Varsity rally comes up short as Blue Streaks drop season opener to Warwick 2-0
by Adam Gegg · Published · Updated
After a delayed start to the season, the Blue Streaks finally were able to get on the field against Warwick in downtown Lititz on Wednesday afternoon. A large crowd of Blue Streaks and Warriors fans surrounded the baseball diamond as these teams kicked off their first of two Section 1 match-ups this season.
Results
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Warwick | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | X | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Manheim Township | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
As the away team, Township was first to step up to the plate and get their first swings of the new season. Ben DeMarco kicked things off with a walk and was quickly followed up by a Brendan Moshos single past the shortstop. With runners on 1st and 2nd and no outs, the next three Blue Streaks batters were retired in order to end the early threat.
For the 2nd consecutive season, Colin Yablonski took the mound for the Blue Streaks on opening day. After back-to-back walks to start, Yablonski got out of the early jam with a ground out, tag out at the plate, and a fly ball to right field to bring Township back to the plate. Township went 1-2-3 quickly in the 2nd. Yablonski, again, worked out of a jam in the bottom of the 2nd to keep the game scoreless through 2 innings.
Township picked up baserunners in the top of the 3rd and 4th innings on a Drew Sassaman single to center field and a Ryan Jones walk, but could not convert either of them to runs. Yablonski settled in on the mound and struck out the side in the 3rd before surrendering a solo homerun to left-center field in the bottom of the 4th.
The Blue Streaks had a chance in the top of the 5th to put some runs on the board when Sassaman reached 2nd base on a throwing error by the Warriors' 3rd baseman. DeMarco and Moshos both walked to load the bases after a pitching change. Township couldn't capitalize as Sassaman was tug out at homeplate on a dropped 3rd strike to Yablonski.
Warwick picked up another run on a bases-loaded HBP in the bottom of the 5th after a Township pitching change (Will Greiner for Yablonski). Greiner then settled in and retired Warwick without any other damage. Facing a 2-0 deficit, Jones reached base again on a single, but did not come around to score.
The Blue Streaks, again, put men on base in the top of the 7th with a Greiner infield single and a DeMarco walk. Warwick set down Township's next two batters to secure a 2-0 victory at home.
Next Game: Come out and support our Varsity team at our home opener on Friday (3/29) against Section 1 rival Hempfield at 4:15pm.
