6/8/19
With the Emmaus high school baseball team making a deep run in the post-season, including an appearance in the PIAA state playoffs earlier this week, Jeff Smith knew that the start to the legion season would be a rough one for his Lower Macungie team.
And it has been.
Through the first three games of the season against three of the top tier teams in the league, Lower Mac went winless and was outscored 22-1, including being no-hit in a 10-0 loss to South Parkland on Monday at Church Lane Park,
Now, with the high school season having ended and 10 players making the transition over to the legion scene, the sixth-year manager expects his team to contend and be in the mix in the nine-team Lehigh Valley League.
It didn’t take long for that to happen
With a full roster intact, Lower Mac went on the road and picked up its first win of the season on Thursday as they defeated Coplay 7-5 at Sammy Balliet Stadium.
Everett Horton, a senior who saw limited action on the high school team, shined in his first start on the mound as he went six strong innings, allowing just a pair of hits while striking out seven as Lower Mac improved to 1-3 on the season.
Horton also helped his own cause at the plate as he went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while right fielder Nick Rodriguez, another high school player, returned from an injury and also went 2-for-4 for Lower Mac, which had eight hits in the win off of three Coplay pitchers.
Catcher Shane Martrich reached base in all three of his plate appearances with a pair of walks and RBI single, left fielder Brian Horoshko also had a hit and RBI, and third baseman Joel Freeman went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
The game was tied 1-1 through five innings before Lower Mac exploded for six runs in the top of the sixth inning. Coplay, which dropped to 0-2-1 on the season, rallied with a pair of runs in the sixth and seventh innings, but they would get no closer as reliever Jaime Hamilton came into the game in the seventh to pickup the save.
Lower Mac will look to build upon its win as they return to action on Tuesday hosting Northern Valley at 6 p.m. at Church Lane Park. You’ll be able to listen to the game live on www.pennsportsradio.com
Lower Mac finished 14-8 a year ago and went 2-2 in the playoffs.
South Parkland won its second straight league championship a year ago, defeating Salisbury 7-0 in the finals.
Lower Mac roster: Ryan Kasye, Brandon Robinson, Vince Viola, Shane Martrich, Ian Hertzog, Everett Horton, Jaime Hamilton, Braden Waller, Joel Freeman, Nick Rodriguez, Brendan Lynch, Brian Horoshko, Jadon Diaz, Keegan Nytz, Vince Petrizzi, Rylan Domingues and Joe Marrero.
Follow @Emmaussports.com on twitter, ‘like’ Emmaus baseball on facebook to keep up to date on the team throughout the season.
Lower Mac 7, Coplay 5 (Played Thursday, June 6 @ Coplay)
Lower Mac – 010 006 0 – 7-8-1
Coplay – 100 002 2 – 5-3-4
Everett Horton (6 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 7 K, 4 BB), Jaime Hamilton (1 IP, 1 H, 2 R, 1 K, 3 BB) and Shane Martrich, Brian Horoshko (7).
Conner Paashaus, Jason Schneck (4), C. Foster (6) and Schiffer.
WP – Horton (1-0), LP – Schneck
North Parkland 6, Lower Mac 1 (Played Tuesday, June 4 @ Church Lane Park)
North Parkland – 200 003 1 – 6-9-2
Lower Mac – 100 000 0 – 1-5-2
Collin Duff, Sergio Rodriguez (6) and Austin Imler.
Vince Viola (5 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 4 K, 2 BB), Brandon Robinson (2 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 K) and Brian Horoshko.
WP- Duff, LP – Viola (0-1)
South Parkland 10, Lower Mac 0 (Played June 3 @ Church Lane Park)
South Parkland – 110 800 x – 10-5-1
Lower Mac – 000 00 – 0-0-1
Josh Miller, Tanner Lehr (4) and Jack Giovenco
Joe Marrero (3 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 K, 1 BB), Rylan Domingues (1/3 IP, 2 H, 8 R, 6 BB), Brendan Lynch (2/3 IP, 1 K, 3 BB), Ryan Kasye (1 IP, 1 K) and Shane Matrich.
WP – J. Miller, LP – Marrero (0-1)
Carbon 6, Lower Macungie 0 (Played Friday, May 31 @ Carbon)
Lower Macungie – 000 000 0 – 0-2-2
Carbon – 212 001 0 – 6-5-1
Brendan Lynch (3 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 1 K, 4 BB), Joe Marrero (2 IP, 1 K, 3 BB), Rylan Domingues (1 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 BB) and Brian Horoshko
Justin Marykwas and J. Taras
WP – Marykwas, LP – Lynch (0-1)