BOOSTING STOCK
OJR gains ground in PAC with 9-6 victory over Perk Valley
Tristan Dietrich is getting used to radar guns pointing at him during games. What he isn’t quite used to yet are turf fields. But at Perkiomen Valley on Friday, the Owen J. Roberts southpaw adapted just enough.
Through four innings, Dietrich struck out eight with three hits and two earned runs allowed en route to a 9-6 win for the Wildcats at the Vikings’ ballpark. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound Florida International University pledge earned the win on the bump, bumpy as it was.
“It took me a little bit to get used to this turf mound. Definitely not used to it yet,” Dietrich said. “Once I got my bearings and figured out my pitches, I really just trusted my catcher to make the calls. I wanted them to put the ball in play and let my defense work behind me. That’s a great defense behind me.”
Up 3-0 after an RBI from Stonehill-bound Zach Brockner (2-for-3, three RBIs, three runs) and tworun single to left from Jake Ambrosio (3-for-4, two RBIs) in the top of the first inning, Dietrich was met with a loud response from the Vikings (7-5, 1-4) in the bottom half.
A leadoff single, a player hit by a pitch and back-toback walks forced in Perkiomen Valley’s first run, cutting the game to 3-1 with no outs. Following a flyout, Dietrich capped a combined 31-minute, 64-pitch first inning with a strikeout, limiting the Vikings’ damage to a single run with the bases loaded.
Perkiomen Valley had no problem working around the Owen J. Roberts (7-5, 3-2) pitching staff, jamming up the bases three separate times on the day. But behind Dietrich, Mason Miller
(two hits, one run in two innings) and more, the Wildcats stranded 11 Vikings on base in total.
“We had the bases loaded and nobody out twice. We had first and second with nobody out and up to that point, we only put up two runs in those situations. It really comes down to that,” Perkiomen Valley coach Ryan Hinkle said. “It comes down to making routine plays in the infield, a couple of mishaps there. We should never have put ourselves in that situation to begin with.”
The Vikings found half of their offensive production in the bottom of the seventh inning. Down 9-3 with one out, Kevin Fitzpatrick (2-for-4) cut the game to four runs by hitting a line drive for two RBIs. JT Brady then drove in another to pull Perkiomen Valley within 9-6.
“That shows a lot,” Hinkle said. “That shows the heart of this team, being able to battle back and be competitive in any type of situation, regardless of what’s in front of you.”
After two scoreless innings, Jake Grossi (2-for-3) extended Owen J. Roberts’ lead, 4-1 by driving in Lucas Zachesky with a base hit in the top of the fourth. One inning later, Lucas Santise dropped a ball in shallow center to wrangle in another run, giving the Wildcats a 5-1 cushion.
Perkiomen Valley responded in the bottom half by once again loading the bases, and once again earning just one run through the effort. With no outs, Dietrich was pulled for Miller. But on the first pitch following the change, Chris Gorla forced in a run on a fielder’s choice to cut the Vikings’ deficit, 5-2.
At the forefront of unfamiliar turf territory, under the spotlight of scouts and in a major Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty contest, Dietrich — whose fastball has sat at 90 mph, per PBR Pennsylvania — kept his composure. He also kept the game relatively under control with his fielders behind him.
“I’m not too worried about that,” Dietrich said on the attention he’s gotten. “I like to focus on the game, try to do the best for my team and stay out here on the field. Whatever happens outside happens.”
A four-run sixth inning put enough in the bank for the Wildcats to go the distance in part by RBIs from Zach Brockner and Sam Taylor, the latter knocking a double. Cole Thear responded for Perkiomen Valley in the bottom half by roping a ball to right field, driving in a run to cut it 9-3.
Given Owen J. Roberts is coming off a bountiful 2022 campaign that saw the program’s ninth PAC title and first District 1 Class 6A banner, the Wildcats are battling to return to that coveted stage in the middle of the PAC standings.
Having been ranked No. 6 in District 1-6A last week — and dropping to 16 this week — the Wildcats boosted their stock with a much needed divisional win.