Township has all the answers in classic Section I grudge match at Hempfield, 2-1

Under partly cloudy skies on Wednesday afternoon, the Manheim Township Blue Streaks hit the road to Landisville to face the Hempfield Black Knights for the second time in 2024. The Black Knights took game 1 of the season series two weeks ago at Township, 8-2. 

Ben Connors, leading off for Township, reached base in the 1st for the second straight game on an early single. Hempfield’s Harelson shook off the leadoff single and set the next three MT batters down in order to end the half inning. Tyler Shirk, Township’s sophomore righty, took the mound in possibly his biggest start of the season and dazzled early (and often). Needing only twelve pitches in the first inning, Shirk picked up a pair of fly outs and a K to send this one to the 2nd.

Quiet half innings for both squads in the 2nd left the game scoreless after 2, but Hempfield took advantage of back-to-back singles in the bottom of the 3rd to break the tie. With Maisano on 2nd, a single from Dougherty to center field set up a play at the plate where the ball was knocked loose from Andrew Flury’s glove on the collision and set Hempfield up with a 1-0 lead. Shirk recovered and got out of the inning with no further damage.

A leadoff double down the left field line in the top of the 4th from Traeton Sauder put the Blue Streaks in prime position to tie up this game. A Flury SAC bunt and ground out from Jacob Carrasco did just that and the teams were all tied at 1-1. The first of two double plays on the day for the Township infield helped keep the Black Knights at bay in the bottom of the 4th. 

Another leadoff hit in the top of the 5th for MT proved huge on the scoreboard. Kaden Kemp reached base on a single to right field before Trey Eckman worked a 4-pitch walk with 1 out to put a second man on. Connors’ second hit of the game not only put him on base, but also scored pinch runner Connor Delvecchio from 2nd to give Township their first lead of the game, 2-1. The Blue Streaks would load the bases on a Sauder walk before the half inning was up, but couldn’t extend their lead.

A pair of singles for Hempfield in both the 5th and 6th innings looked to be trouble, but Shirk worked out of both half innings still with the 2-1 lead. Aside from Connors picking up his third hit of the game, a single in the top of the 7th, Township’s bats were held quiet by the Black Knights’ reliever Jackson. In their final at bats, the home team did all they could to rattle Shirk (7 IP, 8 H, 5 K, 94 pitches), but a strikeout, fielder’s choice, and ground out sealed the sophomore’s third win, and second complete game, of the year.

The victory puts the Blue Streaks four games above .500 at 8-4 and in a great spot in Section I to make a big run at the end of the season. You’ll find Township at Warwick on Friday afternoon for their final meeting against the Warriors this season. 4:15 PM first pitch.