WEST CHESTER >> Monday afternoon at Owens Field, Downingtown East starting pitcher Chase Martin gave the Cougars exactly what they needed as East began a tough three-game week in the frantic Ches-Mont National Division baseball race. Martin pitched six and two third innings, allowed just three hits and struck out 10 as the Cougars rolled to an impressive 6-1 win over host West Chester Henderson (7-9, 7-9-1).
East (11-4 Ches-Mont, 11-5 overall) broke the game open in the second inning by plating four runs off Warriors starter, sophomore Mike Miller. The way Martin was pitching it would be more than enough for the Cougars, who moved within one half game of league leading Downingtown West.
“Chase gave us a great outing,” Cougars’ coach Pete Susi said. “Chase is a strike thrower and when he pitches, you can call the game and then he throws it where it is supposed to go. And I really liked our at-bats early in the game. We were hitting hard line drives.
“Later in the game we started to get a little impatient at the plate and hit too many popups. Thankfully, Chase was real good for us and the runs held up. It is always tough to win over here so we are happy to get out of here with a win.”
East took a 1-0 lead in the top the first inning. Sam Bates led off the first with a single and then the dangerous Jack Reichlin ripped a double to put men on second and third with no one out. Miller then got the next two Cougars batters before Ryan Kuzmick drove in Bates with an infield single to make it 1-0.
But the Cougars’ offense was just getting started. Conor Kelly led off the top of the second inning with a long solo home run over the left field fence and the Cougars had a two run cushion.
Ethan Bojko followed with a single and Jack Lerch followed Bojko’s hit with a perfect bunt that went for a base hit, to put men on first and second with no one out. Miller reared back and struck Bates out for the first out.
Up stepped Reichlin, who drove a long two run triple to center field, scoring both Cougars’ runners. Kyle Mandirola finished the scoring by ripping an RBI single to score Reichlin and East was out to an early 5-0 lead.
“It really helps you as a pitcher when you get that kind of run support,” Martin said. “You do not have to be as fine and worry about one mistake. Today I was able to get ahead of the hitters with my curve ball, and then my fastball as pretty lively also.”
The Warriors were having no luck with Martin as they stranded runners in both the fourth and fifth innings. Martin set the Warriors down in order in the sixth inning and the Warriors were down to their last three at bats coming to the bottom of the seventh inning.
Martin struck out both Mike Cugino and Jack Green to start the bottom of the seventh inning. Then Liam Schwinn hit a grounder to third base that East third baseman, Will Roth, threw high to first base and the Warriors had life.
Martin walked Evan Stiles and then had to come out of the game due to the 100-pitch rule. Dylan Rasco came in to pitch for the Cougars and Marcus Gustafson singled to load the bases with two out. Conor McCartney walked to make it 6-1. But Rasco ended the contest by striking out Patrick Lynn and the Cougars moved to within a half game of first place in the National Division with game with West Chester Rustin and Downingtown West coming up this week.
“We have a tough week but Chase got us off to a very good start.” Susi said.
Downingtown East 6, West Chester Henderson 1
Downingtown East 140 001 0 – 6
W.C. Henderson 000 000 1 – 1
2B — Lander, Reichlin. 3B — Reichlin. HR — Kelly.
WP — Martin. LP — Miller.
