West Chester Henderson wins one for a cause

By Peter DiGiovanni
pdigiovanni07@gmail.com
@PeteDLN on Twitter
WEST CHESTER >> On a special day that the West Chester Henderson baseball team supported one of its own on “Light the Night” day to raise money for Leukemiaand Lymphoma patients, the Warriors got a much needed sterling effort from junior pitcher Brady Bash and some very fine glove work.
Bash threw a complete-game, four-hitter, besting Avon Grove’s Jake Good, who also pitched very well, as the Warriors made a first-inning run stand up for a thrilling 1-0 Ches-Mont League National Divsion win Wednesday.
The Warriors (6-6 Ches-Mont, 6-6 overall) made some fine plays in the field to back Bash, who much appreciated his teammates efforts.
“We really played great defense today and those guys really picked me up,” Bash said. “(Left fielder) Ian Tracy made a great throw home and (catcher) James Vito put on a great tag in the fourth inning. Today, about the second time through the lineup, my slider got going and I had good zip on my fastball the whole game.”
Henderson led off the game with Tracy legging out an infield hit. Thomas Caufield then drilled an RBI double to left center for a 1-0 lead 0 after just two batters. The Warriors would only garner four more hits on the game as Good kept them at bay.
But, Bash was also doing that to the Red Devils (6-6, 6-6) until the top of the fourth inning.
With one out, Bash walked catcher Tom Jacobs to put a man on first. Courtesy runner Riley Davis then stole second with one out. Zach Long ripped a line drive down the third-base line sending Davis hurrying for home plate. Tracy got to the ball in a hurry and made a great one- hop throw to the plate where Vito applied the tag on a close play.
“That play really energized me,” Bash said. “Ian and James both made great plays on the ball and we kept the lead.”
Avon Grove straned men on base in each of the first five innings as Bash danced in and out of trouble. Henderson helped its pitcher’s cause by throwing a potential base stealer out at second, Zach Roberts made a great running catch in right field and also Logan Conduit made a leaping grab of a line drive at second base.
With both Bash and Good dealing strikes, it appeared that the next rally would win the game and Henderson had its chance to break things open in the bottom of the sixth. After Good registered the first two outs, Roberts stroked a single to center field. Jackson Ritthamel then walked. Pinch-hitter Shane Angle laced a single to third base to lad the bases with two outs. Good went to a 2-2 count, then struck out Vito to end the threat and give Avon Grove one last shot at Bash.
“It is a little frustrating not being able to get a run but, I have to just concentrate on doing my job,” Good said. “Today was a big day for me too because my mom has Leukemia and I wanted to win the game for her, so it is very unfortunate.”
Avon Grove did not go quietly. Jacobs led off the inning by lining out to Tracy in left. Long struck out on a curveball for the second out. Bash walked Andrew Nole to put the tying run on first. Bryce Porter hit a line shot right to Conduit to end the game.
“Today was about more than baseball,” Henderson coach Luke McNichol said. “I think it is great what the kids are doing. As for the game, we made some real nice plays. Ian and James combined on the tag play. Zach Roberts made a great running catch in right field and Logan snared that liner, so it was a real good day for a lot of things.”

W.C. Henderson 2
Avon Grove 0
AGY    ab    r    h    bi    WCH     ab    r    h    bi
Brady cf    3    0    0    0    Tracy lf    3    1    1    0
Campbell 2b    3    0    2    0    Caufield ss    3    0    1    1
Greenjck 1b    3    0    0    0    Roberts rf    3    0    1    0
Jacobs c    2    0    0    0    Rtthmel 3b    2    0    0    0
Davis cr    0    0    0    0    Pitt cr    0    0    0    0
Long lf    3    0    1    0    Bash p    2    0    0    0
Nole dh    1    0    0    0    Angle ph    1    0    1    0
Arrell rf    2    0    1    0    Vito c    3    0    1    0
Pettroto ss    2    0    0    0    Pugliese cr    0    0    0    0
Cappelli cf    1    0    0    0
Conduit 2b    2    0    0    0
Lucas 1b    2    0    0    0
Gallen cr    0    0    0    0
Totals    22    0    4    0    Totals    22    1    5    1
Avon Grove     000 000 0 — 0
W.C. Henderson     100 000 x — 1
2B – Caufield.
IP    H    R    BB    SO
Avon Grove
Good, L    6    5    1    2    2
W.C. Henderson
Bash, W    7    4    0    3    2