PLYMOUTH MEETING >> History was made by the Downingtown East baseball team Thursday afternoon at the Villanova Ballpark.
The Cougars defeated crosstown rival Downingtown West, 6-1, to capture the first District 1 6A championship in Downingtown East history. They will open PIAA Tournament play Monday against the two seed from District 3. West will face the second seed from District 12 at times and locations to be determined.
The Cougars (17-6) rode a superlative four-hit, complete-game masterpiece from senior Dylan Hansen. They were also aided by some shoddy Downingtown West (18-5) fielding that led to a game changing five-run fifth inning. Hansen struck out seven on his way to a 94-pitch gem.
“I was really able to locate my slider today. I have not had it lately because of the blister on my hand,” Hansen said. “We showed what we could do against them in a seven-inning game. Last time they beat us, it was a five-inning rain game. To win the district title is just an amazing feeling and I could not be happier. It also is a little extra special because we beat our rivals. Just a great moment. Nothing could be better.”
The teams were tied 1-1 headed to the fifth with Hansen and the Whippets’ Zach Griffin both pitching well. The Cougars sent nine batters to the plate in the inning that started when Sam Bates reached second on a throwing error from Matt Diottavio.
Up stepped Jack Reichlin, who ripped a Griffin pitch to the base of the left-field wall for an RBI double and a 2-1 lead. Kyle Mandirola hit a slow roller to shortstop that Quinn Henicle could not field cleanly and the Cougars were in business with two on base and no one out.
Conor Kelly belted a two-run single to center to go up 4-1. Ethan Bojko walked, then Ryan Kuzmick delivered a two-run single off reliever Steve Furia to cap the uprising.
“Griff is my boy, but he left a fastball up in the zone and I turned on it,” Reichlin said. “Just a great feeling to be district champs. And we got to play seven innings instead of just five like the last time we played them. We really wanted this one and we hope to keep it going.”
Down 6-1, Jake Kucera started the bottom of the fifth for the Whippets by drawing a walk. But, Hansen struck out Ryan Frye and got Furia to ground into an inning-ending double play to keep the lead at five.
“You cannot make mistakes in a game like this and expect to win,” West coach Scott Rambo said. Give East credit. The played, clean defense and we did not and we gave them some things. They played a very clean game, so give them credit.”
Hansen allowed a one-out single to Jay Slater in the sixth inning, but once again the East defense ended the inning with a 5-4-3 double play. The Whippets got a leadoff single from Jake Mello to start the seventh, but Hansen cooly retired the next three batters and the Cougars made school history with their district championship.
“We had a real bad 10-0 loss to West Chester Henderson early in the season. Since then, the guys have really locked in,” East coach Pete Susi said. “This is a very tightknit group that worked really hard. Dylan was locked in with a quiet confidence getting on the bus to come out here today. He did a great job.
“He has not pitched a lot the last two weeks because of the blister issue on his hand, so we gave him a little work on Tuesday and he was great today. I could not be happier for these kids.”
Downingtown East 6, Downingtown West 1
Downingtown East 001 050 0 – 6
Downingtown West 001 000 0 – 1
WP-Hansen. LP-Griffin.
2B-Reichlin.
