Pine Forge wins state title
Chroscinski’s three-run blast in sixth highlight of Indians’ win
All day long Nick Chroscinski was eyeing up one pitch.
After he walked in his first two at bats, Chroscinski had to wait until the sixth inning of Monday’s Pennsylvania Senior Babe Ruth State championship against TriTownship before he got the pitch. It turned out to be the first one the Pine Forge extra hitter saw.
When Chroscinski connected with the pitch there was no drama or suspense. Chroscinski, his teammates, the Tri-Township players and the rest of the crowd all knew the ball was headed out of the ballpark. All that was left to do was marvel as it soared over the cameraman and into the trees behind the center field fence.
Chroscinski, who hit a grand slam in the sixth inning of Pine Forge’s Chesmont Senior Babe Ruth title win last week, blasted the three-run homer on Tuesday to help beat the Falcons, 6-1, for the state title.
“I’d been looking for that pitch all game and he finally gave it to me,” Chroscinski said. “It was a big part of the game, and it just felt good to go out.”
Pine Forge cruised through its league tournament and the first two games of the state playoffs, outscoring opponents 62-6 over the six-game span.
Tri-Township put up a little more resistance in the state tournament semifinals on Sunday, but Pine Forge came out with a 3-1 win behind a strong effort on the mound by Jordan Shustack.
The Indians sent Nate Kline to the hill on Monday after he closed
out the final inning of Sunday’s win, Kline struck out eight and took a shutout into the seventh inning until he gave up a double to pinch hitter Rick Massott for Tri-County’s only run. Tri-County had two other hits off Kline, singles by third baseman Kody Cracknell and second baseman Matt Bound.
Kline pitched in Pine Forge’s 12-1 league championship win on July 6. With his team clinging to a tworun lead for most of the game, Monday’s contest had a bit more drama.
“The adrenaline was pumping,” Kline said. “I knew I had what it takes, but I just had to find what I needed and I found it . ... That was probably the best team we played all year. We beat them two games in a row, so that’s a huge confidence booster, and it helps us moving forward in MidAtlantics.”
Pine Forge went up 2-0 in the top of the first inning after Tri-Township starter Thomas Philipps walked in two runs. Phillips settled in after the first and held Pine Forge to one hit and no runs over the next four innings.
Any offensive opportunities Tri-Township could muster were thwarted by Pine Forge’s defense. Shortstop Seth Endy and second baseman Mitch Pinder turned a double play to erase two errors in the bottom of the first inning. Phillips sent a deep fly ball toward the warning track in the third, but Indians center fielder John DeMartino tracked it down as he ran into the outfield fence.
The defensive effort and Kline’s prowess on the mound helped Pine Forge bide the time as it waited for its bats to erupt for the big inning it seems to have every game.
That inning came in the top of the sixth. Left fielder Ryan Jacobs started it out by hitting a triple to right field with the Falcons’ defense shifted for him to pull the ball. First baseman Ben Longacre, who scored two runs, followed with an RBI single. Shustack then pounded a single up the middle off of Philipps before Chroscinski brought them both home with his shot to center field.
“We seem to be a team that the first time around the pitcher might give us a little trouble,” Pine Forge assistant Andy Duffy said. “Second time through, a lot of our guys gain some confidence and understand what he’s trying to do to them. We’re looking for that big inning, put a couple things together, play some small ball, and we’re usually a good team when we have a lead.”
Pine Forge will play in a tournament in Hershey this week in preparation for the Senior Babe Ruth Middle Atlantic Regional Tournament starting July 20. The regional tournament features three teams from New York, two teams from New Jersey and one team from Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland along with the host team.
Last season, the Indians finished third in the tournament after qualifying because they hosted the event.
“Now that we earned our way it’s great, knowing as a team that we can do it,” Kline said. “We won states. Now why not win the next round?”