Recap

A week removed from their exit from the Lancaster-Lebanon League playoffs, the Manheim Township Blue Streaks were back in action against the visiting Governor Mifflin Mustangs in the quarterfinal round of the District III playoffs. The #8-seeded Mustangs defeated Cedar Crest in the first round 8 vs 9 match while the top-seeded Blue Streaks received a first round bye.

Colin Fitzgerald got the start on the mound for the Blue Streaks in this one after pitching an inning and a third of relief against Manheim Central last week. The Mustangs had some action on the bases early after a leadoff single to center field and a walk two batters later. Fitzgerald locked in, picked up a strikeout and ground out, and escaped the top of the 1st unscathed. Two fly outs and a ground out from Township made for a quick bottom of the 1st.

An 8-pitch inning from Fitzgerald in the top of the 2nd held the scoreless tie as the Blue Streaks looked to break through in the bottom half. A 1-out single from Dylan King to the left fielder gave MT their first runner of the night. Ryan Jones took the first pitch of the next at-bat deep to left-center field to put himself and King in scoring position. JT Weaver grounded out to the 2nd baseman, but picked up an RBI as King crossed the plate and gave the Blue Streaks a 1-0 lead through 2.

Quick 1-2-3 half innings for both squads in the 3rd preserved the 1-0 Township lead and a scoreless 4th was highlighted by a Heckman-Sassaman-Druck (6-4-3) double play to keep Governor Mifflin at bay. The Mustangs bounced back, however, and put up a 3-spot in the top of the 5th as Fitzgerald struggled finding the zone with his breaking ball. Now trailing 3-1, Township responded with a 2-out run thanks to a single to left from Michael Heckman and a line-drive double to the fence in right field from Kyle Musser.

King replaced Fitzgerald on the mound in the 6th as the Blue Streaks continued to trail 3-2. A walk and single with 1 out gave the Mustangs a pair of baserunners before a wild pitch opened up another 2-run lead for Governor Mifflin, 4-2. A flyout, strikeout, and ground out for the heart of the Township order killed any chance to pick up momentum in their half of the 6th.

A quiet top of the 7th for Governor Mifflin left the door open for Township to rally with only their final 3 outs. A leadoff walk to Jones and first-pitch HBP to Weaver put the tying runs on base for the Blue Streaks. The runners would advance into scoring position later on a ground out, but consecutive strikeouts ended the game, the playoff run, and the season for MT. 4-2 GM final.