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UWCHLAN >> Coming into this final week of the regular baseball season, the Downingtown East Cougars knew if they won both of their scheduled games, they would get at least a share of the Ches-Mont National Division championship. Monday afternoon, the host Cougars impressively took the first step as they downed Bishop Shanahan, 6-0.
East (13-4 Ches-Mont, 13-5 overall) rode a superlative three-hit, 11-strikeout gem from senior Mike Devenney. Chase Martin was the hitting star as he drove in three runs on three hits as the Cougars sailed to the win.
“Michael was great today,” Cougars’ coach Pete Susi said. ”Early in the season he had a sore arm and we were very cautious with him. But, he looked real strong today and we needed it. He has been getting stronger and stronger and he sure looked great today.
“Chase Martin also had a big day. He is the glue of this team. He does not try to do too much at the plate, he just goes up there looking to hit line drives and he led the offense today.”
The Cougars led 1-0 after two innings against Eagles’ (3-14, 3-14) starter Jake Scott, plating a run in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single from Ethan Bojko. But East broke the game open in the bottom of the third.
Scott got the first Cougars’ batter, Sam Bates to ground out for the first out of the inning. But Scott walked Jack Reichlin and then Kyle Mandirola got on base via an Eagles’ error, to put two men on with one out.
Martin then picked out a fastball and ripped a long two-run double to left field to open a 3-0 lead. Scott retired Ryan Kuzmick but gave up an RBI single to Conor Kelly and it was a 4-0.
Devenney was on top of his game as the Eagles did not get a man past first base the entire game. Bobby Gallagher ripped a single in the top the fifth inning but the threat was erased as the next batter hit into a pretty 3-6-1 double play, and the Cougars quelled the Eagles threat.
“I had a little arm trouble early in the season but coach Susi did a real nice job limiting my workload and I felt real good today,” Devenney said. “Today my fastball was real good and I was mixing in the slider against the lefty hitters and the home umpire was giving me the corners and that helped. I feel real good right now and it is just in time for the district playoffs.”
The Cougars plated two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning on just one hit. Two walks from Scott, then an RBI single from Martin and a sacrifice fly from Kuzmick accounted for the runs and the Cougars did what they had to do to stay in the hunt for a Ches-Mont championship with a game at Downingtown West Tuesday.
Eagles coach Brian Book lamented the 11 strikeouts for his team.
“You have to put the ball in play in high school baseball and we did not do that,” Boyko said. “They all talk about things like launch angle and all but you have to get your bat on the ball. Their guy pitched a very good game for them today.”
Downingtown East 6, Bishop Shanahan 0
Bishop Shanahan 000 000 0 – 0
Downingtown East 013 020 x – 6
2B — Martin.
WP — Devenney. LP– Scott.
