BERWYN, PA — If you have an offense and pitching staff like the Haverford Fords, you feel pretty good about your chances going into almost any game.
When that offense puts up five runs in the first inning for that pitching staff, you feel fantastic.
That was the story in Haverford’s win over Conestoga. The Fords got up early and kept adding, eventually cruising to an easy 11-2 victory to remain undefeated.
Haverford struck quickly in the top of the 1st, courtesy of a Shane Durkan double. Ryan Cassidy walked and Jimmy Boyle reached on an error before coming in on Durkan’s line drive to center.
Durkan then stole third and advanced home on a wild pitch, making it a 3-0 game. Sam Sturman put the Fords up 4-0 with a triple and Ben Ishmael pushed the lead to five with a sac fly.
Sturman continued his big day, leading off the fourth with a double. Like Durkan in the first inning, he then stole third base and scored on a wild pitch. Boyle, who was also the starting pitcher for Haverford, then helped his cause with a two-RBI single that made it 8-0.
Conestoga got two runs back in their half of the fourth, but Cassidy opened the lead right back up. His two-out, two-RBI double to right gave Haverford a 10-2 lead and pretty much sealed the victory.
Durkan reached on an error to lead off the top of the sixth. He eventually scored on an error as Conestoga just had a brutal day in the field. The Pioneers made six errors in total.
Haverford’s pitching staff was more-or-less on cruise control with the early cushion the offense gave them. Jimmy Boyle only needed 71 pitches to get through six innings of work.
Boyle gave up three hits and two runs (one earned) over that time, earning the win for the Fords. Lucas Rothstein closed out the game, striking out three and surrendering one hit in a scoreless seventh inning.
The Fords remain undefeated in both the Central League (4-0) and overall (6-0). They’ll head home and look to continue the hot start against Ridley (3-2) on Wednesday.
It has been a bit of a different story for Conestoga. The Pioneers are 0-4 in the Central League and 0-5 overall. There’s definitely been some growing pains for a team with a lot of new faces and a new coach, but there’s still time to turn things around.
Conestoga plays Upper Darby (0-4) on Wednesday. The Pioneers will be away.