RECAP >> If there were any question how Emmaus would respond after being dealt its first loss of the season earlier this week was quickly answered on Saturday – and often.
Coach Jeremy Haas’ squad pounded out 15 hits and put up a season-high for runs in game as the Hornets went on the road and pounded Freedom 20-7 in game that ended after six innings due to the 10-run rule. The game was carried LIVE on The Eastern Pa Sports Network.
Emmaus scored at least one run in every inning and had every player contribute as they bounced back from a 2-1 loss to Hazleton, the state’s top-ranked team, on Tuesday.
Senior center fielder Blake Schantz and junior shortstop Anthony Viola each had three hits to lead the offense Designated hitter Braden Waller had two hits and drove in three, while senior first baseman Andrew O’Brien had a pair of hits and RBI.
Emmaus starter junior Luke Deschenes went three strong innings to improve to 3-0 on the season. The right-hander, in his third start of the season, gave up just one hit and struck out two.
The Hornets jumped all over Freedom sophomore Pete Hrousis who was making his first career varsity start, scoring three runs in the first and adding six more in the second to take a commanding 9-0 lead. The Patriots (2-5) made the game respectable with a six-run fourth inning, but Emmaus responded as they put up four more runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to end the game.
Emmaus will be back in action on Tuesday at home at Church Lane Park as they host rival Parkland at 4 p.m. The two teams will meet again on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Parkland.
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Emmaus 20, Freedom 7
Em – 362 144 – 20-16-2
Fr – 000 610 x – 7-3-5
Em – Luke Deschenes, Colin Foley (4), Alex Pion (4), Andrew O’Brien (5) and Dominick Chiego, Max Murray; Fr – Pete Hrousis, Mike. Moniz (3), Zach Hoffman (5) and Andres Suarez
WP – Deschenes (3-0), LP – Hrousis (0-1)
Em – Gallagher RF 1-4, O’Brien 1B 2-4, 2 RBI; LePage 3B 1-3, Schantz CF 3-4, 2 RBI; Waller DH 2-4, Chiego c 1-3, Martinez LF 1-4, Amey 2B 0-4, Viola SS 3-4, Hogan CF 0-1, Schaffer 2B 1-1,