Athletics' Bats Take a Bite Out of the Dawgs

Athletics coach A.J. Gray has had a pretty good week.

Following a huge league win against Spring City, it would have been easy for the Athletics to have some sort of let down. It was not so as Gray’s squad has used the momentum to rattle off two more wins this including a 7-5 victory over Norchester Thursday night.

“We have been doing the right things,” said Gray. “Our defense has been solid and we have been hitting the ball extremely well right now. We got another great pitching effort tonight from [pitcher] Sean [Williamson]. To have guys go seven innings at this point in the season will help us later in the year when we have four or five game weeks.”

“I love being challenged,” said Ben Cundello. “Being a part of Norchester baseball I know there is that expectation and a tradition of winning big games. I look forward to that and really love the pressure. We have been hitting the ball great all year. Tonight we just didn’t take advantage of our chances.”

The Athletics got out of the gate with a three spot in the first on singles by Bryan Furr, Robbie Purcell, Chris Demey and Cameron Cook and had increased their edge to 5-3 after four complete innings, following three consecutive base hits by Mike Anthony (3-for-3, runs, RBI), Logan Landis and Bret Arney  (1-for-3, 2 RBI), who drove in two runs on his shot to the gap.

Starter Sean Williamson utilized the strike zone, hitting spots with his two-seam fastball and working in some breaking stuff, keeping the Norchester hitters off balance. In seven innings of work, the right hander struck out three and walked two, while allowing four earned runs.

“I felt good with my two seamer tonight,” said Williamson. “I got a little worried when they got their first two guys on in the fifth, but we were able to work out of it. Chris [Demey] did a great job behind the plate.”

When Norchester came to bat in the top of the fifth, Cundello smacked a triple to start off the inning, followed by David Clay, who reached on an error and the Dawgs were in business, or so they thought.

The turning point in the game came as Norchester starting hurler Kutier Endy stepped into the batter’s box and ripped a shot back at the mound. Williamson snared the ball in the web of his glove and raced right at a runner, who was caught between second and third. After Williamson applied the tag, he then pivot and threw a strike to firstbaseman Dave Palmen who tagged out a runner who had wandered off of first base. The play effectively ended the rally and gave the momentum back to the Athletics.

“He didn’t want to lead off the inning with a walk so I knew he was going to give me something to hit,” said Cundello. “He gave me a fastball down and in and I just was able to rip it. That double play was huge. If we get that run in who knows, we are probably still playing. The ball just went right to him.”

Phoenixville, 5-3 overall, who moved a half game ahead of Norchester with the win, regained the lead for good in the home fifth as catcher Mike Anthony drove a ball into the gap driving in Demey who led off with a double and Cook, who drew a walk, to give the A’s a 7-5 lead.

“That’s a good team we just played,’ said Big Dawgs manager Ken Long. “This entire league has gotten very good. It’s the most competitive league in the state right now. He [Williamson] mixed his pitches in well, even though I thought our guys had some very good swings on him. Our goal every year is to finish the season in the state title game. To do that we have to win games like this.”

Williamson shut down the Dawgs and allowed just one base runner in the final two innings on a single by Cundello, who was left stranded there. Williamson retired Norchester in order after the base hit.

“They played very well tonight,” added Long, in his fifth year. “That is a very well coached, disciplined team that we will probably play again down the road as we split the first two times we played and they as well as us have beaten Spring City.”

“Our defense has really stepped up this season,” said Demey (2-for-4, 2 runs, RBI). “Offensively, we have been more consistent, staying with pitches and being selective on our swings. I have been seeing the ball well all year. He was behind in the count with me [and I] was able to get a fastball, middle in and just went raking."

“Sean [Williamson] did a great job getting out of that jam,” added Gray. “We had just talked and he knew he was on a short leash there but wanted to get it done. He settled down and focused and got it done. I am very happy with our start. We knew we had the talent coming into the year. We just need to continue to execute.”   

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

R

H

E

Norchester

0

0

2

1

2

0

0

5

10

2

Phoenixville

3

0

0

2

2

0

X

7

11

1

AB

R

H

RBI

Phoenixville

AB

R

H

RBI

Salerno 2b

4

1

1

0

Arney 2b

3

0

1

2

Cundello  1b p

4

1

2

0

Furr lf

4

1

2

0

Clay  c

4

1

1

1

Purcell cf

4

1

1

0

Rumer  rf

3

0

0

0

Demey c

4

2

2

1

Gruenling 1b

4

0

2

0

Palmen 1b

3

0

0

0

Endy p lf

2

0

1

0

Cook ss

2

1

1

1

Zebroski  lf  cf

3

1

1

0

Williamson p

2

0

0

0

Anderson  ss

3

0

0

0

Anthony 3b

3

1

3

1

Raymond 3b

3

1

3

2

Landis lf

2

1

1

0

Sommers ph

1

0

0

0

Hook 2b

0

0

0

0

Totals

30

5

9

4

Totals

28

7

11

7

IP

R

ER

H

SO

BB

Endy (L)

5.3

7

7

9

3

2

Cundello

1.6

0

0

2

1

0

Williamson (W)

7

5

4

10

3

2

2B-Demey, Raymond   3B-Salerno, Cundello   HR- none       LOB- NOR -9     PHX-6 

time of the game 1:57       game temp 80 degrees