Laubach walked the leadoff hitter in each of the first three innings but came back strong each time. He was virtually untouchable from there, throwing six masterful innings of two-hit baseball Wednesday and helping Jersey Shore blank, Lewisburg, 4-0. Laubach matched a career-high with nine strikeouts, displayed the form which made him so good early this season and led the way as Jersey Shore tries fueling a late-season playoff push.

Connor Griffin retired the side in order after entering with two on in the seventh, Tyler Bauder homered and Gage Martzall went 2 for 2 with two RBIs. Everything came together against a Lewisburg team which had was coming off impressive victories against 2019 4A state champion Selinsgrove and Danville.

“The leadoff walks hurt a little but I was throwing a lot of strikes after that and that just made me throw harder,” Laubach said. “Everything was working. Everything was moving good and I was spotting corners.”

Laubach opened his season by allowing just two hits and striking out 15 in eight innings. The junior right-hander regained that dazzling form yesterday, taking a one-hitter into the sixth inning and never letting a runner move past second base. Those three innings which started with walks harmlessly ended and Laubach struck out five during that time.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Lewisburg second baseman Kaiden Wagner makes the tag on Jersey Shore’s Connor Davis (38) during a high school baseball game at Jersey Shore on Wednesday. Jersey Shore won 4-0.

In addition to shutting down Lewisburg, Laubach was efficient and threw just 41 pitches from the third through the sixth innings. His curveball moved well, but Laubach did most of his damage riding a potent fastball which the Green Dragons (8-8) struggled catching up with.

“You just have to come out and do your job,” Laubach said. “It feels even better knowing they were on a hot streak.”

“That was awesome. The first couple innings he walked the first batter each time and we were a little concerned, but he was able to really dial things in and once we got to that third inning he was in a zone,” Jersey Shore coach Mike English said. “He threw extremely well.”

So did Griffin.

Lewisburg had won its previous four games in its final at-bat, including Tuesday against Danville. When Joel Myers walked and Kaydn Magyar reached on an error to open the seventh inning, it looked like the Dragons might work some more seventh-inning magic. Laubach reached his 100 pitches after the error and Griffin went to a full count against the first batter he faced but struck him out with a well-placed pitch at the knees.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore’s Owen Anderson (10) crosses home in time as Lewisburg catcher Shea Girton attempts the tag during a high school baseball game at Jersey Shore on Wednesday. Jersey Shore won 4-0.

Griffin struck out the next batter as well before inducing a game-ending flyout to center fielder Cayden Hess. He did not throw as long as Laubach did, but Griffin sure made his appearance was meaningful.

“He really hit his spots there,” English said. “He struck out the first hitter and was almost picture perfect in same spots on the second guy. You could see he had all kinds of confidence out there. Every pitch was working for him.”

West Virginia-bound Josh Heath threw an excellent game for Lewisburg, scattering seven hits in six innings and striking out 11. Heath struck out the side in each of the first two innings and in a game where it started feeling like one run might be enough, Jersey Shore producing a fourth-inning run was key. Owen Anderson hit a one-out single and Hess followed with a double. Anderson then hustled home on Martzall’s sacrifice fly to right field, just beating a good throw from right fielder Magyar.

No hustle was required when it came to earn the next run. Bauder, who threw five strong innings Tuesday at Central Mountain, crushed an 0-2 pitch over both the right-field fence and a car parked beyond it. Bauder’s second home run this season gave Jersey Shore (5-9) a 2-0 lead and the way Laubach was throwing it felt like the lead was much bigger.

“That definitely spiked our confidence,” Martzall said. “That was really big.”

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore’s Brandon Laubach hands over the ball after reaching his pitch count limit in the seventh inning of a high school baseball game against Lewisburg at Jersey Shore on Wednesday. Jersey Shore won 4-0.

Bauder is a promising sophomore and Martzell an exciting freshman who shares a similar relentless work ethic. That paid off in a big way yesterday. Martzall singled in his first at-bat and closed his day with one of the game’s biggest hits.

Lewisburg was an out from keeping it 2-0 entering the seventh inning when Martzall belted a two-out RBI double into the left-center field gap. When nobody covered third on the relay throw, Martzall kept running and took third. That smart baserunning loomed large two batters later when he came home on an error and put Jersey Shore up, 4-0.

“It’s tougher; it’s faster pitching but I’m getting used to it,” Martzall said. “I was real comfortable. I’ve been working a lot at home and trying to get square with the ball. It’s paying off.”

Jersey Shore still can make the playoffs if it surges over the next week and finishes .500 or better. It also is ahead of CMVT (7-7) in the Class AAAA power rankings, and if CMVT stays .500 or better and Jersey Shore maintains its lead, it can qualify that way.

Whatever the case, yesterday could be a stepping stone for a young team which could be heating up at the perfect time. The Bulldogs played well in all facets against a good team and the confidence is growing.

“We got a little momentum and the team atmosphere in the dugout just got better and better,” English said. “I think they know they have a shot and they believe in themselves.”

Lewisburg 000 000 0–0 1 1

Jersey Shore 000 112 x–4 7 1

Josh Heath and Shea Girton. Brandon Laubach, Connor Griffin (7) and Zach Hinds. W–Laubach. L–Heath.

Top Lewisburg hitters: Heath 1-3, SB; Owen Arndt 1-3, SB. Top Jersey Shore hitters: Gage Martzall 2-2, 2B, 2 RBIs, R; Tyler Bauder 1-3, HR, RBI; Owen Anderson 1-3, 2R; Cayden Hess 1-3, 2B; Karter Peacock 1-3; Laubach 1-3.

Records: Jersey Shore 5-9. Lewisburg 8-8.