Recap

Riding a 3-game win streak, the Manheim Township Blue Streaks pulled into Hempfield on Wednesday afternoon to face the Black Knights, who have been on a tear to start the season themselves (6-1). Ryan Brader led off for the Blue Streaks and reached base on a single to start up the offense early. After stealing 2nd, Brader scored on a Ty Jenkins single to right field and Township opened a 1-0 lead. With two runners on after Cole Stoltzfus was hit by a pitch, Hempfield was able to retire Township before any further damage was done in the first frame. Hempfield threatened on the base paths in the bottom of the 1st, but starting pitcher Trey Eckman (2.1 IP, 3 H, 3R, 2K) preserved the MT lead. Hempfield broke through in the bottom of the 3rd with a pair of walks that put men on base with only 1 out. A HBP loaded the bases before an infield grounder scored the first Black Knights’ runner and tied us at 1-1. Two more walks, both with the bases loaded, ended Eckman’s day and brought Gavin Glass to the mound with Township now trailing 3-1. A double play in the next AB ended the Hempfield half inning and sent Township back to the plate to try and bounce back. A leadoff walk to Stoltzfus followed by a fielder’s choice for Tyler Mulholland put a runner at 1st with only 1 out. A pair of wild pitches during Nick Tomlinson’s next at-bat moved Mulholland to 3rd before Tomlinson picked up an RBI on a ground out to 2nd and pulled Township a bit closer, 3-2. A Glass walk put another runner on in the 4th, but Hempfield escaped with the lead. Three consecutive 1-2-3 innings for Glass on the mound gave Township a shot at tying or going ahead in their final 3 innings, but Hempfield seemed to have all the answers. A quiet 5th inning and a 6th inning where the Blue Streaks traded 4 pitches for three outs pushed the close game to the 7th. With 2 outs and runners on 2nd and 3rd for Township, a pop up to the shortstop ended it and sealed the first of three meetings between the two teams in the Black Knights’ favor.