Cougars Lehman, Keenan blank Whippets for key Ches-Mont National win

By Peter DiGiovanni
pdgiovanni07@gmail.com
@PeteDLNontwitter

DOWNINGTOWN >> The team that gets a dominant pitching performance usually comes away with the win.

Friday afternoon at Downingtown West, visiting Downingtown East got a superb five shutout innings from starter Alex Lehman, and two perfect relief innings from Jake Keenan, as the visiting Cougars took down the Whippets 4-0 in a key Ches-Mont National Division clash. Lehman pitched five shutout innings allowing just one hit while striking out five Whippet batters.

Downingtown East (5-3 Ches-Mont, 6-4 overall) plated two first inning runs off Whippets’ (7-3, 7-3) starter Connor Blench, who was having trouble finding the strike zone. Lehman said the Cougars getting those runs made his pitching chore easier.

“Us getting those two early runs really made things better for me,” Lehman said. “It took the pressure off a little. I was working all week on my off-speed stuff for this start and today, I got five shutout innings allowing just one hit against probably the best hitting team in the Ches-Mont. They have showed that so far this season. My goal was to keep them off balance at the plate and I did that today.”

The Cougars used two first inning walks off Blench to put two men on with no one out. JJ O’Neil then ripped a Blench fastball to left field and it was a 1-0 Downingtown East lead. After Dan Gibson reached on a fielder’s choice, Jake Keenan ripped an RBI single to center field and the Cougars were out early at 2-0.

While Lehman was keeping the potent Downingtown West attack hitless through the first three innings, the Downingtown East offense scored single runs in the top the third and fifth innings to take a 4-0 lead.

But, the Whippets mounted a serious threat in the bottom of the fifth inning. Three walks by Lehman led to the Whippets loading the bases with no one out. But Lehman got out of the jam with the Whippets stranding three runners and the Cougars lead stayed at 4-0.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, however, once again the Whippets mounted a serious threat against Keenan after an error at third base and a walk led to East coach Pete Susi to go to his closer, Keenan. He proceeded to strike out Jack Ginsburg and Liam Wilson before getting pinch hitter Josh Morse to fly out to right field and the Cougars 4-0 lead was still intact.

“I am used to coming in those pressure situations,” Keenan said. “That is my role on this team. You just try to throw strikes but don’t put anything down the middle of the plate where they can do damage.”

Downingtown West once again rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning. After Jay Slater popped out to first base for the first out, Jack Benis reached first on a soft fly to right field that should have been caught. Keenan then induced Cole blench to ground out to first base for the second out while Benis moved up to second base.

Keenan then hit Greyson Kovatch with a pitch to put two men on and the ever dangerous Cooper Young strolling to the plate. On a 2-1 count, Keenan challenged the Whippets slugger who lofted a long, high, fly ball deep to left field that Josh Assante ran down. The Cougars shutout was in place as the powerful Whippets lineup was held to just a single hit.

“We talked all week that the team who scores first in this East vs West rivalry usually wins the game so getting those two runs in the first inning was huge for us,” Susi said. “And Alex Lehman was lights out for us. Just a great performance by Alex and we made the plays in back him.”

Downingtown East 4, Downingtown West 0.

Downingtown East     201 010 0 — 4
Downingtown West    000 000 0 — 0
WP-Lehman. LP-Blence.