FLINTON – Not only was it win number 14 on the season, it was also the win that enabled the Curwensville Golden Tide baseball team to bring home the 2008 Moshannon Valley League (MVL) crown.
The Tide motored to Flinton Wednesday to battle the Glendale Vikings. It was a trip that was certainly well worth it, as Curwensville dumped the Vikings 10-2.
With the victory Curwensville’s record is now 14-5 overall. They finish the MVL with a 7-1 mark to gain the title. The Tide had beaten Glendale earlier this campaign, 14-3.
Junior Ben McGary picked up his sixth win of the season by tossing a three hitter. McGary walked only one while striking out 11.
Curwensville head coach Ryan Briskar said afterwards, “Ben (McGary) pitched a very solid game with some pretty good defense behind him.”
The Tide offense was paced by Jed Greslick, Jonathan Michaels, Cory Bloom and Trevor Horton, who all had two hits apiece. Brett McCracken made the most of his one hit, a double, and drove in three runs. Greslick and Horton also stroked doubles for the Tide. Michaels brought home three Tide runners with his two hits also.
Briskar was very happy to see the Tide bang out 11 hits, “I was glad to see some players step up and start hitting the ball. We put the ball in play today and good things happened when we did.”
Steve Rusnak took the loss for the Vikings giving up 11 hits, walking five and hitting four Tide batters. Vance Kimberly led the Glendale offense with two hits on the afternoon.
Glendale ends the 2008 season with an overall record of 3-13 and 3-4 in the MVL.
The Tide conclude the 2008 regular season Thursday afternoon when Brookville pays a visit. Curwensville defeated the Raiders earlier this season, 10-3.
The Tide skipper also mentioned, “I just hope things carry on tomorrow (Thursday) and next week when we get into the playoffs.”
NOTE: Curwensville is the fourth seed in the upcoming District 9 Class A tournament that begins next week. The Tide received a first round bye and will host the winner of Tuesday’s Ridgway-Elk County Catholic contest on Thursday, May 22nd. Coudersport is the number one seed.
CURWENSVILLE – Ben McGary p 3101, Brett McCracken ss 3213, Justin Johnston ph 1000, Jed Greslick lf 4222, Andrew Straw 3b 0000, Jonathan Michaels dh 4123, Cory Bloom c 5220, Brett Sutika 2b 2010, Jesse Hoover 2b 2000, Trevor Horton 1b 3121, Sam Gardner cf 3000, Derek Dixon rf 4110. TOTALS – 34 10 11 10
GLENDALE – Kyle Cusick ss 3100, Robert Jefferies 3b 2000, Derek Nash 2b 3010, Vance Kimberly 1b 3120, Matt Queen rf 3000, Brock Kauffman cf 3000, Bobby Ivory lf 0000, Sam Yingling dh 3000, Tom Bickford c 3000, Steve Rusnak p 3000. TOTALS – 26 2 3 0
SCORE BY INNINGS R H E
CURWENSVILLE 103 402 0 10 11 2
GLENDALE 000 002 0 2 3 2
ERRORS – Sutika 2, Cusick 2. LOB – CURWENSVILLE – 10 GLENDALE – 4. 2B – Greslick, Horton, McCracken. SB – Greslick, Michaels, Dixon. HBP – McCracken, Greslick, Straw, Horton (by Rusnak).
PITCHING IP H R ER BB K
CURWENSVILLE
McGary 7 3 2 1 1 11
GLENDALE
Rusnak 7 11 10 9 5 0 4-HBP
WP – McGary (6-1) LP – Rusnak