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BASEBALL: Mercersburg Academy holds off Kiski in 5-2 win


MERCERSBURG >> Mercersburg Academy's bats certainly weren't cooking on Friday, but they did enough damage behind a solid outing from Beau Lowery to get the job done.

The Blue Storm baseball team jumped out to an early lead and tacked on some insurance runs late to pull out a 5-2 non-league win over the Kiski School.

"We played a good overall game today," Mercersburg coach Karl Reisner said. "We didn't hit the ball very square, but Beau pitched a great game, and we played good defense."

The Storm (18-4) got off to a quick start thanks to a couple of early walks. Mike De La Rosa walked to lead off the inning, and Deji Andrew followed with a single through the left side. Tristan Baker followed with another walk, and a wild pitch scored De La Rosa and put runners on second and third with no outs. Chris Adusei-Poku then came through with a two-run double to right-centerfield to give Mercersburg a 3-0 lead.

Kiski coach Marcus Muster said, "I can live with them hitting the ball hard, but those two walks killed us. That's the difference between them scoring one run and three runs."

Lowery cruised through the first four innings, allowing just two baserunners on 37 pitches, but he ran into a bit of trouble in the fifth. Greg Bearer led off the inning with a single for the Cougars (12-9). Dante Lombardi then dropped a bunt down and the throw to first sailed wide, putting runners on second and third with no outs for Austin Gaston, who roped a two-run single into right-centerfield to shrink Kiski's deficit to two.

Then in the sixth, the Cougars used a single and an error, followed by a sacrifice bunt, to put runners on second and third with one out, but Lowery induced a popup and a strikeout to get out of the jam unscathed.

"We got into a little trouble there and misplayed some balls, but we were able to keep fighting and get out of it," Lowery said.

Lowery tossed a complete game for the Blue Storm, giving up just two runs – one earned – on five hits with five strikeouts. He also didn't walk a batter and did it all in 78 pitches.

Lowery said, "The first time through the lineup, I saw that they weren't making real good contact, so then I just wanted to stay aggressive. Plus, it's a lot easier and more comfortable to pitch with an early lead."

"That's quite an impressive ninth-grader," Reisner said. "He pitched a beautiful game, and his command was excellent."

Mercersburg then used two hits and an error to give Lowery a cushion in the sixth. Myles Hearon led the inning off with a single, and Lowery dropped down a bunt and reached base when nobody covered first.

Then, after a sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with one out, Tucker Walle hit a bouncer to the right of the pitcher. He got the ball and tried to get the runner at the plate, but the throw was wide, allowing Hearon to score. De La Rosa followed with a fielder's choice to score courtesy runner St. John Smith and give the Storm a 5-2 cushion.

Mercersburg 5, Kiski 2

KiskiMercersburgabrhbabrhbPatrick 2b4000DeLaRsa lf2111Ward cf3010Andrew cf4110Sorbara p3010Baker ss2100Luptak c3000AdsePku c3012Muster 1b2000Thomas rf3010Bearer 3b3110Hearon 1b3120Lombrdi ss3110Lowery p3010Gaston dh3012Smith cr0100Rafter lf0000Tahara 2b2000Fagan rf3000Walle dh3010Bartltt 3b0000Totals27252Totals25583
Kiski0000200—2Mercersburg300002x—5

E: Kis 1, MA 3; LOB: Kis 5, MA 6; 2B: Adusei-Poku, De La Rosa; SAC: Muster, Tahara.

Kiski pitching

Sorbara (L)123320Patrick552000

Mercersburg pitching

Lowery (W, 8-2)752105

WP: Sorbara; PB: Merc 1.

T: 1:20.