YORK, PA – The York College baseball team capped off their
third win in two days with a 9-0 finish against the Rowan
University Profs. The Spartans came into the game riding high after
a double-header sweep of in-conference opponent St. Mary's on
Saturday.
Despite a rocky start to the 2010 campaign, with the win today,
the Spartans have officially righted the ship improving to a 10-9
record.
The Spartans would be paced well all day with a great
performance by starting pitcher, Chris Frankenfield (Blue
Bell, Pa/ Wissahickon). Frankenfield would finish with
four strikeouts in seven innings of work, coupled with no walks, en
route to his second win of the season.
Frankenfield along with pitchers, Joey Couch (Ellicot
City, Md./ Centennial) and Brian Workman (Cherry
Hill, N.J/ Paul VI) would make it an easy day for the
offense by combining for a six-hit shutout. The offense however,
held up its end of the bargain by scratching across nine runs.
The Spartans were the first to put across a run in the bottom of
the opening frame. The rally started with a Kyle Cook
(Pylesville, Md./ North Harford) single, who would then
advance on a wild pitch. The Cook single was followed by a
Rick Shumway (Shippensburg, Pa./ Shippensburg
Area) walk, which set the stage for a whacky play.
Mike Connolly (Selden, N.Y./ Newfield) lined out
to Rowan second baseman Dave Lenig, as Shumway was caught too far
off of the base. Lenig tried doubling off Shumway at first, but in
doing so the ball ricocheted off Shumway and out of play allowing
all runners to advance two bases, which forced Cook across the
plate. That lone run would prove to be all the Spartans would need.
In the bottom of the third Mike Connolly (Selden,
N.Y./Newfield) would give the Spartans a safe lead by
blasting a two-run homer to right centerfield. With two outs and
Dustin Worthman (Tabernacle, N.J./ Seneca)
standing on third, Connolly cranked a shot over the escalated right
field fence. At the end of the third, the Green and White led 3-0.
After a silent home fourth, the Spartans would rally again in
the fifth begun by a Worthman single to center. Cook then caught
Rowan's defense by surprise as he laid down a great bunt down
the third-base line, causing a throwing error by third basemen,
Brad Woodend. Shumway would then follow with yet another perfectly
placed bunt single up the third-base line. With the sacks loaded,
Rowan made a call to the bullpen to bring in a lefty to face the
left-handed swinging Connelly. Connelly was then hit by a pitch,
plating one run across, setting the stage for C.T. Stanley
(Timonium, Md./ Calvert hall) to break things open.
Stanley drilled a double into right center, driving in two
RBI's. Shumway would later score on a wild pitch before the
inning came to a close with the Spartans owning a 7-0 lead.
In the bottom of the eighth, pinch hitter Sean McCann
(Smithtown, N.Y./ Smithtown) would drive in another run
for the Spartans increasing their lead to 8-0. Later in the inning
Jim Meehan (Mastic, N.Y./ Eastport- South Manor
Central) would score on a fielder's choice giving
York their ninth and final run of the game.
The Spartans will get a day off on Monday before they travel to
Lebanon Valley on Tuesday as York will look to increase their
current winning streak to five. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30
pm.
GAME BOX
Photo: Chris Frankenfield threw seven strong innings
and Mike Connolly celebrates his two-run homer - courtesy of Zach
Clabaugh - www.sharpedgephoto.smugmug.com
Written by Art Lopez - York College sports
information student-intern
