Kennett lets one slip away as Caln takes advantage of mistakes
Kennett’s Ryan Simonton was solid in three innings of work
By Dave Conard Sports Editor, UnionvilleTimes.com
CALN TOWNSHIP—With ten days to play in the Chester County League regular season, the marquis match up between two of the top teams in the league on Sunday night, should have been a good measuring stick as to how the posts season would play out.
Unfortunately with the high school season running into mid June and rain outs forcing every body to play so many game jammed into a weekend, a game like Sunday night can just blur into a never ending stream of balls and strikes as teams battle the heat and threat of fatigue.
The quality of baseball has suffered as well as both teams had played earlier in the day, making the first place show down at Caln A.A under the lights more of an after thought that a statement laying claim to who may emerge as the front runner when the playoffs get underway July 12th.
Brandon Liddick tags out Caln’s Sean Risch at home to end the third inning.
One thing that did remain constant from Caln’s standpoint was the out standing pitching that has been a trademark over the past three seasons as John DiOttavio, who will be a sophomore at West Chester University in the fall, delivered a clutch performance in an unscheduled start.
“We are missing a couple of pitchers and for John to come in with no warm up ad pitch like that was huge for us,” said Seabees head coach Rob Weaver, in his seventh season at the helm. “We play in one of the toughest league’s in the state and there is no “night off” there are ten good team in this league that on any night can beat you, like we saw earlier today against Westtown.”
After dropping a 7-6 decision to the Express in walk off fashion earlier in the day at West Chester Rustin, Caln came into the match up with Kennett with a bit of an attitude, knowing what was at stake as the playoffs loom.
DiOttavio was dominant early on retiring the first ten men he faced, while striking out six over the first three innings. It wasn’t until the fifth inning that Kennett recorded it’s first base hit of the tilt.
Mixing great location on his fastball and utilizing his curve ball in spots, DiOttavio was able to keep the Colts off balance, giving the offense time to get it cranked up.
Two of the best teams in the Chester County league collided Sunday night
“I felt pretty good tonight, we needed to win this game,” said DiOttavio. “They are one of the best teams in the league and I know they can hit so it was huge that we got a couple of runs, it made it easier to relax and just throw.”
“I just love being around the guys and being part of this team,” added DiOttavio when asked about giving up his summers to play Legion ball. “It’s great to spend time with the guys, we play a lot of baseball in a short period of time, which is better than long breaks to bust up our momentum.”
Caln, who got on the board in the second frame posting a run when Tommy Stumm has singled stole second then scored as the throw to the plate got away, posted three runs in the third thanks in large part to three errors uncharacteristically committed by the Colts.
“That’s a very good team over there, they usually do not mistakes like that,” added Weaver. “Fortunately we were able to take advantage of the extra outs they gave us tonight, as this was a very important win.”
Suspect defense was again the culprit in the fourth inning as Kennett Post 491 (12-6 in league play), who defeated Downingtown in an afternoon game by a count of 10-4, allowed four more unearned runs, digging an 8-0 hole for the Colts to climb out of.
Kyle Fries led off the fifth stanza with Kennett’s first hit of the game and following a base on balls worked by Tyler Hall, the Colts had something going for the first time all game.
Sean Faux drilled a ball into the gap scoring Fries just ahead of a squeeze bunt laid down by Nick Ward, which plated Hall to cut the lead to 8-2.
Two additional runs scored following a snafu at third base
Lost in the 12-2 win by the Seabees, as they posted four runs in the fifth inning to close out the game, was the outstanding pitching effort by Kennett starter Ryan Simonton, who was very effective in keeping the ball around the plate and allowed no earned runs and three base hits in three innings of work, while fanning two.
Saen Risch (2-for-3, Run) and Ryan Buchovecky (2-for-3, 2Rbi) led the hit parade for Caln, with Buchovecky’s fifth inning, bases clearing double, sealing the deal for the Seabees as it gave them a ten edge, concluding the game.
Kennett Colts 0 0 0 0 2 – 2
Caln Seabees 0 1 3 4 4 -12
