Blue Streaks drop third straight, 7-4 at Hempfield

Trying to get back on the right track after two midweek losses, the Manheim Township Blue Streaks visited the Hempfield Black Knights on Friday afternoon to close out the three game season series between the section rivals. The teams split the previous two matchups this year – each winning on their home field.

Two first inning walks for Township gave the Blue Streaks some life on the bases early, but a groundout fielder’s choice to 3rd kept the road team scoreless. Consecutive walks to the Black Knights to start the bottom of the 1st turned into trouble when a 1-out double for Benchich cleared the bases and opened up a 2-0 Hempfield lead. The Blue Streaks failed to respond in the top of the 2nd, but MT starter Braden Leed settled down and set the Black Knights down in order in the bottom half of the inning.

Hempfield added three more runs to their lead in the 3rd. RBI hits for Katch and Harelson made it 4-0 Black Knights and an overthrow from the plate to 2nd base on a steal attempt allowed another runner to score to put Township in a 5-0 hole. The Blue Streaks got on the board in the 4th with Nick Tomlinson taking the first pitch he saw over the left field fence to make it 5-1. Singles from Gavin Glass and Ben Connors kept the offense fired up and a Tyler Mulholland groundout pushed another run across to tighten the score 5-2. Ryan Peipher walked before the Blue Streaks left two men on base to end the top of the 4th. 

Hempfield responded with two more runs of their own in the bottom of the 4th on another Katch double to blow the score open again 7-2. A quiet 5th inning for both squads brought the Blue Streaks back to the plate in the 6th where a pair of walks to Glass and Connors with only 1 out put MT back in business. Mulholland slapped a single into left center and landed on 2nd on an overthrow into 3rd. Glass and Connors both scored to pull the Blue Streaks within 3, 7-4. No one could bring Mulholland around and the Blue Streaks wouldn’t get any closer than that.

Alex Miller came in to pitch in relief of Leed and held the Black Knights scoreless over the final two innings, but the Township offense couldn’t quite catch up. A 6-4-3 double play after a Tomlinson 1-out walk in the top of the 7th ended it as Hempfield prevailed 7-4.

The week is not over as the Blue Streaks are headed to Ephrata on Saturday afternoon to take on the Mountaineers at 3:00PM. Come out early and support the JV team who will play at noon.