Westchester East’s Adam Price (16) was energetic earlier this season. (Pete Bannan-Daily Times)
UWCHLAN >> No Chesmont League staff was hotter than the visiting Vikings heading into Thursday afternoon’s matchup between Chesmont National, Westchester East and host Downingtown East. Westchester East has gained six straight video games and that profitable pattern continued when the Vikings beat the Cougars 5-4.
A pair of sophomores led the Vikings (10-5, Chesmont, 10-5 total) to victory. Owen Lozzi went 4-for-4 hitting for the cycle, and fellow sophomore Adam Price pitched 4 scoreless innings in aid of Vikings beginning pitcher Aidan Kaligonis.
“I see the ball nicely and I performed as a freshman final yr and discovered lots,” Lozzi stated. “Last yr, we performed towards some pitchers, so our recreation slowed down just a little bit. We’re tremendous scorching proper now, and I believe an enormous motive for that’s the chemistry and vitality of our staff. We are pals each inside and outdoors the college and are doing nicely now.”
Lozzi led off towards Cougars beginning pitcher Chase Martin and instantly hit a triple to right-center area. Lozzi scored on Jeremy Coccia’s sacrifice fly. The Cougars then tied the sport at 1-1 within the backside of the inning on Kyle Mandirola’s RBI single.
The Vikings took a 4-1 lead into the highest of the second inning, and Lozzi’s monster two-run homer was the massive blow. Josh Sherlock had beforehand hit an RBI for the Vikings’ first run of the inning.
However, the Cougars (10-4, 10-5) scored two runs within the inning and narrowed the result in 4-3 after two innings, so it wasn’t sufficient. Downingtown East tied the sport within the backside of the fourth inning when Sam Bates hit an RBI homer from second base that scored Jack Larch and scored once more.
It was a battle of the bullpens with Mike Devenney of the Cougars and Price exchanging strikes. The Vikings broke by way of within the high of the fifth inning, and Lozzi began the rally with a leadoff double. With one out, Cossia bunted Lozzi over third base, and after Devenney grounded out Cody Hejduk, Nick Rostock hit a scoring single to attain Lozzi and provides the Vikings a 5-4 lead.
“We’re getting lots out of lots of guys,” Vikings coach Corey Webb stated. “And Owen Lozzi has been working onerous on his recreation and is feeling fairly good proper now. His strategy on the plate is second to none and he is working very onerous.”
Bates began the Cougars’ recreation towards Price within the backside of the sixth inning with a stroll. However, three pitches later, Bates was shot making an attempt to steal second base on an ideal throw from Vikings catcher Jackson Reed. Price retired the subsequent two Cougars, however the Vikings nonetheless held the lead.
The Cougars regarded like they could no less than tie the rating within the backside of the seventh when Martin hit a protracted double to heart area. However, Coach Price acquired drained and retired Connor Kelly, Will Ross and Ryan Kuzmic to finish the sport and the Vikings gained their seventh straight recreation. Price allowed simply two hits in 4 aid innings.
“My breaking ball was actually good in the present day,” Price stated. “We had just a little little bit of bother discovering our fastballs, however we have been simply making an attempt to combine up our pitches. Our bats are actually coming to life, so I believe we’re progressing like this. We’ve been capable of do every little thing offensively, so we pitchers It’s just a little stress-free.”
The win places the Vikings one recreation behind Downingtown West within the Chesmont National Division race, however Webb is not trying forward.
“Adam Price did a terrific job once more in the present day,” he stated. “And he was mixing three pitches and did not quit when the opposite staff acquired on base.”
Westchester East 5, Downingtown East 4
Toilet East 130 010 0 – 5
Downingtown East 120 100 0 – 4
2B — Rozzi, Martin. 3B — Rozzi. Human Resources — Rozzi.
WP — Price. LP — Deveny.