Recap

Following a week of road games, the Manheim Township Blue Streaks returned home on Monday evening to host their first night game of the season against the Cedar Crest Falcons. Before the game, each of the Township seniors selected their favorite MT teacher to be recognized and to throw out a ceremonial first pitch.

After a week or two of exceptionally warm weather, Monday night’s game-time temperature barely exceeded 50 and was set to drop throughout the game. Gavin Glass (6.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 14 K) took the mound for the Blue Streaks hoping to conquer both the cold and the Falcons. In the top of the 1st, Cedar Crest put two runners on with no outs after Glass hit the leadoff man, Brown, and surrendered a single to Dibiaso. With two outs, a throwing error from Ryan Brader allowed Brown to cross the plate and give the visiting team the early 1-0 lead. Glass would escape the inning with a pop up from the very next batter.

The Blue Streaks countered in the bottom of the 1st by putting their first two batters on base as well. A bloop single to center field for Ty Jenkins and a walk for Brader put runners at 1st and 2nd for Township. A double steal during Nick Tomlinson’s first at-bat put both men in scoring position for Cole Stoltzfus to hit a SAC fly to shallow center field and advance both runners and tie the game 1-1. Glass helped his own cause before the inning was over with a double to right field that easily scored Brader from 3rd and gave the home team their first lead on the night.

Fast half innings for both Township and Cedar Crest in the 2nd held the 2-1 score into the 3rd. Back-to-back singles for the Falcons to lead off the top of the 3rd put pressure on Glass, but three consecutive strikeouts shut down the CC offense. The Blue Streaks scratched another run across in the bottom of the 3rd after Brader reached on a single, stole 2nd, and scored on a Tomlinson single up the middle. Now leading 3-1, Glass went back to work on the mound.

In the 5th, Township loaded the bases with a single from Brader and walks for Tomlinson and Stoltzfus with only 1 out. A 6-4-3 double play on a Glass ground ball ended the Blue Streaks’ threat for any additional runs. Glass continued on the mound through the 6th inning and collected strikeouts 10, 11, and 12 as the Falcons still couldn’t get anything going after their run in the 1st inning. Traeton Sauder entered for Glass with one out in the top of the 7th after the Township starter topped 100 pitches with two outs to go. Sauder worked a strikeout and lightning quick pickoff at first base to seal the victory for the Blue Streaks.