Central baseball unraveled by South Western rally

Playing in just their fourth YAIAA Division I game of the season, the South Western baseball team has already exceeded the amount of division wins it had all of last season.

After South Western's 10-1 victory over Central York on a rainy Tuesday afternoon, the Mustangs improved to 3-1 in the division.

"Things are changing," South Western head coach Mike Resetar said. "We're still not where we want to be. We still have a lot of work to do and made some mistakes we need to clean up. Hopefully, we keep getting wins like this to give us a little bit of an edge."

South Western (3-3, 3-1) erupted for nine runs in the top of the fifth inning to break a 1-1 tie.

"We got a couple of breaks, and they had a couple of defensive miscues. And we were able to capitalize with some clutch hits," Resetar said. "We were finally able to put the ball in play."

After Central starter Beau Burris retired the first Mustangs batter in the fifth, the visitors put the next five batters on base. South Western chased the right-hander, who went 4 1/3 innings and surrendered five hits.

South Western cleanup hitter Kyle Raubenstine came up with the bases loaded and one out and delivered a two-run double down the left field line.

After Burris hit Austin Weaver with a pitch, he was lifted for reliever Mike Davis. Adam Reed greeted Davis with a single to right-center, which scored two more Mustangs.

Following a strikeout, walk and single by South Western hitters, Mustangs leadoff hitter, Mike Francis, came to the plate for the second time in the frame and delivered a two-run double down the right field line.

In all, 13 batters came to the plate for South Western in the fifth.

Both teams had their share of defensive lapses, with a combined six errors.

"Our defense has been struggling," Resetar said. "Our infield has been struggling a little bit. We have to solidify some things. Early in the season, we attribute it to a lack of practice, but it's not been a lack of practice now."

Central (2-3, 2-2) had their chances as they left runners on base in all but the third inning. The Panthers stranded a total of 12 runners on base.

Four Mustangs pitchers scattered seven Central hits.

"Central's pretty good. They hit the ball, but we were able to work out of some jams early," Resetar said. "Our pitchers battled and didn't give in."

South Western 10, Central York 1

South Western0001900— 1082Central York0010000—174

SW, Kyle Raubenstine, Austin Yancheski (4), Matt Taylor (6), Justin Dougherty (7) and John Youngman, Raubenstine (4). CY, Beau Burris, Matt Davis (5), Brady Abel (5) and Joe Kroeger.

SO-BB — Raubenstine 3-0, Yancheski 2-1, Taylor 3-3, Dougherty 1-0. Burris 2-2, Davis 1-1, Abel 3-1; W — Yancheski; L — Burris; 2B — SW, Mike Francis, Raubenstine.