Interboro extends win streak with win over Octorara
By Bill Rudick
ATGLEN—After a somewhat shaky start, Interboro (4-0, 3-0) starter Mike Ventura settled in, and the Bucs bats stayed hot, paving the way for an 8-2 victory over host Octorara in the non-league contest.
“We have nine new starters from our 19-0 team last year,” said Bucs’ coach Anthony DiNicola. “In our first scrimmage we didn’t have a hit. We watched the film, made some changes, and we’ve been hitting the cover off the ball since.”
Interboro wasted no time getting on the board, pushing across three runs in the first. Don Scrivano got things going when he reached on an error, then Joey Pitts made it first and second when he beat out an infield single. Sean Flynn picked up an RBI, singling to right with two out. Aaron Stankiewicz brought Pitts and Flynn home with a single of his own.
Octorara answered right back in their half of the first, and cut the lead to one. Andy Imbierowicz led off for the Braves, and reached on an error. Aaron Feld moved Imbierowicz to third with a single to the gap in left center, and moved up to second on the throw to third. Imbierowcz scored on a wild pitch, and then CJ Pluck brought Feld home with a sac fly to center. 
“We were looking forward to playing them because they have built a reputation as a consistently good team,” said Braves’ coach Jedd King. “We hit the ball hard today, but it seemed like too many of those ball got scorched right at somebody. But that’s baseball.”
Ventura then took over. The Bucs righty dug in and allowed just to base hits the rest of the way, both to Feld. The first was an infield single, and the other a single to left. Ventura picked up the complete game win, going seven innings. He allowed two runs on three hits, striking out five and walking just one.
“First inning I was just trying to find the strike zone and see what their hitters could do,” said Ventura. “From there on out, I just did my best to hit my spots. This one is everyone, because they played great defense behind me and we all hit.”
Interboro tacked on another run in the third, then two in both the fifth and sixth innings. Five Bucs had at least two hits, and all but one slot in the order had at least one base knock. Pitts led the way, going 3 for 5 with two runs scored and one batted in.
“Just trying to drive the ball to center, hitting it as hard as I can” said Pitts. “A couple I didn’t hit so hard but was able to beat them out. We’ve all begun to hit well lately. A couple weeks ago we weren’t looking so good, but it seems like everyone’s hitting has been hot lately.”
The Braves will look to put this one in the rear view mirror, and try to get back on track when the league schedule resumes.
“Baseball is all about losses, big and little,” said King. “You strikeout, or give up a run, those are little losses. You’re going to lose some games. What matters is how you respond to those defeats.” 
Interboro 8, Octorara 2
Interboro ab r h bi Octorara ab r h bi
Asadi–RF 3 0 1 0 Imbierowicz–SS 2 0 0 0
Combery–RF 2 0 0 0 Cummings–CF 3 0 0 0
Scrivano—LF 5 1 1 0 Feld—2B 3 1 3 0
Weldon—1B 5 0 3 0 Lubrabno–C 2 0 0 0
Pitts–SS 5 2 3 1 Pluck—3B/P 2 0 0 1
Flynn—3B 5 2 2 1 Rudisill–LF 3 0 0 0
Stankiewicz—DH 3 2 2 2 Thomas—DH/3B/P 3 0 0 0
Ventura–P 3 1 1 0 Ham—1B 3 0 0 0
Delliprisoli–CF 3 0 1 2 Lewis–RF—RF/P 3 0 0 0
Kelly—C 0 0 0 0 Bright—PH 2 0 0 0
McMullen—C 4 0 0 0 Lantz—P 0 0 0 0
Totals 38 18 15 6 Totals 23 2 3 1
Interboro 3 1 0 0 2 2 0–8
Octorara 2 0 0 0 0 0 0—2
IP H R BB SO
Interboro
Ventura (W) 7 3 2 1 5
Octorara
Lantz (L) 3 6 4 2 2
Thomas 1.1 2 2 0 0
Pluck 2.2 5 2 2 0
