By Jack Veltri
Correspondent
Much like its previous two games this week, it didn’t take long for the Catawba Ridge baseball team to get going Friday night.
A four-run first inning opened a strong night for the Copperheads, who improved to 9-3, 6-0 Region 3-4A, as they defeated York 5-2. It’s their sixth straight win and results in a three-game sweep of the Cougars.
With two outs in the first, Jackson Mullen struck out on what looked to be the third out. But as it was a dropped third strike, he hustled down to first and beat it out to keep the inning alive.
Catawba Ridge took advantage and started teeing off on York left-hander Coleman Harvey. After a Jake McCoy single, Mullen proceeded to score on a passed ball. Sam Schwamb added another run with an RBI single into left.
The two-out rally wasn’t quite over yet. Ben Wilson smoked a ball off the left field wall to drive in a third run. Ethan Solnick capped off the inning with an RBI double into right field to make it 4-0. They knocked Harvey out of the game after he only recorded two outs.
“That’s what good teams have to do is they have to capitalize on mistakes from the other team,” said Copperheads head coach Stas Swerdzewski. “We got lucky with one right there, but we certainly took advantage. They say hitting is contagious and once Jackson reached base that inning we started to hit.”
It would be enough run support for Catawba Ridge left-hander Peyton Dhein. He had his best stuff in the early going, recording seven consecutive outs before allowing a hit.
“He’s a guy that relies on changing speeds and hitting his spots,” Swerdzewski said. “It’s always great to see him when he is able to command those three pitches for strikes. … He just changes it up and gets people, mixes up their timing at the plate.”
York slowly started to wake up at the plate after its first hit. Helms cleanly fielded a ball and stepped on first but made a poor throw down to second trying to gun down a runner. Gavin Waldrop gave the Cougars their first run of the game with an RBI single into center.
In the fifth, mistakes would continue to haunt the Copperheads. This time, Britton Nash booted a ball at shortstop to hand the Cougars their second run. However, Dhein managed to work out of trouble with an inning-ending strikeout.
Dhein’s night came to an end after five strong innings. He scattered four hits and struck out four while walking one. It’s another brilliant outing from Copperhead starting pitching, as Mullen threw a no-hitter on Monday in game one of the series and McCoy struck out 12 on Thursday in game two of the series.
“There’s no doubt that the strength of this team is on the mound,” Swerdzewski said. “And it’s just a testament to how hard our pitchers work on a daily basis.”
With a chance to get a run back, Wilson answered the call in the home half of the fifth. He ripped an RBI double down the left field line to make it a three-run game.
“Ben’s been doing it all year long for us,” Swerdzewski said. “He’s so clutch, man. He’s a great kid and he works his tail off. Those are the type of kids that you really like to rally around because he’s such a good kid and does all the right things and is super respectful.”
Jacob Iverson came on in relief of Dhein in the sixth and took care of business. He retired the side in order, striking out a pair.
Caden Glauber came on in the seventh to finish off the game and looked filthy. He only allowed a hit and struck out three to complete the sweep.
“It’s all about just pounding the strike zone, and that’s what they did,” Swerdzewski said. “They came in and attacked the hitters, attacked the strike zone, didn’t give them any freebies. It’s certainly a luxury to have arms like that at the backend of the ballgame.”
Catawba Ridge is back at home next Monday to begin a three-game series with Lancaster. First pitch is at 7 p.m.
