H-T rolls past Doylestown
A straightforward approach at the plate proved to be highly effective for Hatfield-Towamencin’s Peter Cooke.
“I just tried to think up the middle and just basically just hit pitches where they’re pitched,” he said. “Saw a couple on the outside, I mean I just drove them the other way. Just thinking simplistic and drove some runs in.”
Cooke collected a hit in all three of his at-bats Tuesday night, driving in A run each time, including a RBI single during the Titans’ seven-run top of the first inning as H-T rolled to a 10-0 BuxMont Connie Mack A win over host Doylestown in five innings at George M. Bush Park.
“I was sitting around the four, five hole then I had a leg injury the other day, so they just put me down for EH (extra hitter) for today,” said Cooke. “And I was just thinking, like I said, thinking up the middle, put it the other way. And then I get a ball low and in, that’s where I like to hit it so I
drove it.”
Cooke, who batted 10th in the lineup, added an RBI base hit in the third then capped his night and the Titans’ scoring in the fifth with an RBI double to left center — almost caught by a diving effort — as HatfieldTowamencin (10-3) earned its second straight victory.
“I’m a big believer in just getting my front foot down,” said Cooke, a rising junior at North Penn. “And that gives me time to get my hands in the zone and let me see the ball and the spin on it.”
Zach Riddle reached base on all three of his plate appearances for H-T, going 1-for-1 with two walks and two run scored while Titans starting pitcher Charlie Wetzel threw a complete-game shutout, allowing three hits, walking one and striking out three.
Hatfield-Towamencin, which sits in second place in the league standings behind Upper Moreland, hosts Plymouth Whitemarsh 8 p.m. Thursday at School Road Park. Doylestown is also home Thursday, taking on Central Perk 6 p.m. back at Bush Park.
“Trying to beat Upper Moreland, that’s our key right now, cause Upper Moreland, I don’t know how they’re doing but I know they’re first in our league,” Cooke said. “So, we’re just trying to get the No. 1 spot.”
Hatfield-Towamencin sent 12 batters to the plate in the top of the first, taking advantage of Doylestown pitching struggles to grab a big lead early. The Titans opened the game with three straight walks to load the bases before Jack Picozzi’s two-RBI double to left center with an error on the play allowing another run to score to make it 3-0.
H-T went up 4-0 after its next three batters were all hit by pitches — the last on Wetzel bringing home Picozzi. With the bases still loaded and no outs, Justin Egner’s singled in the fifth run. Cooke’s one-out RBI single was followed by Aidan Hoy’s RBI sacrifice fly to left for a 7-0 advantage.
“It definitely felt good, especially with the three hit batters in a row, definitely some little emotions going but it felt good just getting up early in the game,” Cooke said. “Cause we’ve struggling doing that all year so definitely get some insurance runs then and just keep on fighting.”
The Titans made it 8-0 in the second as Riddle, who led off with a single, scored on Quinn Marett’s RBI ground out.
Cooke extended the lead to nine in the third with his two-out RBI single to plate Egner. Cooke again came through with two outs in the fifth as his RBI double scored Nick DiPippo for the Titans’ 10th run.
“As soon as we see ourselves slowing up, at least for me and try to tell everyone on the team just keep on fighting, keep on pounding through,” Cooke said. “I mean same as with baserunning, you hit a fly ball you run through the base as hard as you can. And even if you’re up seven the first inning, then you keep on fighting there’s no backing down ‘til the game’s over.”
Doylestown pushed to extend the game by putting runners on second and third with one out in the bottom of the fifth. Wetzel, however, got back-to-back fly outs to seal the win in five frames.