Bucks take two from Brewers

Pitching helps Valley Forge sweep doubleheader, remain undefeated

UPPER MERION » Valley Forge remained undefeated in the Perkiomen Valley Twilight League Tuesday when it won both games of a doubleheader, 5-1 and 13-2, against Ambler at Heuser Park.

The Bucks (8-0) got quality outings from both of their starting pitchers Tuesday.

Rob Barth started the first game and went six innings. He allowed one run on two hits while striking out one batter and waking one.

“I was basically throwing breaking balls for strikes and staying ahead of guys,” Barth, who retired the first eight batters he faced and took a no-hitter into the fourth inning, said. “I feel like in this league a lot of guys look first-pitch fastball. Being able to drop breaking balls in there helps me get ahead and get some guys out early.”

The biggest defensive play behind Barth came in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ambler (1-3) had runners on first and second with two outs, trailing, 3-1. Justin Leamy maybe a diving stop at third base and raced to the bag for the force out to end the threat.

“That was the first game (Leamy) was at third for me this year,” Barth, a 2011 Pope John Paul II High School grad, said. “He’s a vacuum over there. It makes my life easier because me pitching to contact I have tremendous confidence that they’re going to pick up the ball the whole game. I’m not trying to strike everyone out.”

In the second game, Valley Forge starter Mikey Anthony went five innings. He struck out eight batters to no walks and allowed one run on five hits.

“Our pitching has been really good,” Bucks center fielder Mike Kelly said of the team’s success

ED MORLOCK — MEDIANEWS GROUP Valley Forge’s Rob Barth pitches in the first game of a doubleheader against Ambler Tuesday.