Young helps Pine Forge Red double up Kodiaks

Just a few months ago, AJ Young was sitting at home with serious doubts he’d be playing baseball this summer.

But there he was Tuesday night out on the mound at Harner Field pitching under the lights for the Pine Forge Red Senior Babe Ruth team as part of an adjusted Ches-Mont Senior Babe Ruth League season.

Young picked up the win on the mound and swung a big bat at the plate to help guide Pine Forge Red to a 10-5 victory over the Boyertown Kodiaks. It was another appreciated baseball memory the recent Boyertown High School grad didn’t think he’d get this summer as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I didn’t think I was going to play this summer,” Young said. “I just thought it was going to be gone. It’s cool getting back into it because everything’s been so weird this summer, but at least we have baseball back.”

Young gave up four runs in four innings before Kevin Zvodar allowed one unearned run in three innings to close out the win.

Four Pine Forge players tallied extra base hits and all nine members of the starting lineup came around to score.

Young went 2-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI. Dan Goffredo was 3-for-4 with a double and drove in a run. Jared Pinter (2-for3) and Lenny Paris (2 RBI) also had doubles. Dylan Murphy chipped in a 2-for-4 day with a run scored and two RBI.

“Everybody was swinging good,” said Zvodar, who tallied a hit and came around to score twice.

Pine Forge jumped out to a 5-1 lead after two innings before Jake Anzuelicz pulled the Kodiaks back within one, 5-4, with a twoRBI double in the top of the third.

The game got away from Boyertown in the bottom of the third when Pine Forge responded with four runs to extend its lead back to 9-4.

Anzuelicz, who started the game on the mound for the Kodiaks, led his team at the plate with a 2-for-3 day. Tyler Derkutch also had two hits. Lefthander Wes Roma gave four innings of strong relief.

“We hit the ball well, but we just couldn’t get it done in the field or base running and that’s what hurt us,” Anzuelicz said.

“We’re a younger team; everyone else most of them are two years older than us,” he added. “We’ve been playing well. Tonight we just kind of let them have the game there.”

The Ches-Mont Senior Babe Ruth League season typically runs through the month of June before a league tournament followed by subsequent state and regional tournaments for those that qualify.

This summer, the season began July 11 and extends through Aug. 9 with each team playing 16 games. Boyertown (0-8) and Pine Forge (3-3) are at or near the midpoint of their seasons as there’s no postseason this summer.

“It’s a lot of games in a row,” Anzuelicz said. “That’s the one difference. I love it though. A lot of baseball is fun.”