Early Lead Holds For Johnsonburg in Victory over Curwensville

CURWENSVILLE — It was just this past Friday that the Curwensville Golden Tide baseball team made the journey to Johnsonburg.  That trip was plentiful as the Tide walked away from the game with the 9-3 victory, completing a strong week of games and a long, but successful, road trip.

Five days later, the teams would take to the diamond once again, this time at the Curwensville Area High School.

The Rams would send Neil MacDonald to the mound, while the Tide put their trust in the left arm of Austin Lansberry.  Both squads saw their respective pitchers go the entire distance, but with vastly different results.  MacDonald allowed five hits, half the amount of Strickland.  But the Tide had another issue when on defense:  fielding.  Eight errors would allow Johnsonburg to build a lead, and tag extra bases.

In the end, both the bats of the Rams and the errors of the Tide allowed Johnsonburg to achieve the victory, and did so by the same 9-3 margin they were on the opposite end of last Friday.

The Rams got things started in the first inning.  After two outs were on the board, Josh Raubenstrauch struck first when he reached base on the first error of the game as Noah VonGunden couldn’t handle the infield hit.  Raubenstrauch advanced to second when Bryce Timko mishandled a pick-off attempt.  Raubenstrauch then reached  home on an RBI-double by brother, Kacey.

The 1-0 inning would be as close as the Tide would keep it, as the Rams really began their momentum when Curwensville went back on defense in the second.

Four runs would eventually cross the plate, as Ben Ames came home on an RBI-single by MacDonald.  One batter later, it was the hit of the game.

Facing a 1-0 pitch, and the bases loaded, Josh Raubenstrauch connected deep to center field.  His hit cleared the bases, and would increase the lead to 5-0, while adding in a triple to his statistics.

MacDonald continued to do his business at the mound, compiling seven strikeouts to just one walk, plenty to earn the victory on this day.

His game did find some cracks, as the Tide would get on the board in the second inning.  An RBI-single by Jake Terry brought in his brother, Josh, while another RBI-single by R.J. Olson plated Noah Strickland, closing the gap to 5-2.

Johnsonburg would increase their lead in the fifth inning.  A walk of Justin Kasmierski , then a mishandled ball by Jake Terry on a hit by the Rams’ designated hitter, Dave Sallack, put runners on first and second.  Ames then connected on a fly ball down the third-base line, bringing Kasmierski to the plate.  Jeremy Breier then got in on the action, as when he saw the first pitch of his at-bat, he connected to deep center, clearing the bases and putting himself on third.

Had it not been for a strikeout and a line out by Kacey Raubenstrauch and Johnny Mitchell, the lead would have been greater, but the 8-2 gap was one that was becoming insurmountable.

Lansberry at times struggled, but the bats for Johnsonburg were lighting up every opportunity given to them.  Despite giving up the 10 hits, Lansberry was able to throw eight strikeouts to just one walk.  However, the 10 hits he gave up, plus the fielding errors, were too much.

A final run in the six from MacDonald thanks to an RBI-single by Ben Freeburg increased the lead to 9-2.

Curwensville would add a run in the seventh.  With Garrett Shaw on first due to a walk, Jake Terry blasted a 1-1 pitch to left-center, and Shaw put on the jets to make it to home plate.  But, Johnsonburg would close the deal with a fielder’s choice and a ground out, avenging the loss they experienced on their home diamond.

With a 4-7 record, the Tide will finish the week at home on Friday against Brookville.

SCORE BY INNING

Johnsonburg  140 031 0 – 9 10 2
Curwensville  002 000 1 – 3 5 8

Johnsonburg – 9

Mitchell CF 5000, MacDonald P 5231, J. Raubenstrauch LF 4113, Kasmierski 3B 3111, Freeburg 2B 4021, Sallack DH 4100, Ames SS 4231, Breier 1B 4100, K. Raubenstrauch 3100, Singer PH 1000.  TOTALS 37 9 10 7.

Curwensville – 3

Strickland CF 3110, Shaw LF 2100, Ja. Terry SS 4020, Timko 1B 4012, Olson 3B 4011, Lansberry P 3000, Lancaster C 3000, Francisco DH 2000, Jo. Terry RF 2100.  TOTALS 27 3 5 3.

E:  J. Kasmierski, Freeburg; Ja. Terry, Timko, Olson (2), VonGunden (2), Jo. Terry, Lansberry.  LOB:  JB-6, CV-9.  2B-Kasmierski.  3B-J. Raubenstrauch, Freeburg.  HBP-Strickland, Francisco.

Pitching

Johnsonburg:  MacDonald-7 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 7 K, 3 BB.
Curwensville:  Lansberry-7 IP, 10 H, 9 R, 1 ER, 8 K, 1 BB.

W-MacDonald
L-Lansberry

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