Falcons avoid season series sweep with 5-2 road win at MT

Following a 4-game week entirely on the road, the Manheim Township Blue Streaks returned to Westfield Insurance Park on Monday evening to host the Cedar Crest Falcons for the final time in 2024. Township got the best of the Falcons in both prior meetings this season.

Tyler Shirk got the nod in this one following his complete game victory at Hempfield last Wednesday. The young sophomore worked a scoreless first inning after plunking the second batter he faced. Another hit batter in the top of the 2nd put the lead off man for Cedar Crest on base and a triple two batters later quickly made it 1-0 Cedar Crest. While Shirk was fending off the Falcons’ offense over the first few innings, Cedar Crest’s starter Schreier faced the minimum number of Blue Streaks through 3 innings. Ground-out double plays in the 2nd and 3rd quickly snuffed out any positive momentum Township was brewing.

The Blue Streaks finally woke up in the bottom of the 4th. On the second time through the lineup, Ben Connors and Josh Boll reached base on singles to left field. A SAC bunt from Traeton Sauder advanced the runners and a SAC fly for Andrew Flury tied us up 1-1. A hard ground ball from Jacob Carrasco on the right side of the infield was mishandled long enough for Boll to score and give the Blue Streaks their first lead of the night, 2-1. A Christian Kleckner single moved Carrasco up to third base, but Township could not extend their lead before the end of the 4th.

In the 5th, Angelo Billiard led off with a double to deep right center and advanced to third on a bunt single from Braden Leed. Even with no outs, the Blue Streaks could not extend their lead and score Billiard from 3rd as three consecutive ground outs held the score 2-1 through 5.

Cedar Crest flipped the script on this game in the 6th with 3 additional runs that put them in front for good. A leadoff double, two RBI singles, and a SAC fly were enough to chase Shirk from the game and give the Falcons a 4-2 lead. A fast bottom of the 6th for Township did not help the Blue Streaks regain any momentum and another Falcons run in the 7th with Sauder on the mound made it 5-2 CC. MT was retired in the 7th by grounding into their third double play on the evening and dropped this one 5-2.

Looking to find their winning ways again, Township will travel to Penn Manor on Wednesday afternoon for their final meeting against the Comets this season. 4:15 PM first pitch.