The offense never got clicking for Billtown, getting shut out for the first time since August 24 of last year, also against Frederick.

“Let’s call it like it was, that was a pathetic exhibition of hitting,” said Williamsport Crosscutter manager Kenny Thomas. “It was just pathetic. The first five innings we had men on base, and couldn’t do anything.”

Keeping with the theme of this season, the fixture was delayed by an hour and three minutes due to rain. The game would begin at 7:38.

“It’s almost like with the rain delay, we just stayed in the delay the rest of the game,” echoed Thomas.

Dylan Schaefer of the Williamsport Crosscutters tries to make the play at second base during the 5th inning as Dawson Willis of Frederick slides in safely at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Frederick would show they were antsy to begin, with Jose Silva starting off with a five-pitch walk against Williamsport starter Cooper Markham. A groundout advanced Silva to second and, after Silva took third on a stolen base, the leadoff man would score on a Lance Trippel groundout.

The Keys would double the advantage an at bat later, when cleanup hitter Dawson Willis found a barrel on a hanging curveball that cleared the left field fence. Willis’s second homer of the season gave the Keys’ an early advantage through the first.

Frederick starter Matthew Becker would keep that advantage through his three-inning outing as the opener, shutting out the Cutters while allowing just two hits, throwing four strikeouts as the platform.

Markham would steady the ship as well in his tenure as opener, going three innings and only conceding the two runs he allowed in the first frame.

The game would quickly descend into a give and take between both teams’ bullpens with constant 0’s being given out among relievers in both ‘pens.

Hayden Jatczak of the Williamsport Crosscutters throws out Truitt Madonna of the Keys at first base during the top of the sixth inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The goose eggs would last until the top of the eighth inning for Frederick against reliever Dakota Stone, with both Shane Lewis and Caden Merritt leading off with a single and a walk.

A popout would bring up Truitt Madonna. Madonna had spoiled a potential second-inning rally with a double play, and made sure to redeem himself with a double down the right-field line that brought in Lewis.

What followed was a carousel for the Keys, with three straight batters walking and three more runs coming across to give Frederick a decisive 5-0 lead. In total, Williamsport pitchers conceded nine walks and a hit by pitch.

“Our best reliever goes in there, and throws 42 pitches in the eighth inning,” described Thomas. “Can’t throw strikes, who would ever believe that? But that’s the way it went.”

Frederick’s pitching would remain impregnable until the very end. Despite opportunities on the base paths, Williamsport would finish 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position in the defeat.

Christian Reyes and pitcher Dylan Alonso of the Williamsport Crosscutters walk back to the dugout after the end of the sixth inning against Frederick at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The loss drops Williamsport to 7-4 on the season, maintaining their place in second in the MLB Draft League Standings. The loss also marks the first home defeat for Williamsport this season, with their last loss at home coming in on September 4 of last year against the State College Spikes.

For the first time since last Thursday, Williamsport will take the bus for a three-game set, travelling to take on the first place West Virginia Black Bears in a three-game weekend series.

“You’ll see 95-98 mph every pitch down there,” concluded Thomas. “They’re pretty loaded, so we’ve got our hands full.”

Dylan Schaefer of the Williamsport Crosscutters tries to make it to first against the Frederick Keys during the 4th inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Hayden Jatczak of the Williamsport Crosscutters throws out Truitt Madonna of the Keys at first base during the top of the sixth inning at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

Boston Smith of the Williamsport Crosscutters slides safely into second on a steal during the third inning against the Frederick Keys at Bowman Field. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette