Martindale and Taylor Combine on 1-Hitter as Huntingdon Valley "Steals" Victory From Southampton 2-1
Huntingdon Valley (HV) opened up its 2010 baseball season with a 2-1 victory over a tough Southampton (SH) team. HV out hit SH 9-1 but that was just about all that HV dominated in a great opening season game. HV trailed 1-0 entering the bottom of the 5th inning but used two steals of home by Matt Acker (3 for 3) and Bryce Horn (1 for 2) to take a 2-1 lead which HV would win by. HV received 2 pitching performances that will not be forgotten for some time. John Martindale was in control as he pitched 4 innings gave up no hits and struck out 10 batters. After Martindale pitched HV put in Jacob Taylor and he didn't disappoint. Taylor faced 7 batters and struck out 6 batters on the way to the victory.
SH opened the game up with putting 2 runners on base to only leave them stranded as Martindale got a huge strikeout. The bottom of the inning HV received back to back lead off singles from Acker and Jordan Leiber (2 for 3). HV could not push them across as the inning ended with no runs
The 2nd inning was a breeze for Martindale as only one batter got on base on a walk. The bottom of the inning, HV only got a 2 out double off the bat of Martindale (1 for 2) but once again couldn't plate him.
In the 3rd Martindale continued his dominance only allowing a walk. The bottom of the 3rd inning HV loaded the bases off of singles from Acker, Leiber and Horn to only leave them there.
The 4th inning was a good one for SH as they scored a run after a walk and a 3 base error to open the scoring up to take a 1-0 lead. The bottom of the inning HV lead off with a bombing triple off the bat of Connor Killion 1 for 3) to only yet again not plate him.
The 5th inning HV sent Taylor to the hill to only allow a walk but erased them with 3 straight strikeouts. The bottom of the inning HV plated 2 runs to take a 2-1 lead. Acker lead off the inning with his 3rd hit of the game a base hit up the middle. After a steal of second and third, Acker stole home on a ball four pitch to Horn to tie the score at 1. Horn then stole 2nd and 3rd when with 2 outs scored on a steal of home. HV then put another runner on when Harrison Roesser (1 for 3) singled to only be left stranded.
The top of the 6th and final inning Taylor gave up a single with one out. Taylor showed that nerves wouldn't stop him as he completed his unbelievable pitching performance when he struck out the next 2 hitters to end the game and put a "W" in the win column for HV.
"A win is a win no matter how you get it" Coach Mike Landes said after the hard fought game, "A real nail biter for the 1st game of the year. In true Predator fashion the kids did not give up. On a cold windy night they did what they had to do to win the game. We can coach all we want, but you can't teach heart and that is what all of these kids have. Not 1 kid gave up at anytime. Hopefully we will have some easier games during the year but we will take a win any way we can get it. Be very proud of your kids for the effort they gave and the way they acted. Everyone pitched in as much as possible and did what was asked of them"
HV takes to the road on Sunday as they play at Hamilton.
Box Score AB-Runs-Hits-RBI-Walks
Acker 3 1 3 0 0
Leiber 3 0 3 0 0
Horn 2 1 1 0 1
Taylor 3 0 0 0 0
Roesser 3 0 1 0 0
Killion 3 0 1 0 0
Azran 2 0 0 0 0
Martindale 2 0 1 0 0
Landes 1 0 0 0 1
Tang 1 0 0 0 0
Schwemlein 1 0 0 0 0
