Phantoms Shock Rams, Score Seven in Final at Bat

ROYERSFORD-Phantoms' hurler Colin Ammon did not allow a hit in the four and two thirds innings of relief and delivered a two-run single to spark a seven-run seventh inning, leading Phoenixville to an 8-4 win over Spring-Ford in their PAC-10 season opener.

For six innings it looked as though the Phantoms, who out hit Spring-Ford 11-1, were going to have one of those games where they outplayed the opposition in most aspects of the game except where it counts the most, the scoreboard.

Starting pitcher Mike Jones struggled with his control, walking five and hitting three Rams' batsmen, before being lifted for Ammon with Spring-Ford threatening in the third inning with runners at the corners with two out after scoring a run to increase the Rams' lead to 4-1. Ammon came into the game and struck senior Sean Larkin out swinging to end the inning.

The Phantoms stranded 10 runners over a four-inning span from the second until Ammon drove in the first run of Phoenixville’s season with a fielder’s choice that scored Tony Sierzega with one out in the fifth.

“We were getting a little frustrated,” said Jones. “We had plenty of runners and were hitting the ball well, but couldn’t get that one hit we needed at the right time. I was shaky today but still felt pretty good. Colin [Ammon] did such a great job picking me up. That’s what we do as a team; we pick each other up.” 

“I was proud of the way our guys battled,” said Manager Jack Sturgeon. “Colin did a great job keeping us in it. It was hard to look up at that scoreboard in the seventh and see us out hitting them 8-1 but trailing 4-1.”

Leadoff man Andy Kaye, who that some teams would overlook the Phantoms, went 3-for-5 scoring a run and most importantly, he got the seventh inning started by ripping a single off of Richie Michaud, who had just entered the game in relief of starter Sean Larkin.

“Andy got us started in the seventh,” said Ammon, who was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and one run scored. “Once we got two guys on we where all thinking about one batter at a time and just getting the bat on the ball, forcing them to make a play. We have been hitting all week to get ready for today. I just felt really good at the plate. This is a great way to start the season.”

The Phantoms (1-0 in the league) sent 11 men in all to the plate in the decisive seventh inning, tying the game as Shae Ferguson, who pinch ran for Mike Jones who reached base with a walk, scored when Jon Wheel hit into a fielder’s choice.

Phoenixville took its first lead of the game as Ammon scored when Michaud booted a ball hit back to the mound and after Vinny Nattle crushed a 3-2 fast ball to the wall in dead right field, clearing the bases. With that the Phantoms claimed a four-run lead, needing just three out to snag their first win of the year.

Shane Allen, who was 2-for-3 on the day, drilled a ball that hit halfway up the fence in right center in the fourth inning, but was stranded at second as Ammon did not get a great jump on the ball.

“That team is going to be heard from,” added Sturgeon. “This was a big win for us. If we are going to compete in the PAC-10 it never hurts to steal a couple wins against good team like that. We hit the ball well, but we need to make sure we take advantage of scoring chances that we give ourselves.”

The last inning dramatics would have been pointless had it not been for the extraordinary effort to keep the Rams off the board by Ammon, who struck out four and only allowed one ball to leave the infield, a harmless fly ball to left by Ryan Conway in the fifth inning.

“My fast ball was working well today,” said Ammon. “Actually I felt confident with anything I threw today. It was just one of those days when everything clicked and they just didn’t hit the ball very well.”

Side Note:  Every Phantoms starter scored one run apiece with the exception of  Vinny Nattle who drove in two runs.

Phoenixville  000 010 7- 8        

Spring-Ford   031 000 0- 4

Phantoms Pitching                        IP                R                ER                H      BB       SO

Jones                                        2.3            4            4            1            5            3

Ammon (W 1-0)                     4.6            0            0            0            0            4

Rams Pithcing                           IP            R            ER            H            BB            SO

Larkin                                      6            1          1          8            1          5

Michaud (L 0-1)                     1            7            4            3            2            2

SB-Romano,  CS-Conway, 2B- Allen, Nattle.  Errors  SF- 3, Phx 2,

time of game 2:32

Phoenixville                              AB            R            H       RBI

Kaye rf                                       5            1            3            0

Sierzega  2b                             5            1            0            0

Romano  cf                               2            1            1            0

Jones  p/ 1b                              4            0            1            0

Ferguson  pr                             0            1            0            0

Ammon  1b / p                         4            1            2            3

Allen  ss                                   3            1            2            0

Wheel  3b                                4            1            1            1

Fina  c                                      4            1            0            1

Nattle  lf                                   4            0            1            2

                        Totals               35            8            11            7

Spring-Ford                             AB            R            H            RBI

Medley  lf                                 2            0            0            1

Grablewski  2b                        3            0            1            2

Gorrell  ss                                 3            0            0            0

Hoff  c                                         1            0            0            0

Mellon cf                                  2            0            0            0

Oczypok  1b                            4            0            0            0

Clarke  3b                                0            1            0            0

Conway  dh /c                        1            1            0            0

Larkin  p                                  2            0            0            0

Cratzenberg  rf                       2            1            0            0

                        Totals               20            3            1            3