Blue Streaks fend off Warriors’ comeback to get back in the win column

Just over a week after defeating the Warwick Warriors on the road, the Manheim Township Blue Streaks welcomed the Lititz-based squad to Westfield Insurance Park for their second meeting of the 2024 season.

A busy top of the 1st for Warwick on the bases gave the road team a quick 2-0 lead on Township starter Braden Leed. A 1-out single from Shaffer scored Gerhart before an MT fielding error allowed the second run to score. The Blue Streaks bounced back with a productive first inning of their own at the plate. A bunt single for Josh Boll got the home team going as an Andrew Flury single and Jacob Carrasco walk loaded the bases with 1 out. Kaden Kemp drove in 2 with a single up the middle before Christian Kleckner picked up an RBI of his own with a single to right field. Now leading 3-2, Leed settled in on the mound.

Warwick’s bats went quiet in the 2nd and 3rd innings while Township continued to add on to their lead. The bottom of the 2nd found Boll picking up another hit before Traeton Sauder followed suit to put runners at first and second with 2 outs. Flury singled up the middle to drive in Boll and give the Blue Streaks their 4th run on the day. In the 3rd, singles for Kleckner and Leed opened the door for Angelo Billiard to drive in another run with a double off the fence in left field. Connor Delvecchio, courtesy running for Leed, scored on a Ben Connors SAC fly to make it 6-2 MT before Boll collected his third hit and first RBI on the day with a ground ball single to the left side to land at 7-2 MT after 3. 

All was going Township’s way until the top of the 5th where Warwick’s batters found life at the plate again. The Warriors loaded the bases and used a walk, SAC fly and 2-run single to pull within 1 of Township through 5 innings, 7-6. Sauder replaced Leed on the mound in the 6th and set the Warriors down 1-2-3 with a fly out and two Ks. A bases-loaded walk for the Blue Streaks in the bottom of the 6th tacked on insurance run for Sauder as he returned to the mound to close out the game. A 1-out single for Mumma in the top of the 7th was the only offense the Warriors found as an incredibly athletic effort from Kleckner to field a grounder behind the mound sealed the Blue Streaks’ second victory over Warwick in as many weeks, 8-6.

Still at home on Friday evening, the Blue Streaks will host McCaskey under the lights at 7:00 PM. Come out and enjoy the warmer temperatures and another great Section I game.