|
|
|
|
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Shillington Dodgers Advance in Junior Legion Play
Greater Reading, PA
|
|
|
By: Dave Conard
|
Photo(s) By: Dave Conard
|
will play in finals
Spring City.
Never say die Shillington Dodgers rally late to advance to Junior Legion final.
By David Conard
For a team that spent most of the season leading games, Shillington seems to be quite comfortable in the role it has adopted as the come back kids in this year's Junior Legion Tournament. The irrepressible Dodgers successfully dug themselves out of a hole for the fourth straight game, beating Spring Grove 7-5, after trailing 5-1 heading into the home sixth. The win advances them to Wednesday’s championship game versus unbeaten Spring City.
Shillington (37-3) got down early as York champion Spring Grove took advantage of five walks, coupled with three base hits, to jump out to a 5-1 lead after two innings. “We had a long day yesterday,” said Brandon Snyder (3-for-4, run scored, 2 RBI). “We thought we were ready to play today, but it took us a while to get it going. It feels great right now to get the win.”
The Dodgers did get on the board in their first at bat when Ben Spezialetti led off with a triple then scampered home on a passed ball. The Dodgers were unable to get anything else going offensively after that until the fifth inning. Just as Spring Grove starter Zach Settzner had settled in, retiring 12 of the 16 batters he faced, he reached his innings limit and had to be replaced on the hill to start the fifth inning.
The change seemed to be just the kick-start the Dodgers needed, and they wasted no time welcoming Rob Aversa to the game in true Shillington fashion. They scored three runs on three hits to cut the lead to 5-4. The most critical moment came when Kyle Hartman drilled a bases clearing two-out double after working a 2-2 count. “I am pretty excited right now,” said Hartman. “After coming back to win the Conrad Weiser game which was a total team effort, we were down a little bit after the first two innings, but kept battling back. I was glad to see a good pitch in that situation.”
Hartman then followed up his effort at the plate by taking the mound in the sixth and retiring Spring Grove in order, getting the bats back in the hands of the Dodgers with “Mr. Momentum” back on their side. Shillington opened the seventh inning with Dustin Dunkleberger and Adam Beilhart both drawing walks, placing the tying run just 180 feet away, but after back to back failed attempts to bunt the runners over, it looked as though it was going take extra frames again for the Dodgers to keep their dreams of a State playoff appearance alive.
“For a moment we were thinking we made a mistake there,” said head coach Tim Gombar. “But, we have a system, first and second we try to get them over. Everybody in our line up can do it so that’s how we play it;”
This just in’ the system works!
Kyle Summers calmly stepped in with two outs and delivered a single to left to knot the game at five, and before the cheers had subsided from the Dodger faithful, Brandon Snyder pounded his third hit of the day scoring Spezialetti and Summers to give Shillington a 7-5 lead. “This was testament to these kids,” said Gombar. “They work hard all year round and it's finally paying off for them. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
With his pitching staff depleted, Gombar needed one more inning out of Hartman and the youngster delivered by setting Spring Grove down with little resistance to record the save for Scott Merz who pitched three strong inning allowing no hits, while fanning and walking two.
“I’ve been closing all year,” said Hartman. “The adrenaline pumps and I have to just go out there and do what I have to do. It’s great that he has the confidence in me to get it done.”
This has been great,” added Gombar. “The last three games have been something special, they just keep coming back. We did the same thing in Berks county playoffs; these guys just don’t ever give up. I think all of us are sticking around tonight to root for Spring City.”
Shillington has battled through adversity since it’s opening round loss to J.P, Mascaro 6-2. On Monday it took the Dodgers 10 innings to dispatch Plains post 8-7, then in a game that started immediately afterwards, they battled Conrad Weiser for eight innings in a 13-9 win.
After taking care of their business versus Spring Grove, at least 12 of the Dodgers players and coaches remained to watch the host River Bandits defeat district 11 champ Paupack 8-5 guaranteeing the Dodgers a berth in this weekend’ State Tournament. If Shillington wins the regional championship by beating Spring City twice on Wednesday, they will play the West Three champ at 4PM Saturday. If they finish as runner up they will play against the West One champ at 1PM in Valley Forge.
|
|
| champ - 7:12 am CDT on Sat, Aug 2 | report profanity/abuse |
|  | Good article...are there other pictures from this game? Thanks |
|
|
|
 ™
|
|
Twin Valley Ice Hockey
by: Cathy Coffman
Just five years ago, the Twin Valley Ice Hockey Club was formed on a small farm pond in Elverson. That year, 15 skaters laced up...
More 
|
Archives
|
|
|
|
|
Berks County high school football will have some new head coaches pacing the gridiron this fall. HSSTM asked four rookie...
More
Archives
|
|
 ™
|
|
A collection of this month's best action photos.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
