Carousel of Township pitchers keeps Ephrata off balance in 3-1 victory

The Manheim Township Blue Streaks played host to the Ephrata Mounts on Monday afternoon as both teams looked for a win in their final Section I/II crossover game of 2022. Township entered the day at 11-2 overall while Ephrata stood at 9-1.

Township starter Ben Shenosky got the call to start the game on the mound in this one. The Mounts leadoff man Schwanger collected an early walk before Shenosky put the next 3 batters away on a pair of strikeouts and a fly out. The Township offense found some success at the plate in the 1st with singles for JT Weaver, Ryan Flury, and Fisher Druck, but the Blue Streaks couldn’t convert any of their runners into early runs. In the top of the 2nd, centerfielder Weaver replaced Shenosky on the mound in an attempt to save arms and pitch counts for later in the week. Weaver would surrender a single in the 2nd and a walk in the 3rd, but again Ephrata would come out scoreless in both innings. The Blue Streaks were retired in order in both innings and held scoreless as well.

The third Township pitcher, Druck, made his appearance in the 4th inning to provide an additional 1 2/3 innings of work for the Blue Streaks. Michael Heckman finished off the 5th for Druck and still Ephrata was left scoreless. With singles from Flury and Ryan Brader in the 4th, Township was threatening with a man in scoring position, but to no avail. Ephrata finally cracked the 0-0 tie in the top of the 6th after Shelley reached on a single and scored from 2nd on an infield fielding error. Now trailing 1-0, Township needed to respond – and respond they did.

With 1 out in the bottom of the 6th, Flury reached base on his 3rd hit of the game before Druck walked. Courtesy runner Cole Stoltzfus scored from 2nd after the next batter, Brader, lined a double into the gap in left-center. The 1-1 tie would only hold up for one more batter as Shenosky picked up an intentional walk and Ty Jenkins hit a bullet at the shortstop that deflected off the fielder’s glove and led to another Township run. An RBI ground out from Tyler Mulholland settled the game into a 3-1 score before Heckman returned to the mound in the 7th. Three outs over four batters was all the Blue Streaks needed to secure Heckman his 2nd win of the season and Township their 12th win as a team.

At 12-2 in 2022, the Blue Streaks will run it back with their second round of Section I games beginning on Wednesday at J.P. McCaskey, 4:15pm.