BASEBALL: Chambersburg swings early in big win over Cumberland Valley

SCOTLAND >> Chambersburg's baseball team went into Wednesday's game against Cumberland Valley with a clear strategy: attack the pitcher early in the count.

The Trojans went after the first pitch throughout the day, and it worked in a 10-3 Mid Penn Commonwealth Division win over the Eagles.

Chambersburg coach Bob Thomas said, "He (Alec Johnston) was throwing a lot of first-pitch fastballs trying to get ahead, and we've been telling the guys all season that the first pitch is usually a good one to hit."

The Trojans (2-1, 1-1 MPC) put the first pitch in play nine times, and it was a first-pitch double by Manning Brookens that broke the game open in the fourth inning.

The Eagles (1-1, 1-1 MPC) took a 1-0 lead in the third after a triple by Austin Bush and a sacrifice fly by Beck Way. In the fourth, Chambersburg's Drew Betz, who finished 3-for-3, led off the inning with a single, and Tristan Daywalt walked to put runners on first and second with no outs. After Betz advanced to third on a flyout, Bryce Fiegl blooped a single into centerfield to tie the game at one.

After a flyout and an error, Brookens came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Brookens swung at the first pitch he saw and laced a bases-clearing double down the rightfield line to give Chambersburg a 4-1 lead.

"He was throwing a lot of first-pitch fastballs, so I went into the at-bat looking for something good on the first pitch," said Brookens, who finished 2-for-3 with a run and three RBIs. "I got the pitch I wanted, and I let my hands do the rest."

But the Trojans weren't done. Carlin Christian followed with a single, and he stole second to put runners on second and third. Austin Suders followed with a two-run single, went to second on an error, and Betz followed with another single to plate another run. After Betz stole second, Daywalt capped off the eight-run inning with an RBI single to give the Trojans a seven-run cushion.

"We were throwing strikes and getting ground balls, but when you kick it around like we did today, the wheels fall off quick," said CV coach Levi Mumma. "Chambersburg is experienced and have their eyes on the postseason. You can't have that many errors against a team like this."

And that was more than enough run support for Daywalt, the Trojans' starter. Daywalt (1-0) was in control all day, giving up three runs – one earned – on three hits with six strikeouts and one walk.

"I felt pretty good in the bullpen before the game, and I'm glad it carried over into the game," Daywalt said. "But when these guys hit the way they did today, there's no game we can't win."

Thomas said, "He pitched really well again. He didn't get behind in the count, and when he had to throw a strike, he did."

Cumberland Valley used a pair of errors to plate two runs in the top of the sixth, but the Trojans answered with two of their own in the bottom of the frame to push the lead back to seven. Christian reached on an error to lead off the inning, and Suders, who finished 2-for-4 with three runs driven in, plated him with a double to deep leftfield. Betz followed with a line-drive single up the middle to put runners on the corners, and Daywalt plated Suders with a fielder's choice to make it 10-3.

"It's good to see us finally hit some holes," Thomas said. "We hit the ball hard and were able to score some runs."

NOTES >> Daywalt finished 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs, and Christian and Betz both swiped a pair of bases ... Chambersburg had at least one batter reach base in every inning, and Daywalt had three 1-2-3 innings on the mound.

Chambersburg 10

Cumberland Valley 3

C.ValleyChambersburgabrhbabrhbWackr cf3100Stonsifr cf4100Barber ss2000Brookns lf3123Staton ph1011Christin ss4210Fulton c2000Suders dh4123Madison ph1000Myers pr0100Baghmn 1b3000Betz 2b3231Johnston p2000Daywalt p3012Smith ph1010Kissel cr0100McLain 3b1000Brindle 1b4000Todd ph1000Fiegl 3b3111Carney 2b2000Ebersole c3000Hooven ph1000Carbagh rf0000Bush3110Way1101Cuomo lf0000Totals24332Totals31101010

Cumb. Valley0010020—3Chambersburg000802x—10

E: CV 4, Chbg 2; LOB: CV 2, Chbg 7; 2B: Brookens, Suders; 3B: Bush; SF: Way; SB: Christian 2, Betz 2,

Cumberland Valley pitching

Johnston (L)478131Scheid1.222110McLain.100000

Chambersburg pitching

Daywalt (W, 1-0)733116

PB: Fulton, Ebersole.

T: 2:04.

JV score: Cumberland Valley 4, Chambersburg 1.