Red Sox continue to roll, down Falls, 6-5
Spring City stays unbeaten in Region 3 tournament
ROYERSFORD » On a night where he struggled with his command on the mound, Thomas Hughes made his best pitch of the night from left field.
With the potential go-ahead run barreling home from third on a sacrifice fly during the top of the seventh inning, Hughes threw a one-hop dart to Ryan Harvey behind the plate to preserve the tie game Monday night at Ram Stadium.
An inning later, the Red Sox offense put together one final rally on their way to a 6-5 win over Falls during the winners’ bracket final of the Region 3 American Legion Baseball playoffs.
“When I threw it, I didn’t think it was on-target at all,” said the lefty Hughes, who threw 108 pitches before being pulled after four innings. “I did not think it was on line, but I guess my lefty curve brought it back to home plate.”
With the win, the top-seeded Red Sox out of the Chester County League – also the tournament hosts – face familiar foe Lionville
(20-7 winner over Presidential Caterers) in the championship qualifier on Tuesday. Falls, the top seed from Lower Bucks, will go up against Broomall (14-1 winner over Fort Washington).
Coming off the bench as a pinch hitter, Nick Brauer drove in the game-winning run during the bottom of the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly to left field. That enabled Cam Michaud to score from third after he led off the inning with a triple to deep right.
“There’s something special about this team right now,” said Spring City skipper Mike Gancasz. “I don’t know what it is, but they are playing unreal right now. I told the boys yesterday ‘I’m enjoying watching this group play.’ It’s a little nerve-wracking, but it’s fun.”
Center fielder Quinn McKenna ripped a gametying solo home run to deep left field during the bottom of the fifth inning while Brad Clemens opened up the Spring City scoring with a two-run single in the bottom of the second. The third baseman also flashed some leather on the night, putting together two highlight-reel plays during the top of the sixth inning to keep it tied.
Hughes was solid on the mound out of the gates, but ran into trouble in the second inning. He was tagged for three runs on no hits and four walks in the inning.
Fortunately for Spring City, the Dirtbags couldn’t come up with timely hitting throughout as they racked up only four hits. Falls stranded 17 runners on base, including the bases loaded five separate times on the night.
“Our guys made big-time plays when we needed it most,” said Gancasz.
Dawson Moss pitched three innings in relief where he was tagged for two runs on eight walks and two hits.
Kevin Hynes picked up the win, pitching an inning in relief before Cole Webb came and slammed the door shut with a two-strikeout top of the ninth inning.
“We’re in a really good spot for us to win this tournament,” said Hughes. “Overall, our team is playing great, maybe the best we have all season. Can’t really ask for much else.”
Price is Right
Anyone who was at Ram Stadium Monday night may have felt like they were hearing double as both teams featured a Nick Price in their lineup. The pair of Prices (no relation) combined for three walks as Spring City’s right fielder finished with a run scored. Falls’ shortstop drew a pair of walks.
Just A Tad Inside
There were a combined six hit-batters Monday night with Hughes and Falls starter Zach DeMarchis each plunking three apiece. Falls first baseman Alex Ritter was hit twice.