Recap

On Monday afternoon, the Elizabethtown Bears played host to the visiting Varsity Blue Streaks as a warm front rolled through central Pennsylvania. Township carried a 5-game win streak into E-town and looked to leave with another victory.

After scoring 48 runs in their previous 5 games, the Blue Streaks jumped out to an early lead in this game. With 2 outs in the top of the 1st, Ryan Jones singled to center field before scoring on a Colin Yablonski double to center. Matt Peipher walked before Kyle Musser singled to make it 2-0 Township, all with 2 outs.

Connor Vucovich made his 2nd start of the season and was looking for a better outcome than his 1st start (9-0 loss against Hempfield). He made an early statement on the mound by striking out the side in the bottom of the 1st inning. MT extended their lead after Colin Fitzgerald reached 1st base on a single to lead off the top of the 2nd inning. He advanced to 2nd and then 3rd on multiple passed balls during Drew Sassaman‘s at bat. Sassaman reached base and scored Fitzgerald after stroking a single to left field to make it 3-0 Township.

Over the next 2 innings, Vucovich kept the Bears quiet on the scoreboard while only surrendering a single and a base runner on an infield error. Township made a little noise in the top of the 4th with a Fitzgerald single and Sassaman SAC bunt error, but they were retired with both runners left on base.

The Bears got to Vucovich early in the bottom of the 4th off a double and SAC fly to pull within 2 runs of MT 3-1. Connor settled down and retired the next two batters to escape the inning before silencing E-town in the 5th inning as well. Township’s offense was shut down over the final three innings, but E-town kept trying to make things interesting. Another double in the 6th inning gave the Bears hope, but Vucovich induced a ground out to leave the game with a 3-1 lead. Will Greiner took the mound in the 7th for a 1-2-3 inning to give the Blue Streaks the 3-1 win and save.

After starting the season 0-2, Township is now 6-2 after rattling off 4 wins on the road and 2 at home.