Owen J. Roberts, Neshaminy district opener halted in fourth inning
BUCKTOWN >> With the skies darkening and the radar flashing red over Owen J. Roberts High School, senior Griffin Hensley knew it was time to deliver.
The senior delivered a key two-run single to left field in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game, before the Wildcats took a 4-3 lead in their rain-halted District 1-AAAA playoff opener against Neshaminy.
For more photos from Monday’s postponed game, click here.
The game will resume play back at Owen J. Roberts on Tuesday afternoon at 4 p.m. in the bottom of the fourth inning with OJR holding a 4-3 lead. Wildcat designated hitter Alex Condello will step back into the box facing an 0-2 count with two on and two outs.
“We got behind early, but as a team, we did a good job of putting pressure on their defense and gaining momentum,” said Hensley. “We’ve been put in this position before.”
Inside the Neshaminy dugout, head coach Chris Tengalia saw the bright side of the storm.
“This might be a blessing in disguise for us,” he said. “Stopping it here in this situation, taking a break and coming back tomorrow (Tuesday) down by one. That could be good for us.”
Hensley cracked a key two-run single with the bases loaded in the bottom of the third inning to tie it up at 3-3. In the next inning, Austyn Young singled and eventually came around to score while tagging up on Riley McGinley’s liner to center to give OJR its first lead in the fourth.
“He gave me a 3-2 fastball over the plate and I was able to put a good swing on it,” said the left fielder of his two-run single. “I always want to deliver when we have runners in scoring position.”
“Anytime you’re in a suspended game, you feel a lot better leaving with a lead,” said Owen J. Roberts head coach Greg Gilbert. “So that was big for us, not to just get back into it, but to take a lead. We’ll have to bring that same approach back here.”
Neshaminy crossed all three of its runs in the top of the second inning. Senior first baseman Bill Ritchey opened the inning with a thundering double to center, eventually coming around to score on Jake Jones’ single back up the middle.
“Bill got us started that inning,” said Tenaglia. “A big hit like that gets excitement going in the dugout and gets everybody comfortable in the early going. Our guys were putting the ball in play and finding ways to get on.”
Two batters later, with men on first and second, Josh Lehman knocked a two-run single scoring Anthony Rapposelli (courtesy runner for Jones) with Brian Nicolas scoring when Lehman was tagged out advancing to second base.
Billy Meyer got the start for Neshaminy where he scattered four runs (three earned) on five hits. Owen J. Roberts’ Griffin Hensley settled back in after facing some trouble in the top of the second. The senior limited the Redskins to three runs (two earned) on six hits and a walk.
Now in their second consecutive district appearance, Gilbert and the Wildcats know it takes an entire team to make a deep run into the playoffs after reaching the PIAA playoffs last season.
“You never know coming into it year to year,” he said. “You’ve got to play really well and got to be able to get a few breaks. We’re hopeful, though. We’ve got a really great group of kids.”
Making their first district appearance since the 2013 season, the Redskins will look to have better success than three seasons ago when they lost their opener to Pennridge.
If Monday’s start is any indication, Tuesday’s continuation between the two teams should provide plenty more than just some refreshing sunshine back at Owen J. Roberts.
