Caln set the tone all regular season posting a 19-5 record, but the #1 Seabees and #2 Red Sox both fell short of the final Monday
By Dave Conard Sports Editor, CoatesvilleTimes.com
Chris O’Hagan was sensational in relief as the Seabees battled back from a 6-0 deficit to tie the game.
ROYERSFORD—It’s been a long but fast season for coach Rob Weaver and his Caln American Legion club in which, despite having games crammed more games on top of each than fans trying to pack into a free Beyonce concert.
As quickly as it got started, just as quickly it is all over.
Thanks to a sensational high school baseball season, the Seabees have seen their share of double headers yet had battled though the fray and emerged with the Chester County League regular season title with a record of 19-5.
After eliminated Westtown by a count of 9-5 on Sunday in a loser’s bracket match up, Caln (21-6 league) traveled to Rams Stadium, home of Spring City Post 602 with whom they shared the top spot before the tiebreakers, to take on Un beaten Lionville.
In the win or go home pressure cooker, that saw the Hillcats get out to a 6-0 lead after two innings, the Seabees refused to quit as Chris O’Hagan took the hill, doing a lot more than stopping the bleeding.
O’Hagan was sensational pitching six and two thirds inning of work, allowing one run and just five hits, while fanning five.
“This team has played with heart all year long, to win the league and come away with nothing today sucks,” said manager Rob Weaver. “Chris did fantastic job today, he is not a pitcher but did an unbelievable job shutting them down and giving us a chance to come back, if he doesn’t hold them we have no way of getting back into the game there.”
Caln’s Josh martin delivers a 2 RBI double in the CCL playoffs.
As O’Hagan held the Hillcats at bay, Caln went to work offensively as the Seabees posted two runs in the fourth inning to get on the board with T.J Mayo singling and scoring on a double by Pat Cummings, who was then plated by base hit by Andrew Zepiel.
“I used my fast ball and change up today,” said O’Hagan. “The idea was to get ahead of hitters and let my guys make the plays. This was a total team effort all year and I love being around these guys, it just sucks for it to end today.”
Caln pushed across four runs in the fifth inning to climb to within one as the Seabees hit around in the frame scoring O’Hagan, who was plunked by a pitch to start the inning, DiOttavio, who reached on an error and Josh Martin who doubled to drive in the duo.
Sean Risch, who closed out the scoring in the fifth by crushing a sacrifice fly, scored the tying run of the game in the eighth when Martin drilled a ball to short then legged it out just beating the throw.
The Seabees had loaded the bases following Risch’s lead off single, despite the inability to lay down a sacrifice bunt on two occasions, and after the first pitch nearly hit Martin with the bases juiced, which would have also gotten the tying run in.
“We were supposed to put the ball down twice,” added Weaver. “I have some words that aren’t for print, but hey we got the run in there. I am proud of the effort of this team all year and usually two teams would be going into the regional.”
Caln’s John DiOttavio lets it rip in the Chester County playoffs
The Hillcats, who advanced to the Chester County league final against Conestoga , a 5-3 winner over #2 seed Spring City, rallied in the top of the ninth after finally chasing O’Hagan by rapping out three straight singles after a lead off walk and sacrifice bunt, scoring two runs to secure the 9-7 win.
“That is a great hitting team, for Ashton Short, who had a rough outing yesterday to come in a hole them even for three innings was huge,” said Lionville manager Bret Maraine. We really showed some heart by hanging in there and getting it done in the ninth, we executed the bunt perfectly and then got a couple of key hits.”
Had Spring City defeated Conestoga, this evening in the seven o’clock game, Lionville would have receives an automatic berth in the Pennsylvania State Region Three tournament next week as Spring City will be hosting the event.
“I am a huge Spring City fan right now,” added the 24-year old manager in his third year “I may head over right now to the snack bar and buy my hat and t-shirt.”
Lionville 5 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 – 9 16 2
Caln 0 0 0 2 4 0 0 1 0 – 7 10 1
