against him last year, but everybody improves from year to year and we know he’s a good pitcher. You just have to go back to how you prepared in practice and I thought the kids executed well early on.”
Blake Ehlinger was 2-for-4 with a double to lead the hitting for Kempner, which made its 10th playoff appearance in 11 seasons.
Elias Koury doubled and scored during Tompkins’ seventh-inning rally, helping seal the Falcons’ second consecutive area championship. They eliminated Kempner in the bi-district round last year as well.
Humphreys credited the Falcons with solid play through, including on the basepaths. After winning a competitive 19-6A for their first district title, they are eager for their longest playoff run.
“I think they have a lot of confidence,” Humphreys said. “They’ve been real successful this year. We have a tough district. We’re used to playing good teams. There’s not a whole lot of letdown teams, teams you can get out there and just step on the plate and try to get out. We have to go into every game ready to go.”