Pottsgrove edges Oxford for first District win in program history
EAST NOTTINGHAM – They’ve been playing high school baseball since the mid-1950’s at Pottsgrove, but on Monday the Falcons did something for the first time: notch a district baseball victory.
“I didn’t realize how long the struggle’s been, so I was a little surprised to hear that, but we are starting to change the culture,” said four-year head coach Jamie Nash.
Pottsgrove edged host Oxford 5-4 for the milestone win and will advance to the District 1 5A Quarterfinals, where they will meet second-seeded Marple Newtown on Wednesday. The 10th-seeded Falcons improve to 10-7 overall, and are now just one triumph away from earning a spot in the state playoffs.
“We ended the drought but we are not finished,” said senior outfielder Garrett Heft. “We are looking forward. We are happy but not satisfied.
“This is awesome. We’ve struggled through my first three seasons, so to do this my senior year is such a good feeling. We haven’t won more than 15-16 games combined in those three years.”
Seeded seventh, the Hornets season ends at 10-8. Oxford wound up dropping its final three games of the season, but did make a late push, turning a 5-0 deficit into a one-run battle.
“Our guys haven’t quit all season long,” said Hornets’ head coach Andy Wendle. “It was just a little too late.
“Our Achilles heel the last half of the season had been scoring in multiple innings. Even in the games we’ve put up runs, it’s been one big burst and that’s been enough. And when it’s not enough, we lose.”
What started as a pitcher’s duel between Pottsgrove workhorse Ethan Edelson and Oxford’s Justin Neskie eventually became a shootout as the bats came alive late. All nine runs were scored in the last two innings.
“I have to tip my hat to both pitchers,” Nash said. “(Neskie) located the ball well, he had a great slider and kept our hitters off balance.
“And that’s what Edelson’s done all year for us. We know we are going to get 100 quality pitches. He’s our ace and he’s thrown fantastic all season for us.”
Edelson got the win and came tantalizingly close to a complete game. Just one out away, he reached the 100-pitch limit and exited with a 5-2 lead, and two runs in with more on base. Reliever Ethan McMonagle surrendered a two-run single to Jay Morton and a run-scoring hit from Dalen Griffith, but then coaxed Neskie into a pop out to end it with the tying run in scoring position.
“I was getting a little worried, but I still had faith in Ethan (McMonagle),” Edelson said. “He got the job done.”
Edelson opened the scoring with an RBI in the top of the sixth to kick off a three-run rally that also featured a run-scoring hit by Gibson McMonagle. And then in the seventh, the Falcons added two insurance runs on a two-out, two-run single by Heft.
“I was just trying to put the ball in play,” he said. “I looked at (Oxford’s) stats before the game and saw that they are hitters, so it was a great feeling to get those two insurance runs.”
Behind 5-0, the Hornets opened the bottom of the seventh with a double by Tyler Harris and a single from Brendan Rozich. A hit batter and a walk set the stage for Edelson’s departure.
“It’s a cliché when they say hitting is contagious, but it certainly was (Monday)” Nash said. “Once a guy gets a hit, the pressure is off and everyone relaxes and starts to come through.
“You can never stop piling on runs. We knew that two or three runs wasn’t going to be enough, and Oxford showed they are good hitting team at the end there when they strung a few together.”
Edelson finished with five strikeouts and scattered eight hits. Neskie went six innings and surrendered eight hits.
“(Edelson) did a real nice job of tightening up when we got runners in scoring position,” Wendle said.
“(Neskie) did a real nice job keeping us in the game. You have to hand it to (Pottsgrove) in the sixth – they made a couple adjustments and punched a couple through the right side and it wound up being the difference.”
Avery Spencer led the way with three hits for the Falcons, while Ethan McMonagle and Heft each went 2-for-4.
“We don’t have the best reputation in baseball, so this feels amazing,” Edelson acknowledged. “But we’re not done. We want to win the next game and qualify for states and then keep on winning.”
Pottsgrove 5, Oxford 4
Pottsgrove 000 003 2 – 5
Oxford 000 000 4 — 4
2B – Spencer (PG), Harris (O).
WP – Edelson. LP – Neskie.
