What a difference a day makes. The Pirates and the Bears were rained out on Tuesday, but that did not prevent Cinnaminson from getting back in the win column. Baseball moves to 2-2 overall and 2-0 in the Patriot Division with a 1-0 win over Delran Wednesday afternoon.
“We fought and fought and did whatever we had to do to get it done,” head coach Kevin Merrill said. “That’s what we talked about after the game Monday.”
“We’re gonna make mistakes, but what we do to respond to those mistakes is the making of a character-type of team. The seniors made sure we were focused today and stayed in the game.”
Senior Brandon Staub was handed the ball for the second time this season, both against division opponents, and he responded with yet another gem.
“Before we even got out on the field today the focus was there. Everyone was waiting for three o’clock to come out here,” Staub said. “I was able to get ahead with my two-seamer early and work changeups to hitters away. I was getting ground balls all day.”
Staub threw his second complete game, this one seven innings, and allowed just four hits while striking out eight en route to a 2-0 record.
Staub has yet to yield a run in 12 innings of work in 2016. His other start was a 10-0 win over Bordentown that went just five.
The Pirates mustered only five hits today.
“The offense wasn’t there today because of their kid on the mound (Luke Smith),” Merrill said. “He’s a tremendous pitcher.”
The biggest of those five hits came in the bottom of the first off the bat of designated hitter Tim Profy. Profy (3-for-3 1 RBI) hit a single to left that scored Jake Perkins for the lone run of the game.
“I was just trying to get something I could hit,” Profy said. “I had to go deep in some counts, what I didn’t want to do. Put the bat on the ball, got a run for Staub and he pitched a gem.”
Cinnaminson’s defense was stellar today as catcher Mike McAndrews gunned down a runner at second who was too far off the bag.
“He (Staub) does a great job getting ahead in the count,” McAndrews said. “We have great chemistry working together. He does a great job of pounding the strike zone.”
“It feels great to be 2-0 in the Patriot right now. Division is our first priority and that’s what we want to win. These boys came ready to play. They were focused.”
The middle infield combo of Matt Overman and Mike Graff turned a key double play to end the Delran threat in the fifth inning.
Not to be outdone, Robert Berry, in as a defensive replacement in the top of the seventh in center field, made a diving catch for the second out.
The fifth inning was the last time the Bears were able to get a baserunner in the game as Staub set them down in order in the sixth and seventh innings.
“Brandon’s just a competitor. He just competes. No matter what happens out on the mound, he doesn’t let mistakes hurt him. That’s the sign of a good pitcher. He strands runners. He’s just a competitor. That’s why he’s our ace.”
Staub was dominant throughout the game, setting the Bears down in order in three innings.
“I just keep feeling better and better,” Staub said. “As the weather gets better I get to loosen up more before every game. My two-seamer is running farther and I’m starting to get a better feel on my changeup.”
The win today was the fourth straight for the Pirates over Delran and fifth in six games dating back to 2014.
“We showed the league that whether it’s a shootout or a pitcher’s duel, we’re just going to keep grinding and do whatever it takes for the win,” McAndrews said.
Cinnaminson plays back-to-back games for the first time this season when they take the field Thursday for a non-league game.
“I said before the season started, this division is going to be a dogfight,” Merrill said. “It still is. We know the division games are huge, but we’ve got to be playing good in non-division games as well.”
Rancocas Valley comes to town on Thursday for a 3:45pm first pitch.
“We have to play this type of defense tomorrow and the bats have to come alive a little more,” Merrill said about the game with Rancocas Valley Thursday.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Delran | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 |
| Cinnaminson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 1 | 5 | 0 |
WP: Brandon Staub (2-0): 7IP, 0R, 4H, 8K, 3BB
LP: Luke Smith: 6IP, 1R, 5H, 7K, 2BB
Tim Profy 3-for-3 1 RBI
Follow Cinn City Sports on Twitter for news, scores and live updates from games throughout each season. Like Cinn City Sports on Facebook. Sign-up for our daily newsletter, which arrives daily at 8am with the previous day’s stories, on the homepage.
