Weaver bounces back on the mound with 12 K shutout gem as Blue Streaks romp at Lebanon, 9-0

The Manheim Township Blue Streaks hit the road on Monday afternoon to travel to face the Lebanon Cedars in their first of four games this week. The game, as it is every other year at Lebanon, was played at Coleman Memorial Park.

Township’s offense was slow to start in this one as the only action in the first two innings came from walks to Fisher Druck and Ryan Brader in the 2nd. MT starting pitcher, JT Weaver, surrendered hits to the Cedars’ Porte and Guerrero in the first two innings, but the game remained scoreless through 2. With 1 out in the top of the 3rd, the Blue Streaks broke the scoreless tie. Weaver walked before Michael Heckman reached base safely on a bunt single. A Ryan Flury double to left field scored Weaver from 2nd before Druck picked up an RBI on a single that scored Heckman. Leading 2-0, Township put up a 3rd run in the 4th off an error on Lebanon’s catcher that allowed Ben Shenosky to score before a flyout ended the half inning. Weaver commanded the mound in the 3rd and 4th innings, setting down all 6 Cedars batters he faced.

Quiet 5th innings for both teams at the plate took this game to the 6th where the flood gates opened for MT’s offense. A leadoff single for Ty Jenkins turned into the 4th Township run after Shenosky blasted a double to the fence in left field. A SAC bunt from Gavin Glass moved Coleson Stoltzfus, pinch running for Shenosky, to 3rd and Stoltzfus scored on a single from Weaver. With a 5-0 lead, Flury drove in his 2nd RBI on the afternoon after Heckman walked. Heckman and courtesy runner, Tyler Mulholland, scored on the very next AB as Druck collected his 2nd and 3rd RBIs of the contest to make it 8-0 Township.

With Township still leading 8-0 in the top half of the 7th, numerous MT pinch hitters picked up their first career Varsity hits. Stoltzfus, Jesus Perez, and Lance Leidig each collected a hit in their ABs to provide the Blue Streaks with an additional run to push the score to 9-0. Weaver completed his complete game shutout in the bottom half of the 7th and finished the day with 12 Ks, 0 BBs, 3 H, and 0 R.

The Monday victory comes as Township will return to Lebanon County again on Tuesday (4/12) to play Northern Lebanon after their game was postponed due to rain over the weekend.