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Crosscutters survive late-game scare, defeat State College in offensive series opener

By NICOLAS SEVERINI 5 min read

The Williamsport Crosscutters survived another late game collapse Monday night, taking down the State College Spikes 13-7 at Historic Bowman Field.

Coming off of their worst loss of the season, the Cutters responded with a 15 hit game in a game that felt less comfortable then the home crowd would have liked.

"This team has a lot of character," said Williamsport Crosscutter manager Kenny Thomas. "Obviously we've got some issues in the bullpen that's got to be fixed, but after what happened last night, our guys playing that hard the way they did tonight, that shows character."

Looking for a sharp response after yesterday’s late inning collapse the Cutters would manage to jump ahead in the bottom of the first. Leadoff man Owen Prince would get things going with a double that one hopped the left field wall. The two half player would do the rest himself, stealing third on a called strike three before sprinting home safely on a wild pitch an at-bat later.

But the loudest crowd pop early in the game came on the defensive side of the diamond. In the top of the second, a sure infield single from Sam DeCarlo was denied by third baseman Nicholas Romano, who fielded a tough hop and fired off balance from foul territory to get the runner out. Astonishingly, Romano who duplicated the feat a batter later, securing back to back outs that garnered a rare standing ovation from the crowd.

"Those two plays, very rarely you see two in a row by one person that were that good," echoed Thomas.

Keeping the crowd loud, the Cutters kept their offensive pace in the second starting with a one out Jack Kail single. With Matthew Williams at the plate next, the corner infielder would double the lead when he corked an RBI double in the left field gap.

But those first two innings would be just an appetizer for the third inning. After a flyout started the frame, the Cutters would provide pressure with back to back singles from Chris Stanfield and James McCoy. Nick Barone would provide the first blow next, slapping a single to left field to score Stanfield.

One of the newest Cutters in Jack Kail would continue his electric start, getting two more to score when he laced a double to left field. Another second halfler, Matthew Williams, provided the finishing touch when he scorched a two run blast over the left field wall for a 7-0 lead after three.

State College starter Trey Cehajic would be pulled after the third inning, conceding seven runs on nine hits with three strikeouts.

The Cutters would add another run in the fourth inning. After a single and two base throwing error from State College catcher Ethan Swidler moved Chris Stanfield to third, he would only need to jog home when James McCoy lofted a double to left field to make it 8-0.

After a scoreless, Billtown knocked in their ninth run of the game when a Nick Barone double scored Sam DeCarlo.

Ultimately, Williamsport starter Josh Willits would give the bullpen a nine run cushion by the time he was relieved in the sixth inning, shutting out the Spikes in six innings with two hits, a walk, and five strikeouts.

With Willits relieved, the Spikes quickly took advantage. After a Camden Ross single put a runner on, Justin Journette would capitalize with a two run blast into the Spikes bullpen that put the visitors on the board.

If there weren't premonitions from Cutters fans of another late game collapse, then there certainly would be in the eighth. With two way athlete James McCoy coming in relief, he would quickly get pulled after four batters he saw one put away, one reaching on a single, and two batters hit by pitches.

In what is a carbon copy of Sunday's collapse, one swing put the Spikes back in it when Camden Ross launched a deep grand slam to left field. Ross's bomb was just his second of the season.

To add to the drama, Justin Journette would make it a 9-7 game in the next at-bat, unleashing his second home run in as many innings to left field once again.

With insurance runs preferred, the Cutters would get busy loading the bases on a Sam DeCarlo walk, Chris Stanfield single, and James McCoy walk.

After a key strikeout, State College reliever Skylar Jones would hit Matthew Williams on the first pitch, continuing the carousal to make it 10-7. But it would be the efforts of Romano that sent the thought of a late comeback to rest. On a 2-1 count, Williams would place a bases clearing double down the right field line for a 13-7 scoreline.

"That double in the bottom of the eighth we needed so desperately bad," admitted Thomas.

The win improves the Cutters to 7-3 on the season, good for out and out possession of second place in the MLB Draft League Second Half standings. The Cutters will look for the series sweep Tuesday, with Billtown hosting the Spikes at Bowman Field.

Starting at /week.