Wild tag out at 3rd seals heated contest between Township and visiting L-S, 6-5

Playing their third game in as many days this week, the Manheim Township Blue Streaks had their hands full with a fiery Lampeter-Strasburg Pioneers team rolling into Westfield Insurance Park on Wednesday afternoon. With a game-time temperature of around 50 degrees (with heavy wind), it felt like we were smack dab in the first week of the season rather than late-April.

Taking the mound for his first start of the season, Colin Fitzgerald (4.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 11 K) did his best to lock in early against the Pioneers’ batters striking out 5 of the first 8 he faced. A single walk in each of the first two innings gave L-S early baserunners, but neither runner passed 2nd base. The Blue Streaks had their own struggles at the plate early in this one garnering only two runners of their own in the first two innings. Each team picked up their first hit in the 3rd inning, but neither team put a run on the board until the 5th inning.

An early walk and fielding error on the Blue Streaks in the top of the 5th gave life to the Pioneers. A wild pitch and intentional walk to load the bases eventually lead to a bases-clearing triple and a 4-0 L-S lead. Having climbed out of larger holes already this season, the Blue Streaks were not prepared to roll over and give up their perfect season that easily.

Walks to JT Weaver and Michael Heckman got things going with no outs for Township in the bottom of the 5th. A Kyle Musser double to center field sent both runners across the plate to cut the L-S lead in half. Drew Sassaman picked up an RBI on a ground out to make it 4-3 before inning’s end. After entering to replace Fitzgerald earlier in the top of the 5th, Evan Clark (2.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 3 K) returned to the mound in the 6th and surrendered only a single run to give L-S a 5-3 boost going into the bottom half.

A Ryan Flury single, Weaver walk, and Heckman walk once again set up Musser to put a hurting on the Pioneers’ as he doubled again to drive in the tying runs and make it 5-5 with only 1 out. Sassaman roped another ball to left field and put the Blue Streaks on top for the first time all day, 6-5, before Township was retired in the 6th. With only 3 outs remaining, Clark was now poised to pick up the win if he could shut down the Pioneers in the 7th.

After a quick ground out and fly out, the most interesting and crucial play of the game came on the final at bat of the day. A fly-ball triple to deep center field (tipping just off the glove of a diving Musser) resulted in an 8-6-2-5 relay and tag out at 3rd base as the L-S runner attempted to get back on the bag after failing to make it down the line and score. Fans erupted (in joy/anger) from both sets of bleachers, however, the out was called and the Blue Streaks ultimately stayed perfect on the season with the 6-5 comeback victory at home.

After a much-needed day off, Township is back in action at home against Solanco on Friday afternoon.