(photo of Springfield’s Nolan Dulski via Jake Bachman)
SPRINGFIELD, PA — Springfield spotted West Chester East a three run lead in the first and had to battle back, but the Cougars did exactly that — taking the lead for good in the sixth and holding on for a 5-3 win Thursday, punching their ticket to the PIAA State Tournament in the process.
West Chester East came out swinging right away. Chase Rudderow reached on an error to start things, Dan Zytkowicz singled to score him, Derek Rozzi doubled to move Zytkowicz to third, and Sean Buckley singled to score Zytkowicz and push Rozzi to third. Then Jonah Trueman flew out to center but Rozzi tagged and scored to make it 3-0 before Springfield even got to bat. Three runs on three hits and an error — a brutal way to start.
Springfield chipped away. Danny Meakim singled in the first to load the bases and set the table, but the Cougars couldn’t cash in right away. They finally got on the board in the third — Owen Keough got hit by pitch, Meakim walked, Nick Corse singled, and a pitcher error let a run score on a pickoff throw. TJ Valletti then continued a great playoff run as he doubled to score Corse and make it 3-2. Just like that, Springfield was back in it.
The sixth inning was where the Cougars took over for good. Still trailing 3-2, Sean O’Reilly came off the bench and doubled, Shane McCaffrey singled, and Kai Scheetz also came off the bench and lined one to left to score O’Reilly and tie it at 3-3.
Danny Meakim came through in the clutch — singling on a ground ball to center to score McCaffrey and Scheetz with two outs and flip the lead to 5-3. Two runs on one hit and the game was Springfield’s.
Nolan Dulski gutted it out on the mound for the Cougars — six innings, six hits, three runs with only one earned, two strikeouts, and two walks. He kept Springfield in it long enough for the offense to bail him out. Drew Kraus came on and picked up the save after coming into two inherited runners and retiring all three hitters that he faced.
That’s two sophomore pitchers getting it done for Springfield.
For West Chester East, Gabe Gianni started but had to leave early due to an injury. He threw two innings with one hit and one run allowed. Carter Reed took over and gave up four runs on seven hits across three innings before handing it off.
Meakim was the story offensively going 2-for-3 with two RBI and delivering the go-ahead hit when it mattered most. Dan Zytkowicz and Sean Buckley each had two hits for West Chester East but the Cougars’ pitching staff held firm when they needed to.
Springfield takes the win and moves on to the PIAA State Tournament. They will take on Southern Lehigh next Monday. The time/location of that game should be announced shortly. This is the first time that Springfield has made the state tournament since 2017.
As for West Chester East, their season comes to an end here. A tough way to go out, but the Vikings gave it everything they had.