There are words to accurately describe Pennsylvania's overall performance in the 2nd annual Big 26 Baseball Classic this weekend. Direct and decisive seem to work.
Skipper Mike Welsh of Pottsville and hand-picked all-star team completed a Big 26 sweep Sunday as Deon Stafford's two-run jack in his only at-bat led PA over Maryland 4-0 in the best-of-3 series finale at Metro Bank Park.
Stafford, Lower Dauphin's ace backstop, pushed Maryland's deficit to 3-0 in the fifth, not that Welsh's unbelievably-efficient pitching stuff needed the help.
PHOTO GALLERY: PENNSYLVANIA SWEEPS MARYLAND WITH 4-0 WIN
Southpaws Andrew Scarpelli of Trinity, who drew the start, and Susquehanna Twp.'s LaRon Mitchell were two of five PA pitchers that combined on a nine-inning one-hitter. In all, Pennsylvania's stable allowed just 11 hits and one earned run in 27 innings.
TURNING POINT
Although Susquehannock OF Sammy Miller singled and eventually stretched home in Pennsylvania's opening inning, it took Stafford's shot into the Ollie's Cheap Seats in left to completely steal Maryland's air. Maryland starter David Stauffer was defiant before a lead-off walk to Red Land's Jeremy Hileman prompted skipper Larry Prange to make a move.
Lefty Garrett Wiles did induce a fielder's choice from Lower Dauphin's Kaylor Kulina, but Stafford too the next fastball over the wall. In the sixth, Southern Columbia DH Mason Peters made it 4-0 with a single to score Spring-Ford's David Gulati. Stafford, who also collected assists to first and second, was named PA's Player of the Game.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
Scarpelli allowed no hits in two innings and struck out a pair. Mitchell walked three during his two-inning session but did not allow a hit. … West York 3B Carson Fries was PA's lone multiple hitter, going 2-for-2. … Kulina was 0-for-2 with a run scored. …
West Perry's Ben Dum, who did not pitch Sunday, flew out to deep rightfield in his only at-bat. … Susquehanna Twp. SS Gio Torres, on the back end of Stafford's rope that caught Maryland base-runner Gabe Maymon at second, popped up in the seventh. … Miller was named the series MVP for Pennsylvania after going 4-for-7 on the weekend with three runs scored and three RBIs. Maymon (5-for-11), from Walkersville HS, earned Maryland's series MVP nod. …
Commonwealth Connections Academy, PA's premier tuition-free, fully-accredited cyberschool for grades K-12, donated $25 toward a Big 26 scholarship for every strikeout. CCA's contribution reached $900 with 36 total strikeouts in the series. ...
That unbelievable catch by Maryland CF Terrence Turner-Blair in Friday's game has been getting some air time across national sports networks. Here's the video of the Northwestern High prospect in action.
WHAT THEY SAID
“The offense was huge. It just takes all the pressure off the pitcher. You can pitch to contact and not feel like you have to get everybody out.” – Plymouth-Whitemarsh RHP Jon Fisher
“The experience was great, meeting all the buddies and then getting all the things the [Harrisburg Senators] get. The Maryland players, how nice they were to us. They treated us great. We just acted like we've been together for a year, even though we've been together for like four days.” – Central Dauphin RHP Nate Dickey
“I came in here trying, being that it's a showcase, to stand out a little bit. But playing on a team like this, it's hard to stand out. There's a lot of competition here, yet all of our guys played for each other even though it's a showcase. It's definitely an experience I'll keep with me forever.” – Fries
“Obviously, these [Mid-Penn] guys are our opponents throughout the year, so it was nice to finally meet them and talk to them. They're all great guys. That just shows how great our area is. There are good players everywhere and it definitely showed today.” – Kulina
Epler on Twitter: @threejacker