Downingtown East inches away from Ches-Mont title after win over rival West

UWCHLAN >> The times may be a changing, just a little, in the Ches-Mont League’s National Division. 

Four-time defending champion Downingtown West dropped a tough, 4-2, decision to Downingtown East Wednesday afternoon. With the win, Downingtown East has a two-game lead over Downingtown West with two games to play. 

The Cougars’ magic number to clinch is now just one, meaning one East win or one West loss would end the race.

Junior pitcher David Ferguson went five strong innings for the Cougars (13-3), holding the potent Whippets (11-5) to just four hits and two runs, both on a two-run double by Eric Grintz in the fifth inning. Ferguson also received some help from the Cougar offense against West ace Adam Grintz, as the Cougars scored three runs in the first inning to set the tone for the game.

“It was important to get out early against Adam because he is a great pitcher,” Ferguson said. “But I feel I am a good pitcher too, so I was not worried about facing him, I was more focused on the hitters. Getting those runs helped us because it was early in the game. I was getting behind the hitters today and I was able to throw my curveball with a 2-0 count, and I don’t think they expected that. I really like throwing the curve. It is my favorite pitch to throw.”

Downingtown East did get out early on Adam Grintz, with one-out singles by Albert Choi and Zach Burton putting runners on first and second in the first inning. Grintz then walked Tom Ajjan to load the bases and Choi scored when Garrett McClain hit a grounder to third and it was a 1-0 game.

It was then that the Whippet defense abandoned the West ace. Anthony Giancantarino hit a high pop up right off third base in foul ground. But, the ball blew back to be in fair play and Evan Williams saw it bounce off his glove, giving the Cougars a lead. Ryan Fick then ripped a fastball for an RBI single to center field and the Cougars had an early 3-0 lead.

“Getting to Adam early was key for us,” Choi said. “He is a great pitcher and once he gets in a groove he is really tough. We had to get some runs early off him.”

The score remained 3-0 until the bottom of the fourth inning when, once again, a Whippet error hurt the West ace. Fick led off with a single up the middle. Dave Owsik then popped up a bunt that Adam Grintz fielded for the first Cougar out. Matt Vitali hit a hard grounder to first base that bounced off Kevin Small and into right field with Fick going to third base with one out. Cam Reichlin made the Whippets pay as he drove the ball to left for an RBI single and East had a 4-0 lead.

“I think Adam was not as sharp as usual because he threw yesterday,” Downingtown East coach Pete Susi said. “Getting out early was key for us. We put good at bats together and go the lead for David.”

But, champions don’t go away easily, and the Whippets struck against Ferguson in the top of the fifth inning. Jake Welsh led off with a single and then after two outs, Wiliams walked to put two men on with two out, and the dangerous Eric Grintz coming up. Grintz roped a Ferguson fastball to the base of the left field fence, scoring two runners, and suddenly it was a 4-2 game.

West still had life in the sixth inning, putting two runners on against Cougar reliever Grant Umberger. But, the Cougar lefty roared back and struck out Ethan O’Laughlin to end the threat and West was down to its last three outs. Umberger was aided by a fantastic catch by Choi in center field that prevented the leadoff hitter Aaron Sipes from reaching base. Choi broke sharply right as the ball left the bat, dove and came up with the thrilling grab. Choi closed a ton of ground to come up with the catch.

“I broke really well on the ball,” Choi said. “And I feel I can get to just about anything and I just try to do what I can to help this team win.”

Downingtown East 4, Downingtown West 2

D-WEST ab r h bi D-EAST ab r h bi

Williams 3b 3 1 1 0 Reichlin rf 4 0 1 1 

E.Grintz c 4 0 1 2 Choi cf 4 1 1 0

Morse rf 2 0 2 0 Burton 3b 2 1 1 0

Abele rf 0 0 0 0 Ajjan c 2 0 0 0

Turner ph 1 0 0 0 Hickey pr 0 1 0 0

A.Grintz p 0 0 0 0 McClain dh 1 0 0 1

Sipes dh 3 0 1 0 Defant dh 2 0 0 0

Reiben pr 0 0 0 0 Ferguson p 0 0 0 0

Posner 2b 3 0 0 0 Umberger p 0 0 0 0

Welsh cf 3 0 2 0 Giancantarino 1b 3 0 0 0

O’Laughlin lf 3 0 0 0 Fick 2b 3 1 3 1  

Small 1b 3 1 0 0 Owsik ss 3 0 0 0

Vitali lf3010

Totals 27 2 7 2 Totals 27 4 7 3

Downingtown West 000 020 0 – 2

Downingtown East 300 100 x – 4

2B-E.Grintz.

Downingtown West IP R H BB SO

A.Grintz, L 6 4 7 2 4

Downingtown East

Ferguson, W 5 2 4 2 3

Umberger 2 0 3 0 3