Andy Close
YOUNGSVILLE, Pa. – Youngsville ran wild on Monday, stealing 12 bases in a 13-3, 6-inning win over Eisenhower.
The Eagles (8-2) scored in every inning but the fourth, including a 6-run third inning, battling the rain and the cold to pick up their second win over their county rival this season.
“We were making sure we could do everything we could to get this game in,” said Youngsville coach Eddie Dorunda. “All these region games coming up, we didn’t want to have them all back-to-back.”
Keegan Mesel had three hits, an RBI, run, and a pair of stolen bases to pace the Youngsville offense. Mesel talked about the win afterward.
Mesel was one of three Youngsville players with multiple hits, as James Johnson was 2-for-3 with two runs, two walks and an RBI, Nate Lucks was 2-for-3 with two runs, a double and an RBI and Ian Mancuso was 2-for-3 with two runs, a walk and four stolen bases.
Talon Mesel and Ethan Senz were both 1-for-3 with a run and an RBI for the Eagles, while Wyatt Dalrymple was 1-for-3 and scored a pair of runs.
David Manning came on in relief of Lucks and fired 3 ⅓ hitless innings, striking out six.
“Ever since game one he’s come in thrown strikes and doesn’t mess around,” Dorunda said of the freshman Manning. “He gets the ball back from the catcher and he’s ready to throw the next pitch. He gets in a rhythm and when he gets in that rhythm he’s tough to beat. He’s throwing strike after strike and he mixes it up well.”
Camron Jakubczak, Kael Hunt and Jarius Casey all had a hit and an RBI each for Eisenhower.
Garrett Jensen took the loss, allowing nine runs (four earned) in 2 ⅔ innings on six hits while he struck out four and walked four.
It’s the second win in a row for Youngsville following back-to-back losses to Cambridge Springs and defending D10 champion Saegertown.
“That was a tough week with those two losses,” Dorunda said. “That’s part of it, this team has never really known what it’s like to go on a five, six-game winning streak like that. It’s a learning process, and it wasn’t the worse thing to happen. They learned that they aren’t invincible and they can be beat. We’re going to be ready to play them (Saegertown) the next time we get a chance.”
