Jul. 17—SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Schuylkill West opened the 2021 Pennsylvania VFW State Teener Junior Division Tournament on Friday evening at Schuylkill Haven’s Scott Buffington Field with a 6-5 victory over Lebanon Valley.
For the host team, it was nothing short of a scary victory.
At one point, the eventual winners were cruising with a 5-1 lead.
When it ended, they were one safe call away from extra innings.
With two outs, a runner on third and a two-strike count on the hitter, Lebanon Valley’s Tyson Griffin broke for home as left-handed Schuylkill West pitcher Logan Hutsko started his windup.
West catcher Mikade Mowery caught the pitch outside the strike zone and made a diving tag on Griffin just in front of the plate to end the game and preserve the one-run victory.
Lebanon Valley had 12 successful stolen bases on the evening. The final out of the game was the first time they were caught.
West manager Shawn Masser said he couldn’t recall ever seeing a game end in that fashion.
“No, but I’ve seen a guy steal home already off a lefty, and maybe that was their best shot there,” said Masser of Lebanon Valley’s surprise attempt to tie the game. “With two strikes, I probably would have done the same thing.
“He (Mowery) made a good play there, and I think he hung on to it. It was a little too iffy there in the last inning, but we hung on to it.”
Lebanon Valley appealed the play, saying Mowery dropped the ball on the tag, but the umpires met and the call stood.
Schuylkill West returns to action today with a pair of games at 12:30 and 5:30 p.m. at the 69th Street Field in Harrisburg against Harrisburg and Hershey.
“We play Harrisburg and Hershey,” Masser said. “One is at 12:30 and one is at 5:30. I’m not sure which is which. They’re down in Harrisburg. That’s all I know, 69th Street Field in Harrisburg.”
Neither team threatened in the first two innings. In the top of the third, West pushed three across.
Owen Miller reached on an error to get things started. Gavin Klock followed with a single up the middle that put runners on first and third, then Nolan Plesnarski’s single to center plated Miller.
After a strikeout for the first out, Braden Doyle’s bunt single loaded the bases before Hutsko lined a single up the middle, pushing two across. Lebanon Valley got the next two hitters in order, but West had a lead it would never relinquish.
Lebanon Valley scored one in the bottom of the third when Zac Frentz singled to open the frame, stole second, went to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.
West, however, took stronger control, scoring one on a wild pitch and a second run on Klock’s second hit of the game, an RBI single to left.
David Furjanic’s RBI single in the bottom of the fifth drew Lebanon Valley closer at 5-2.
Then, West pushed it to 6-2 in the top of the sixth when Hunter Rodgers walked to open the frame. Courtesy runner Matt Dube, running for Rodgers, the starting pitcher, moved to second on Mowery’s infield single. Both runners moved up a base on Miller’s sacrifice bunt and after a walk to Klock loaded the bases, Dube scored when Plesnarski reached on an error.
Even the 6-2 lead proved uncomfortable when Lebanon Valley scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead to 6-4.
Lebanon Valley held West scoreless in the top of the seventh before making a final push for the victory, or at least extra innings in the bottom half.
Hutsko, working in relief of Rodgers, struck out Diego Serrano to open the seventh. David Furjanic drew a one-out walk, then stole second and third. Griffiths then walked, stealing second as part of a double steal that brought the score to 6-5. Griffiths stole third, but Hutsko struck out Blake Dieter for the second out. It was with the two-strike count on Kevin Munoz that Griffiths took off for home.
West could have had a more comfortable lead, but stranded seven runners, including leaving the bases loaded after scoring only once in the sixth.
“We had chances to tack on runs and we didn’t,” Masser said. “That almost came back to bite us.
“We have to work on getting a couple more runs in when we get the opportunity. Overall, we played good for only being together for a week.”
Contact the writer: croth@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6025