Atholton bats come alive in 13-1 win over Howard

by Jim Bach

After struggling in their last two games with the bats, the Atholton Raiders pounded out 15 hits off the Howard Lions and won it in a 13-1, six-inning mercy rule decision.

Howard's Pat Cain got the start on the mound, but struggled in the early goings. First baseman Chris Acker got a single up the middle that plated both Kory Britton and Corey Stirmer to make it 2-0. After only two-thirds of an inning, Reed Scott came out of the bullpen to relieve Cain.

Designated hitter Ian McLin would draw a bases-loaded walk to score Acker and put Atholton ahead by three before Scott pitched out of the inning.

The Lions jumped on pitcher Jamie Williams early when centerfielder Ryan Toland and shortstop Liam Aquino got back-to-back singles in their bid to respond to the three run deficit. However, Williams struck out the next two batters and got out of the inning with little damage.

Britton started the Raiders off in the top of the second with a single, but was picked off shortly thereafter. Atholton then rebounded, as catcher Paul Beers got the offense back on track with a double, while Acker and outfielder Jake Yasenka each hit RBIs. The game was quickly slipping through the Lion's hands at the end of the second with the Raider's 5-0 lead.

Howard's Scott quickly settled down the first two batters in third, but centerfielder Kalvin Seamonson started a two-out rally with a base hit. Britton then followed with a double, and Stirmer's two-RBI, bases clearing triple further extended the growing lead to seven runs.

Acker got his third hit of the game on a triple in the fourth and was brought back home after Yasenka forced a Howard error. The Lions once again made the call to the bullpen and brought in Brandon Yurechko to see if he could quiet the offense. Not soon after, McLin added his second RBI of the game on a hard hit single up the middle before the inning came to a close.

Williams pitched three scoreless innings to begin the game, but in the fourth Howard put across their first run of the contest. After two hit batters advanced on passed balls, right fielder Doug Rohrbaugh knocked a base hit that brought home Adam Mease. The score was 9-1 at the end of the fourth.

Yurechko pitched Howard's first scoreless frame in the fifth, but wasn't prepared for the hitting attack in the inning to follow. Matt Collier started it with a single, and Hand then got his third hit of the day with a double. Four runs would come across behind the bats of Seamonson and Beers, with Beers getting his second double. The Raiders poured it on with a punishing 13-1 lead, and would ultimately take the win in six.

Williams struggled with his command at times, hitting five batters. However, he pitched a complete game, scattering four hits over six innings and allowing only one run.

Offense dominated for the Raiders who got a 3-for-3 day out of first baseman Chris Acker, with Hand getting another three hits of his own. Additionally, both Britton and Beers had two base hits. Production also came from unlikely sources, McLin got his first start of the year and stepped it up with two RBIs.

"It was a good joint effort, and we were hitting the ball up and down the lineup," said Acker, who also batted in three runs. "Everybody came through and we put it all together."

Atholton took their second win in a row to for a 8-2 mark. The Raiders now have four hitters hitting above the .300 plateau, with Jake Yasenka leading the pack at a solid .414 after their offensive showing.

"It was the best we hit the ball all year, and our defense played well," said Atholton's first base coach Brian Pietryka. "That's what we need to win games."

The Howard Lions lost momentum after a two-game win streak and fall to 2-6 with the loss. Howard is quickly falling behind in the county standings despite their 13-4 campaign last year.

"We have the talent, we just don't have the execution," said leadoff man Ryan Toland, who had two of Howard's five hits. Coach Jay Morraye put it simply when he said they "have a long season ahead of them."

Atholton will take center stage Monday for a key match-up against the 6-3 Marriotts Ridge Mustangs, while the Lion's will need an upset when they take on the hard-hitting Wilde Lake Wilde Cats.

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