Ambler punches ticket to championship finals
Brewers rally past Valley Forge in Game 4 to win semifinal series
After four scoreless innings, Ambler’s offense woke up against Valley Forge Tuesday evening.
The Brewers scored three runs in the fifth and another three in the sixth to erase a two-run deficit win Game 4 of the Perkiomen Valley Twilight League semifinals, 6-2, at Temple University Ambler Campus and win the series, 3-1, to punch their ticket to the championship.
Ambler managed just two hits over the first four innings — both doubles by Phil Pierfy.
The No. 3 seeded Brewers started the bottom of the fifth inning with back-to-back singles from Chris Hens and Jason Kelmer. After an out, Casey Saverio singled to load the bases.
Brett Reynolds grounded out to score Hens, Kelmer crossed the plate on a balk to tie the game at two and Pete Moore singled through the right side of the infield to give the Brewers a 3-2 lead.
“We talked in the beginning about playing with a sense of urgency,” Moore said. “I thought we had good at-bats, we weren’t chasing pitches. (Valley Forge starter)
Mike Anthony is one of the best pitchers in the league and has been whenever he’s here and not away playing independent ball. We knew he was going to be a tough challenge.
“Once they scored two we answered right back. In the game of baseball if you can answer back and get that momentum back on your side it gives you a good chance to win the game.”
In the sixth, Hens was hit by a pitch with two outs and the bases empty. Kelmer singled and Sam Plaugher knocked in Hens with a base hit. Saverio was intentionally walked to load the bases and Reynolds made Valley Forge pay with a tworun single to make it 6-2.
“Answer back and add on,” Moore said. “Those are all things you want to do. You want to score first — obviously they got that — but we answered back and we added on — extended the lead. Big hit by Sam Plaugher there then another big hit by Brett in the sixth inning to give us two more. Good to see.”
The No. 2 seeded Bucks got the scoring started in the top of the fifth inning. Justin Meyer walked, stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He scored on a Nick Fazio single. Jason Mulvey tripled to score Fazio and knock Ambler starter Paul Spiewak out of the game.
Colin Kennedy came on in relief and stranded Mulvey on third. Kennedy picked up the win with 2 1/3 perfect innings and three strikeouts.
“He didn’t throw in relief all regular season I don’t think,” Moore said. “Then he threw in relief against Trooper (quarterfinals) and I think he threw in relief last week against these guys ... My plan today was to go Colin to get out of that inning, Doug (Brown) in the sixth and Andrew Huebner for the seventh. Colin’s stuff was so good. In a game like this where you’re playing to advance, I just rode the hot hand and he made me look good with that decision.”
Spiewak went 4 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He struck out five batters to two walks.
“I thought the key to the game was Paul giving us four shutout innings to start the game,” Moore said. “We didn’t score early, but he put up zeros to match the zeros they were putting up.”
Valley Forge’s Anthony went 5 2/3 innings. He struck out three batters to two walks and surrendered six runs on nine hits.
Ambler faces the winner of No. 1 Lansdale and No. 4 Nor-Gwyn in the championship series.
“We know we’re not done yet,” Moore said. “It was a long road back from starting 3-6-1. We have a group of guys that we want to go to battle with. We’re not done yet but we’re excited about the opportunity to get out and compete again.”