Athletics' Season Ends, Team Just Misses a Regional Berth

The scoop-Entering Monday’s loser’s bracket final, with the winner all but guaranteed a spot in next week’s Region Three Tournament depending on the outcome of the Norchester/Cal match up, Spring City Post 602 and the Athletics were in the same boat so to speak as both squads have pushed their pitching needs to the limits.

In what was a slugfest, with coach Jack Sturgeon’s squad having the early momentum, the Red Sox outlasted Phoenixville by a score of 16-7 to advance to final day of the Chester County league playoffs.

Spring City, which appeared to be sleepwalking through the sweltering heat in the early going, was awakened by thunder of Phoenixville sophomore Ryan Yenchick’s bat. The young slugger crushed a three-run home run that landed far beyond the wall in left center field at Ram Stadium.

Unfortunately for Phoenixville fans it marked the last time an A’s player would cross the plate, as the Red Sox scored 12 unanswered runs, ending Phoenixville’s season one game short of a regional berth.

Athletic of the game-Left fielder Ryan Yenchick , who has done an outstanding job in the tournament roaming left field and catching everything hit his way. On Monday, Yenchick drove in four of the A’s seven runs and reached base three times, scoring two runs.

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Phoenixville

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Spring City

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Other key performers-Shae Ferguson did a solid job as a starting pitcher as he allowed just four earned runs on four hits and walked three, as well as scored a run and rapped out two base hits. Tom Romano, who also pitched in relief, had two base hits, driving three runs and drew a walk as well to help lead the way for the Athletics, in what may be coach Jack Sturgeon's last game at the helm. 

Inside the lines-“We have had a good run and wanted to go as far as we could,” said Phoenixville senior Jack Ashburn. “We have the triple AAA batteries going into next year--[Shane] Allen, [Colin] Ammon and Ashburn. It has been an interesting season.” 

Say what?-“I know I have said it before,” said Athletics manager Jack Sturgeon. “But this will be my last season as legion coach. These guys have given me a great season and all that they had to give. It’s just really hard when you need to work to get enough people to come out to play ball. We just are not deep enough with pitching as the big schools.”

Extra innings-Phoenixville’s defense recorded four double plays in the playoffs, and allowed eight earned runs in the first three games before Monday’s debacle en route to a 14-10 record overall. It will be always a case of what might have been for this legion season as the addition of one more arm or a healthy Mike Jones may have been the piece to put them over the top.