Yates’ sac fly turns ‘crazy’ game into Strath Haven win
Strath Haven baseball coach Brian Fili has been in a lot of wild games during his career. Few, though, could top the Panthers’ 3-2, nine-inning victory over Harriton Tuesday for sheer drama.
“It was crazy,” Fili said.
That may be an understatement.
The Panthers had to turn a triple play and throw a runner out at the plate in the eighth inning before Andrew Yates lofted a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth inning to plate shortstop Noah Atsaves with the winning run.
The drama started in the bottom of the sixth inning when the Rams loaded the bases with no outs. Pierce Hagg hit a line drive to second baseman Chris Thack, who threw to first baseman Andrew Yates to double off the runner there. Yates turned and fired a strike to Atsaves at second base to get out of the jam.
Strath Haven’s defense wasn’t done. After the Rams scored a run in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game, left fielder Jake Fisher cut down the go-ahead run at home plate to keep the game even.
Atsaves and Brady Mutz led off the Strath Haven ninth with consecutive singles. Koll Peichel laid down a sacrifice bunt and Yates followed with his sacrifice fly to put the Panthers in front. Sophomore Chris Willette closed out a solid 2.2 innings in relief of Peichel to secure the victory.
Yates drove in two runs and Atsaves and Chris Felder pitched in with two hits each to keep Strath Haven’s District 1 Class 5A playoff hopes alive.
“We’re in 16th place and the top 16 get in,” Fili said. “Some other teams have games left so we’re going to need some help.”
Elsewhere in the Central League:
Ridley 7, Conestoga 1 >> Ethan Pecko came through on the mound and at the plate for the Raiders.
Pecko combined on a four-hitter with Matt Rowles and went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored. Pecko allowed two hits and fanned eight in five innings before giving way to Rowles, who tossed the final two frames.
T.J. McNeely scored twice and drove in a run. Trent Pierce was 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
In the Del Val League:
Chichester 16, Penn Wood 0 >> Ryan Boyers and Justin Printz drove in three runs each as the Eagles won the league title outright.
Printz also scored three times. Damien Thompson went 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored and Dylan Walls was 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Christian Johnson had two hits for the Patriots including a triple.
In nonleague action:
Neumann-Goretti 4, Haverford School 3 >> The Saints scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning to take the lead for good. John Bonini tied the game for the Fords with a two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning.
Jacob Stacy singled home a run an inning later to cut the deficit to the final score. Jonny Flieder tossed three innings of scoreless relief to keep the Fords in the game.
