Daniel Boone bounces back, routs Exeter 11-0

REIFFTON >> There was a good chance the Daniel Boone Blazers were a bit ticked off at themselves heading into Wednesday’s Berks League Section 1 baseball battle at Exeter. The Eagles caught the blunt force rebound.

Two days after unexpectedly handing Reading its first win of the season, Daniel Boone took it out on host Exeter 11-0 in five innings Wednesday afternoon.

The Blazers (5-1, 2-1 Berks Section 1) packed the heavy lumber for the short trip from Birdsboro and put it to good use early and often against the Eagles (2-4, 0-3).

The Boone lineup was aggressive against Exeter starter Jon Wack, pounding out 11 hits worth nine runs against him in just 2 1/3 innings before he departed in favor of Deavor Koch. Matt Stevens’ triple to deep left-center, a two-run rocket to make it 9-0, spelled the end in the top of the third for Wack.

Two batters after Koch entered the game, Brendan Rivoli greeted him with a long home run down the right-field line, a two-run shot, for what proved to be the final margin.

Ty Esenwein had launched a two-run homer run over the stone wall in left during the Blazers’ first at-bat, part of a four run ambush that ensured there would be no repeat of Monday’s letdown against Reading.

“We have swung the bats well all season long and top to bottom, we’re proud of the effort the guys have put in,” Boone head coach Jason McCord said. “They worked hard all preseason on hitting and we thought that was going to be our identity coming into the year, as a team that could put up runs.

“They didn’t disappoint today. They came out and had a great plate approach. They hit fastballs and did a great job.”

The Blazers jumped on Wack for four first-inning runs. The big blow — Rivoli’s two-run jack — helped along by a pair of Exeter miscues in the field. Boone tacked on three more in the second on five hits for a 7-0 lead. Four more runs in the third — including Garner’s two-run long ball — put the issue to rest.

“Didn’t make some routine plays that we need to make,” Exeter head coach Justin Freese said, “but hats off the those guys over there. They pounded the baseball today. Everything they hit was solid and it was hit hard.”

Boone got a sharp effort on the hill from starter Zach Brightbill in his three frames of work. Brightbill gave up just one hit — a third-inning single to Joe Fylypowycz — and struck out six without issuing a walk.

“Zach throws really well and he’s a guy who understands his identity as a pitcher,” McCord said. “He’s not trying to blow fastballs by you. He understands his game is movement. He changes speed on you and he’s a tough guy to face because everything move so much. He tough to find the barrel against.”

McCord is optimistic his Blazers can contend for honors this spring. An outburst like Wednesday’s shows the club is capable of doing such.

“It’s going to be a tough county,” he said. “I figured we would be in the conversation. We should be in contention if we come out and play the way we can. We’re a good defensive team, we’re a good hitting team and our pitching’s coming around. If we can put it all together we can be dangerous. This was a good rebound for us.”