Back and forth battle at Central York culminates in 4-run 7th inning and victory for Blue Streaks, 7-3

After a long few days of games for Manheim Township, the Blue Streaks landed at Central York on Thursday afternoon to try and finish off the week with a win against the Panthers.

After scoring 35 runs across their previous three games this week, the Township offense was hungry for more early in this game. A leadoff single for JT Weaver, followed by consecutive steals during Ryan Flury’s first AB put the MT center fielder at 3rd with only 1 out in the top of the 1st. Flury singled past the CY second baseman to pick up the RBI and give Township a run in the 1st inning for the 8th time in their 9 games this season. After courtesy runner Tyler Mulholland stole 2nd base during Fisher Druck’s at bat, Ryan Brader stayed hot at the plate driving a single to the right side to score another early run.

Gavin Glass (5 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 K), getting his first pitching start this season, took a 2-0 lead to the mound with him in the bottom of the 1st. Central York used two singles and a walk in the 1st to cut Township’s lead in half. Barger collected the RBI for the Panthers with a single to right field. Central York would strike again for one more in the 2nd after a walk, single, and walk loaded the bases with only one out. A fly ball out to center field turned into a tag out double play at 3rd on the relay. On a questionable timing call, the runner at 3rd, Hall, tagged up and scored from 3rd before the final out at 3rd base. 2-2 ball game through 2.

With 2 outs in the top of the 3rd, Flury picked up his 2nd hit on the day as a fly ball to right field caught the wind and carried to the fence and the Township catcher landed at 3rd with a triple. Druck walked to put runners on the corners, before Mulholland, courtesy running for Flury again, scored on a wild pitch. Glass would preserve the 3-2 lead in the bottom of the 3rd, allowing only one Central York batter to reach base on a walk. The Panthers would tie the game up at 3-3 in the 4th after singles from Laughman and Hall put two runners on with no outs. A SAC bunt and ground out later let the tying run cross the plate. 

After a quiet 5th inning for both sides, Glass was replaced on the mound by Michael Heckman in the 6th. Heckman maintained the 3-3 tie and the Blue Streaks had one last chance to make it happen on offense. With the top of the lineup leading off for Township in the 7th, Weaver reached base again on a single before Heckman followed suit and reached on a successful bunt single. Both runners would advance on steals and forced the Panthers to intentionally walk Flury to load the bases with no outs. A SAC fly to deep center field off the bat of Druck broke the tie in MT’s favor, 4-3. With only one out, Brader walked to load the bases and Ben Shenosky grounded into a fielder’s choice where Heckman was forced out at the plate. Still with the bases loaded, consecutive walks to Ty Jenkins and Glass forced two runs across to open up the score 6-3. The final run of the day came courtesy of a CY fielding error on a spinning ground ball off the bat of designated hitter Nick Tomlinson allowing Shenosky to score and seal this game. Heckman set the Panther’s down in order in the bottom of the 7th to send Township home with a 7-3 victory.

After winning the week and going 4-0 in 4 days, the Blue Streaks will rest up and get back at it on Monday night against Conestoga Valley at home. Come out and support your Blue Streaks’ Seniors as it is Senior Night at the ballpark. 7:00 PM.