Two hit gem by Kyle Kearns leads Rustin to 6-0 win over WC Henderson
WESTTOWN >> Other than quarterback on a football field, starting pitcher is the most critical position in sports. Monday afternoon at West Chester Rustin, the host Golden Knights received a masterful performance from lefthander Kyle Kearns in a very impressive 6-0 Ches-Mont League win over previously undefeated West Chester Henderson.
Kearns — who is a James Madison commit — was dominant as he held the potent Warriors’ lineup to just two hits while striking out 14 batters and walking just two. The Warriors (3-1 Ches-Mont and overall) did not have a hit until there were two out in the top of the sixth inning.
“Today I really felt good out there on the mound,” Kearns said. “And it was awesome to have such a good game against a lineup like they have. They have some really great bats on their team. I think my best pitch was my slider and I have worked on that pitch all summer so it was good to finally be able to throw it effectively.”
The Golden Knights (2-2, 2-2) broke through against Warriors’ ace Eric Lintelman in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, Scott Ely reached base on an error.
Zach Bingham was then hit by a pitch. After Blake Reaney flied out for the second out of the inning, Rustin tried a double steal that led to a throwing error and Ely scampered home for a 1-0 lead.
Rustin put up some big runs in the bottom of the third inning. Brandon Mattei led off the inning with a single and after Lintelman struck out the next two batters, senior Nick Covis drilled a fastball deep over the left field fence for a two-run homer and a 3-0 lead.
“It was great to get those runs early and that lets you relax a little, and Nick really hit that ball well. And then the late insurance runs we got really helped me when I went out for the last two innings.” Kearns said.
Henderson finally got a hit with two out in the top of the sixth inning when Conor McCartney singles, but Kearns went back right back to work and struck out Drew Ginunta to end the Warriors’ mini-threat.
The Golden Knights scored two runs on one hit in the bottom of the fifth inning and then pushed across a single run in the bottom of the sixth when Covis ripped an RBI double to make it 6-0 lead.
Kearns got the first two batters out in the top of the seventh inning before Nick Cugino walked and Danny Surowiec singled. Kearns then ended the game with his 14th strikeout by fanning Andrew Delucia to finish his complete-game masterpiece.
“Kyle was dominant today and he had total command,” West Chester Rustin coach Brad Harkins said. “He was getting ahead of the hitters and that is how you win high school baseball games. And he deserves every good thing he gets because he works his tail off in the summer and during the season and is a great kid.
“We played well today and the kids played hard and they brought a lot of energy today.”
West Chester Rustin 6, West Chester Henderson 0
W.C. Henderson 000 000 0 — 0
W. C. 012 021 x — 6
2B — Covis.
WP — Kearns. LP — Lintelman.
