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DOWNINGTOWN >> The Downingtown West baseball team team is headed to Thursday’s District 1 6A championship game against arch-rival Downingtown East. The Whippets punched their ticket with a thrilling 7-5 semifinal win over Central Bucks East Tuesday afternoon.
The District 1 6A championship game will be at Villanova Ballpark at Plymouth, Thursday at 4 p.m.
The Whippets (18-4) got a superb six-inning pitching performance from senior Drew Turner. Turner allowed the hot-hitting Patriots (17-7) just five hits while striking out 11 batters.
“I was able to throw all three of my pitches for strikes today,” Turner said. “They got a couple of hits in the first inning but I settled down after that. I just tried to attack the strike zone against a real good hitting team. I just trusted my pitches and trusted my teammates after that. I have been in this program for four years and there have been some ups and downs, but to go to a district title game is just a great feeling. I am really going to enjoy it.”
The Patriots scored two runs in the top of the first inning off Turner but Quinn Henicle got one back in the bottom of the inning with a home run over the left field fence off Patriots starter Jason Abert.
The Whippets tied the game 2-2 on a RBI bloop double from Jay Slater that fell between three Patriots in the top of the third inning.
The Whippets took control of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning. West scored two runs on just one hit. Brett Connolly led off the fourth with a sharp single to right field. Mike Jaszczak was hit by an Abert pitch, then Jake Kucera laid down a perfect bunt and beat the throw to first to load the bases.
Stephen Furia broke the tie with a sacrifice fly to plate to score Connolly, then Henicle hit a grounder that scored another Whippets run.
Turner was in full control at this point as he struck out the Patriots in order in the top of the sixth inning.
The Whippets scored three more runs against two Patriots relievers in the bottom of the sixth inning after Abert was lifted in favor of Mike Scafidi. Henicle was the big bat again as he roped a fastball for a two run double. Jay Slater followed with an RBI single for a 7-2 lead.
Turner started the seventh inning by walking Sean Hill. That was all for Turner as he reached the 105 pitch limit. In came Jake Mello for the Whippets. Mello walked the next Patriots batter but Hill was caught off second base by a Slater throw for the very important first out of the inning.
Nolan Behm singled to put two men on base with one out. The dangerous Chase Harlan popped out to Slater for the second out of the seventh. But Jack Mislan hit a monstrous three run homer over the center field fence to cut the Whippets lead to 7-5.
With the Patriots bench roaring, Mello walked Anthony Niro to bring the tying run to the plate, but Mello got out of trouble by getting Cole Lynch to fly out.
On Thursday, the Whippets will try to win the first district title in Downingtown West history.
“Drew was outstanding today,” West coach Scott Rambo said. “He attacked a very good lineup and did not give in all day. And this group has been through a lot. They get behind in games and they find a way to come back.
“They also had district playoff experience and they lost the last two years in the playoffs by one run in both games. They are a very resilient bunch and we are looking forward to playing Downingtown East.”
Downingtown West 7, CB East 5
Central Bucks East 200 000 3-5Downingtown West 101 203 -x-72B-Henicle, Slater, Harlan., Moody. HR-Henicle, Mislan.WP-Turner. LP- Abert.
