Henderson’s Gray hurls three-hit victory at Great Valley

EAST WHITELAND >> It’s been said that pitching and defense wins baseball games. That certainly was the recipe for West Chester Henderson, who defeated host Great Valley, 5-1, for a Ches-Mont League win Friday afternoon.
West Chester Henderson got a superlative pitching performance from senior right hander Brendan Gray to notch its first win of the young season. Gray allowed just three hits and walked only one batter while fanning five.
The Warriors (1-1) also got some help from the Great Valley pitching staff, as four Patiot pitchers walked a total of 10 batters. Henderson scored single runs in the second, third fourth, fifth and seventh innings, notched seven hits, and was aided by some key Great Valley (1-2) errors.
“I was just pounding the zone all day,” Gray said. “I did not want to give them anything free and I just have a lot of faith in our defense and they did the job today. Casey [Caulfield] is a real good shortstop, and we have a good infield and outfield defense – they made all the plays today.”
The Warriors broke open a scoreless game in the top of the second inning off Patriots starter Chris Angelo. Impressive freshman catcher Owen McCarthy led off the inning with a single, then Billy Hicks, Pat Esemeplane and Cole Stevens drew walks, forcing in a run.
Henderson upped its lead to 2-0 in the third inning when Tyler Rickel roped an RBI double to score Logan Conduit, who had led off the inning with a sharp single. Angelo came out of the game for Great Valley in favor of reliever Keenan Metrick, who went 2 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on four hits while walking two batters.
Great Valley got a run back in the bottom of the third inning. Connor Ryan was plunked with a Gray pitch, then Brendan O’Donnell absolutely ripped an RBI double to the fence in right center.
Henderson extended its lead in the top of the fourth inning when Conduit roped an RBI double to center, scoring Casey Caulfield, who had reached base on a fielder’s choice. Metrick limited the damage by getting Rickel to ground out to short.
“We walked way too many batters today,” Great Valley coach Matt Schultz said. “And when that happens, everybody sags a little and usually nothing good comes out of the walks.”
Gray was definitely on his game, as he allowed Great Valley just one single over the last three innings. Gray got the dangerous O’Donnell to pop out to shortstop with a man on base in the fifth inning, while the Great Valley runner on first was doubled off base as he failed to get back to first.
Henderson plated another run in the fifth inning on an RBI double by Hicks, then salted the game away in the seventh when O’Donnell, who came in relief of Metrick, walked four batters in the top of the seventh to give the Warriors a 5-1 lead.
Gray, who threw 88 pitches for the game, put Great Valley down in order in the bottom of the seventh inning.
“We are going to have to win this season on our pitching and defense,” said West Chester Henderson coach Luke McNichol. “Brendan gave us a real good performance today and the fielding was very good. i was happy withe the kids’ performance today.”