NEW WILMINGTON, PA - The baseball team traveled to Westminster today to play a quick nine inning game to help keep them fresh for playoffs. What they didn't expect was a game that would bring them to an extra inning.
In the top of the sixth inning for the Redhawks; after a double from Ben Dottle, the score was 4-1 in favor of La Roche.
But in the seventh inning, the Titans had a big four running inning to not only tie up the game, but to also take the lead.
The Redhawks went through two pitchers before they landed on Shane Murphy to finish out the game, and also credited with the win.
Both teams went scoreless the entire eighth inning.
Anthony Cioffi started off the ninth inning with a walk, and then took a chance to steal second and succeeded. This put him in perfect scoring position when Murphy doubled down the left field line, allowing Cioffi to score and the Redhawks to tie up the game.
La Roche held Westminster one hit, and one runner left on base, forcing the teams to go into an extra tenth inning.
The tenth inning didn't seem like it was going to go well for the Redhawks. The first two batters were stuck out looking, and the Titans thought they might be able to relax.
That all ended when Kyle Weitzel doubled to left field. Ryan Lynn wasn't about to leave him stranded on second.
Lynn smacked a single out to left field, and then advanced on the throw. Weitzel took the opportunity to take the lead back for La Roche.
Dylan Chan and Mason Brooks continued suit; Chan hitting a single, and Brooks making contact for a double. Scoring two more runs before the inning was out.
On defense while the Titans took their final turn at bat, Murphy held them to zero runs, zero hits, and no errors for the team.
Leading the Redhawks at the plate was Ben Dottle who went three-for-five achieving two doubles and one single. He was also credited with an RBI.
The hurler Shane Murphy got credit for today's win. The righty allowed one run on three hits ,and struck out three.
La Roche will be back in action on Saturday to play in the first round of AMCC playoffs against Hilbert. The games are set in a best two-out-of-three format. If there is a need for a third game, it will be played at 11AM on Sunday. First pitch for Saturday is scheduled for 1 PM.