Saturday kicked off the last full week of regular season game action for Post 491. Things got started with a double header against Exton Blue where Post 491 easily took game 1 by a score of 10-0. But, Exton Blue was determined not to go down without a fight.
The final game of the three-game season series against Exton Blue saw some fantastic pitching. Kennett starter Vinnie Basciani went the distance throwing 7 innings, scattering 5 hits, and only allowing 1 ER. Connor Brookes led the offense with two hits and a walk. It was Connor’s second hit of the day that was the biggest. He led off the bottom of the 7th with the scored tied 1-1. He smoked a ball down the left field line for a double and then made it to third on a wild pitch. Basciani then completed his great game with a walk-off base hit to right.
A trip to Exton Gold was next up with first place on the line. This game lived up to the hype. Pitching and defense stole the show. Tim Kratz started the game for Post 491, and he was magnificent. He went six innings, striking out five, and holding Exton Gold to only 2 ER. But, the Kennett offense could only muster 2 runs of their own. Seven innings we completed in only 90 minutes with the score tied 2-2. Then, in the bottom of the 9th, Exton Gold pushed across the game winning run to walk it off. The umpires commented as they walked off the field, “This was the best game we have ever seen.”
The long week ended with Exton Gold visiting Post 491 for the final game of the 3-game series. Kennett got things going right away. Grant Hineman lead off the first inning with a single. He would steal second and advance to third on a wild pitch. Jeremy Sauerbaum then did his job with a ground ball that scored Hineman. Nate Holt would then reach on an error, followed by an Alex Wisniewski walk. Another error on a Brennan Smith ground ball would push the second run of the inning across for Post 491.
Joe Ajalli started off the second inning with a triple to right. He would then score on a sac fly by Hineman. Sauerbaum then drove in another run with a double, pushing the lead to 4-0 after two.
Starter Steve Thomas was fantastic. He went four scoreless, allowing only one hit and striking out four. Hineman again provided a spark to the offense with a one-out single in the fourth. He would later score in the inning on a two-out Thomas base hit, advancing the lead to 5-0.
Exton Gold would not go down easy. They scratched out 3 runs in the fifth, drawing within two. But reliever Jeremy Sauerbaum would settle in and finish out the final three innings allowing 3 R (0 ER) and sealing the victory for Post 491.
Kennett heads into the final two games of the season in second place. They are 1.5 games behind the first place Exton Gold and .5 games ahead of the third place Concord Canes. Kennett will play Concord to close the season on Monday evening.