Shore keeps bats hot at home
By KIM MOERSCHBACHER — kim@lockhaven.comJERSEY SHORE — Thursday’s game was a classic of example of youth meeting experience.
Warrior Run had several ballplayers still ironing out the wrinkles in their uniforms, while Jersey Shore had dirt marks already ground into the seams of its players’ jerseys.
The result was a lesson learned for the Defenders and another win for the Bulldogs, as Shore cruised to a 10-0 victory in five innings at home.
The Bulldogs, still in the hunt for a piece of the Susquehanna Valley League title, will round out their season today when they host Danville. A victory over the Ironmen will guarantee Shore a share of the SVL championship, as Montoursville clinched the top spot with a victory over Selinsgrove Thursday. If Shore loses today, the Warriors will win the title outright.
Thursday’s game gave head coach Shawn Weaver the chance to put some new jersey numbers on the mound and throughout the diamond as his Bulldogs prepare for district play.
“Anytime you get the chance to get as many guys as you can in the game, it’s always good,” the Shore head coach said. “At the same time, we have an SVL title to think about. We just have to make sure that we are still taking care of business while getting those other guys some experience.”
As it has done all season, Shore got production from throughout the lineup and kept the ball bouncing in every direction.
The Bulldogs (16-3) roped five extra-base hits — two of those home runs from Derek Smith and Lance White — for a total of 13 in the game.
Smith, who belted a long ball in Wednesday’s game against Shikellamy, ended the day Thursday with a walk-off homer in the fifth, marking his third hit of the day.
“Like the coaches have said all along, when you get a 2-0 count or 3-0 count and get an advantage, you try to get up there and hit fastballs,” the senior Bulldog said. “We don’t usually go up there and try to hit balls in the dirt or balls that are at our eyes. We go up there and hit and get an advantage, and that’s been working for us.”
Kyle Miller, getting the day off from the mound, worked the plate and went 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI. Jake Potter, hitting in the No. 5 slot, mirrored his teammate and also went 3-for-3 with an RBI.
Those two combined for Shore’s first three runs of the game in the first inning, and Andy Welsh drove in his only RBI of the day in the same frame as he crushed a triple to deep center field.
Warrior Run coach Pierce Wilson had seen the Bulldogs earlier in the year and knew what they brought.
So when the orange and black had a 6-0 lead after just two frames, he wasn’t surprised.
“We can’t match up with their senior-leaden team. We’re a freshman-laden team, and we knew that,” the Warrior Run coach said. “We’ve faced them before. I just tell the kids to keep chopping and keep at it. That’s what we do. We’re playing four games this week, so we’re limited in the pitching staff. That’s not an excuse, but they are a much better team than we are.”
Shore chased Warrior Run starting pitcher Kurt Rishel off the mound after just two innings, while Craig Watson came in relief in the third to finish out the final frames.
Weaver used an array of arms on the hill to keep his rotation fresh for upcoming games.
White started and was credited with the win, while Taylor English came into the game in the third. Warrior Run’s Travis Hendershot was able to sneak in the Defenders’ only hit off English, but never made it past the bag as he was forced out at second in a fielder’s choice.
Warrior Run’s best chance to plate runs came in the fourth when they had the bases loaded with no outs after three straight walks by Shore’s Ben Saar. Weaver relieved Saar and brought in Smith, who coaxed Ashton Mook to swing at strike three as the ball went flying past catcher Kasey Kemmerer and into the backstop.
On third, the Defenders’ Quinn Beaver took off for home, but Smith flicked the ball to Kemmerer who applied the tag for the inning’s second out. Smith then induced a pop fly from David Hitesman to end the inning.
It’s that kind of communication between teammates that fuels the Bulldogs in each game they play.
“Team chemistry is huge, and we are having really good plate approaches every time,” White said. “Hopefully, we can keep it going.”
Shore tacked on three runs in the fourth before Smith’s game-ending long ball in the fifth. White belted a two-run homer into the center-field tennis courts, and Mitch Potter drove in Miller on a hard shot to left field for a 9-0 advantage.
JERSEY SHORE 10, WARRIOR RUN 0, 5 innings
W 000 00 — 0 1 2
J 420 31 — 10 13 0
W: Rishel, Watson (3) and Martin. J: White, English (3), Saar (4), Smith (4) and Wrench and Kemmerer (4). WP — White. LP — Rishel. HR: J, Smith, White. 3B: J: Welsh. 2B: J, Miller 2, Smith. MH: J, Smith 3, Miller 3, Jake Potter 3, White 2.
