In a key battle for second place, Post 491 squared off against the Concord Canes in the rubber match of the season series. Grant Hineman continued to produce at the top of the lineup. He led off the first inning by beating out an infield ground ball. He immediately stole second, and Jeremy Sauerbaum advanced Hineman with a SAC fly. Steve Thomas followed with a booming double to center, scoring Hineman.
Pitching was again on display early on, as the game held 1-0 until the bottom of the fourth when Concord pushed across a run to tie the game. But Kennett would quickly answer. Matt McCloskey led off the fifth with a single and would then steal second. Tim Kratz laid down a beautiful sac bunt advancing McCloskey. A two-out Sauerbaum single would then plate McCloskey, giving Post 491 the lead. A Concord error and a Nate Holt single pushed the lead to 4-1.
The score would hold there until the top of the seventh. Singles by Vinnie Basciani and Hineman got the inning started. Then Thomas would blow the game open with another booming double, scoring two. Another Concord error would push across an additional run, and a few batters later, a HBP would plate run number 8 for Post 491.
Tim Kratz started the game on the mound and followed up his great performance against Exton Gold with another gem. He would go 4 innings, allowing only 2 hits and 0 ER, while striking out 5. Reliever Vinnie Basciani was also strong out of the pen. Basciani went 3 innings, also allowing only 2 hits and 0 ER.
With the win, Post 491 jumped into sole possession of second place. With the season coming to a close, there is still a chance that Kennett can capture the #1 playoff seed. The playoffs will start on Sunday at home (Unionville HS) at 3:30pm.