Shenosky, Blue Streaks outlast Warwick in annual pitcher’s duel, 2-0

Each season, the Blue Streaks’ trip to Lititz to face the Warwick Warriors always seems to result in a low-scoring pitching showdown between the Section One rivals… Monday afternoon’s game was no different. Undefeated Township was looking to complete the early-season Section One sweep after mowing through McCaskey, Hempfield, Penn Manor, and Cedar Crest over the last two weeks while Warwick was entering this game on a 4-game win streak and only one game back in the section standings.

The tone of this game was set early as both starting pitchers made quick work of the first batters they faced. Warwick struck out the side in the 1st and picked up another 1-2-3 in the 2nd. Township starter Ben Shenosky (7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 7 K) surrendered his only walk in the bottom of the 1st, but a line out to Drew Sassaman at 2nd and a throw over to Fisher Druck at 1st for the double play ended the half inning quickly. A lead off double for Warwick in the 2nd looked troublesome, but back-to-back strikeouts from Shenosky ended any threat in the inning.

The only real offense on the afternoon for either team came in the top of the 3rd after JT Weaver collected a 1-out walk to give Township their first baserunner. Weaver moved to 2nd on a Druck ground out before Kyle Musser roped a double over the 3rd base bag to score Weaver easily. In the very next at bat, Sassaman caught a fast ball off the barrel of his bat and sent it into left field to bring Musser home from 2nd and give the Blue Streaks a 2-0 lead.

Warwick collected a number of baserunners in the next few innings off a couple singles and hit-by-pitches, but no Warriors’ runners advanced past 2nd base all day. Township had an additional chance for runs after Ryan Jones led off the top of the 7th with a double to left field, but he was stranded at 3rd in the inning and the Blue Streaks had to look to their starter to close out the win in the bottom half. A first-pitch fly out and back-to-back strikeouts from Shenosky sealed the shutout victory for Township and kept their unblemished season alive.

Township, now 7-0 (5-0 in section), faces non-league opponent Lebanon at Westfield Insurance Park on Wednesday afternoon as they look to continue their hot start to the season.