Brian Hagberg
YOUNGSVILLE, Pa. – Youngsville moved to within a game of first-place Saegertown in the Region 3 standings with a 6-1 win over Cochranton on Saturday.
The Cardinals were coming off an upset win over the Panthers on Friday, but the Eagles set up a huge region showdown by taking down the Cardinals on Saturday. Saegertown is 9-1 in Region 3, while Youngsville is 9-2. The two teams are scheduled to meet Wednesday, May 10, in Youngsville.
Cochranton got on the board first in the second inning in what was essentially a double steal. With one on and two out, Walker Carroll hit a single to put runners on the corners. Carroll took off for second on an 0-1 pitch and catcher Nate Lucks fired a strike to second base. Blake Foulk headed for home on the throw and shortstop James Johnson tried to get the lead runner instead of tagging Carroll at second. Foulk beat the throw for the Cardinals’ lone run.
The Eagles took the lead in the bottom of the inning and never relinquished it. Ethan Senz led off with a bunt single and scored one out later on Matt DeSimone’s double to left. Lucks followed with a walk and David Manning hit an RBI single to center to give Youngsville a 2-1 lead.
DeSimone had two hits, including a double, scored twice, and drove in a pair to pace the Eagles’ offense. Keegan Mesel also had a pair of hits and Johnson doubled. David Manning, Nate Lucks, and Ian Mancuso each had an RBI, and Senz scored twice.
Carroll and Ben Field each had two hits for the Cardinals.
Carroll took the loss allowing three earned runs on five hits with six walks and 10 strikeouts in four innings. Brayden Burnette gave up three earned runs on three hits with two walks and a strikeout in two innings.
Manning picked up the win allowing one unearned run on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts in six innings. Johnson threw one scoreless inning walking one and striking out one.
