Griffin tosses Methacton past Owen J. Roberts for first Liberty division title

BUCKTOWN >> Methacton captured the Pioneer Athletic Conference Liberty Division baseball title and wrapped up the No. 1 seed in next week’s PAC playoffs Wednesday night with a 5-2 win at Owen J.Roberts.

Zack Griffin threw a four-hitter for the win with just one walk and seven strikeouts, Chris Douglas had three hits and Ben Christian played an outstanding game at third base for the Warriors (12-4, 16-6), who came into the regular season finale tied for first place with the Wildcats (11-5, 14-7).

“That was our main goal, win the division after a rough start,” Griffin said. “We played our hearts out. It was like a playoff game.”

Methacton opened the scoring with two in the second on just one hit, a leadoff infield single by Douglas, followed by a walk, a catcher’s inference call and a pair of two-out, bases-loaded walks.

The Warriors added two in the third on a single by Conor Smith, a double by Douglas, a sacrifice fly by Logan Rambo and an RBI single by Mike Daddazio.

Meanwhile, Griffin breezed through two perfect innings on a total of just 12 pitches before the Wildcats threatened in the third on a double to deep right by Casey McGinley and a walk with one out. But the Methacton senior right-hander got out of the inning on two grounders.

Then OJR scored two in the fourth on a leadoff single by Sam Morris, a double by Jordan Siket and run-scoring grounders by Josh Diamond and Ryan Sayers.

Methacton closed out the scoring in the fifth on a double by Smith and singles by Douglas and Daddazio. Griffin allowed only a bunt single the rest of the way.

“That was awesome,” Griffin said concerning the showdown for first place. “You couldn’t ask for anything better. We started out 3-4, but everyone – not just one player – stayed after practice and took 100 groundballs every day and stayed and hit in the batting cage. The team just really bonded together.”

“At 3-4, nobody pointed fingers at each other,” Warriors coach Paul Spiewak said. “I was just as proud of them when we were 3-4 as I am today.”

Griffin threw 10 of 12 pitches for strikes in the first two frames and started the third with a strikeout before McGinley’s drive over the head of the right fielder.

“That’s been my M.O. all season,” Griffin said. “Pound the zone and let the defense make the plays.”
“He threw a nice game and kept us off balance,” OJR coach Greg Gilbert said. “It’s the kind of thing where you have to make adjustments, and we didn’t make enough. I think we could have been a little more patient. But at the same time, he’s throwing strikes.”

Christian had five assists on grounders, none of them easy plays.

“Ben Christian stepped up big time,” Spiewak said. “He was the difference today. None of those plays were routine. Zack Griffin has put together four years of pitching performances. He no longer surprises me. He pummeled the strike zone for four years.”

Spiewak thought that Griffin’s pitching in the fourth inning, despite giving up two runs, was a key to the win.

“He’s been through that so many times,” said the Warriors’ coach. “When they had second and third and nobody out, he rolled two groundballs and kept the damage to two.”

“I put faith in my team and throw strikes,” Griffin added.

Now the second season starts for the Warriors, who won their first PAC division title.

“It’s a new season on Monday,” Griffin said. “It starts 0-0.”

“This is the first division championship since we’ve been in the conference,” Spiewak said. “Nobody can
take that from us.”