Alex Eells

Colin Carr was on the mound for the first time this season as the Warriors faced Spring-Ford. Carr has been in left field and has been a good bat this season. He went out and pitched a gem into the seventh. That’s when things took a turn. Methacton led 2-0 at the start of the inning and at the end, they lost 3-2. The page turned to Monday with a PAC championship rematch against Phoenixville. The game turned into a runs fest with just two innings being played without a run scored. Methacton had leads of 1-0 and 6-5, but that wasn’t enough for the Phantoms offense, who scored seven on the day, en route to a big win. 

Methacton vs Spring-Ford

The Warriors opened up home PAC action against Spring-Ford. Last year, Methacton walked it off at home against the Rams, and beat them at their house. Carr was making his first start, which ended up being a success. He allowed one blooper into short right field in the first and a line drive into right field in the third. Methacton also took a 2-0 lead off of two passed balls and one wild pitch on the same at bat. Conor Watson started the inning with a one out walk, then Greenberg singled, creating runners on first and second with one out. Remish stuckout, leaving Tommy Kratz, who didn’t have to do anything. His shere presence scored two runs! Greenberg went from first to second to third on two passed balls, Watson went from second to third to home, and then a wild pitch cleared the bases.

That was all the offense for the Warriors which looked like it would be enough. Jack Bradford attempted to get home on what seemed to be a passed ball but was caught to end the fourth. Remish was stranded at third in the sixth, after getting there with just one out. 

That left three outs for Spring-Ford to score at least two runs. They did. A single led things off. Then an error, double and triple led to three runs before Trigone, who came in relief when the game was tied (after the double), could record the final strikeout.

In the bottom of the seventh Methacton needed one run to tie. Serafin was at second with two outs but the Warrios finished with two straight groundouts. 

(Runs/Hits/Errors)

METHACTON    2   3   1

SPRING-FORD   3   5   0

CARR  6.1 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO, 94 Pitches

Methacton vs Phoenixville

The next game would be offensively different. Action-filled battle erupted between two teams that have gone at it over the past couple of years. Phoenixville and Methacton have built up a rivalry as they have played each other in the last two PAC championship games. Phoenixville won it in 13innings two years ago, and Methacton won it 2-0 last year. 

Methacton got on the board first when Tommy Kratz singled, scoring one run. Phoenixville jumped back into the lead in the bottom of the first with three singles, scoring one followed by a ground out that scored a second, followed by a fielder’s choice that scored a third. Trigone then ended the inning with a strikeout, the second of the game. Jones singled with two outs in the top of the second, advancing to second on a throwing error from the left fielder. Liam Greenberg brought him in with a line drive single into right. The Phantoms added another in the fourth, taking their lead to 4-2, but Trigone kept it there with runners on second and third.

In the top of the third, Methacton’s offense was going, and it started with an error as Kratz reached first off a missed catch from the first baseman. Chase McNally singled with two outs, Maro walked, loading the bases for Lohsen who sent one into right, scoring two. The inning quickly ended as Maro tested his luck heading home but was caught. Nobody knew what happened because Methacton was celebrating the two runs they had just scored, but the play was still live. Phoenixville quickly took the lead back, by one run, with a double and single. 

The fourth was one of two innings with no runs scored. That may be in part because of Methacton’s pitching change. Trigone ended the day with three innings pitched and 81 total pitches. Remish came on for the final three innings. In the fifth, Tommy Kratz knocked in a leadoff single, and Remish walked. Then McNally made a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance the two runners, leaving Kratz and Remish in scoring position with one out. Methacton was able to bring both of them in, taking the lead for a Maro single and a Lohsen sac fly. That was two sacrifice plays in one half inning, exactly what coach Spiewak likes to see. The Phantoms did not give up, tying the game quickly in the bottom half of the inning. Methacton had a chance to take the lead back with Evan Jones on third with two outs, but he was stranded. Phoenixville took the lead in the bottom of the sixth with a single and an RBI double.

That set up another must score half inning for the Warriors for the second straight game. They got two quick outs on a strikeout and a pop up but then Lohsen singled, Trigone was hit, setting up the tying runner in scoring position with two outs. Jones struckout to end the game.

(Runs/Hits/Errors)

METHACTON       6   11   0

PHOENIXVILLE   7   13   3

REMISH  3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 SO, 34 Pitches

Batting Order:

This is how the Warriors lined-up against Spring-Ford:

1. Liam Greenberg (CF)
2. Nick Remish (3B)
3. Tommy Kratz (1B)
4. Chase McNally (RF)
5. Colin Carr (P)
6. Carmine Maro (2B)
7. Cam Serafin (DH)
8. Bryce Lohsen (SS)
9. Conor Watson (LF)

With Colin Carr on the mound, Conor Watson made his first start in left field. Carr also moved up in the batting order to five, taking the spot previously held by Maro. Serafin was in the DH role, batting for Lamafa, a spot held sometimes by Jones. One thing is clear, Dom Lamalfa will not bat this season, at least during a big game. 

This is how the Warriors lined-up against Phoenixville on Monday:

1. Liam Greenberg (CF)
2. Colin Carr (LF)
3. Tommy Kratz (1B)
4. Nick Remish (3B)
5. Chase McNally (RF)
6. Carmine Maro (2B)
7. Bryce Lohsen (SS)
8. Nick Trigone (P)
9. Evan Jones (DH)

A few different changes here from earlier this season. Carr moved back to left field and moved well up into the two hole. Remish went down to cleanup and McNally moved to fifth. 

Potential Changes:

It’ll be interesting to see what adjustments coach Spiewak comes out with on Wednesday afternoon. Someone the staff will be looking at is Chase Nolan. In game one against Upper Moreland, Nolan had three plate appearances, with a hit, a run, a walk and an RBI. Nolan also got to hit against Lansdale Catholic in Methacton’s 15-3 rout of the Crusaders. Nolan has not gotten another opportunity at the plate, or in the field. He can play first as well as pitch. If things don’t get right for the Warriors, we could see Nolan heading to first and Kratz going back into the outfield. 

Next up:

Methacton will face Perkiomen Valley on April 2. The Vikings are currently atop District 6A with a 2-0 official record. They fell to CB West and Pennridge this season in non-league play. Perkiomen Valley beat both Spring-Ford and Phoenixville, 5-2 and 9-1, respectively. That has set up for a very close Pioneer Athletic Conference already. Phoenixville lost to Boyertown 1-0, who lost to OJR 3-2. Methacton has to focus on the task at hand, and that is beating the Vikings. Last season, Methacton’s game against Perkiomen Valley was ended after eight innings due to sunlight. When the teams moved to the Vikings’ home for a doubleheader, Methacton walked it off in game one, then won 13-1 in game two. 

Last season, Methacton lost three in a row: at OJR, vs Boyertown and Upper Merion. They are trying to avoid that skid this season. It would be a lie to say the players don’t feel any pressure. Everyone sees Perk Valley’s record, but that cannot get into anyone’s head. It would be a lie to say there is no pressure felt by the team to pick up a win and end the losing skid, but coach Spiewak has done a great job of making every game feel the same.