BOX SCORE   BIG vs.York Tech 5/3

The Spartans traveled to Biglerville tonight with absolutely nothing to lose, and a whole lot to prove. Our Spartans have seen far more than their fair share of heartbreaking losses… 7 times this year Tech has been either tied or ahead after 6 innings and ended up losing. That is nearly half the games we play in an entire season. All of those games could have easily gone the other way if it weren’t for a few fateful breaks or miscues at the very end. Coach Brown and I have been sick to our stomachs for our players, because of how close they’ve been to a season for the ages. All of that being said when we showed up to Biglerville this afternoon nothing would have surprised us. I know we’re good enough to compete and win, but I also know that getting your heart ripped out that many times can be demoralizing. On top of all that, Biglerville has ten-runned us each of the last 3 meetings.

Today was a different story. The Spartans played fantastic defense and were led by an outstanding pitching performance by Nathan Chronister (Jr.) Tech took a 2-0 lead into the 7^th inning when it looked like fate might strike again. Two bad hops and a misplayed flyball ended up in Biglerville scoring twice and having the winning run on 3^rd base. Having thrown 97 pitches, Chronister was (by rule) facing his last batter. He was able to make 1 more quality pitch and got an easy flyball to Jake Perry (So.) to send the game to extra innings. This was Tech’s 4^th extra inning game of the year.

After tying the game, Biglerville’s crowd and players were loud and excited. Chronister started the inning with a leadoff single to right field. He moved to second on a wild pitch, and then was bunted to third by Joey VonRohr (Fr.) After Biglerville got VonRohr at first, Chronister had taken a huge turn at 3^rd to draw a throw. The 1^st basemen stepped off the bag and rocketed a throw…. Into the corn field behind the Spartan dugout allowing Chronister to score give tech a 3-2 lead. With 1 out and nobody on base Luke Greisler (Jr.) was hit by a pitch. Greisler stole second and scored on a Juan Lopez (So.) base hit. The score was now 4-2. The scoring ended there and the new Spartan pitcher was Zadin Zorbaugh (Fr.) Zadin has pitched in 3 non-league games this year and was victorious in 2 of them. He told me before the inning, “Coach I’m nervous. I’ve never been in a game like this… I just don’t want to mess up for my team.”

He didn’t. With men at second and third and 2 outs Biglerville’s 2-hole hitter lined a shot into center field, where Jake Perry (So.) made a fantastic catch to end the ball game. Tech held on to win 4-2. Please congratulate the players and wish them luck for tomorrow’s senior night game.

*Extras*

-Last year Biglerville beat us 22-3 in our last game of the year.

-Cam Schanberger (So.) threw out 2 baserunners trying to steal second.

-Juan Lopez (So.) was 2-2 with 2 walks, 1 RBI, 1 SB and 6 assists at SS.

-This is Tech’s 5^th win of the season matching last season’s total with 2 to play.

-Tomorrow is Senior Night and Brian Honeychuck will be throwing out the honorary 1^st pitch.