Cinnaminson entered Friday’s second round BCSL Tournament game with Pemberton fresh off a 5-0 win over Holy Cross in Patriot play and they used it as motivation to grab another victory.
The Pirates scored three runs in their last two at-bats of the game to come from 3-1 down to pick up a 4-3 win over Pemberton.
“It starts with them. They have to believe that they’re capable of playing at a high level,” head coach Kevin Merrill said.
“I think the last couple weeks, especially division games, they’ve gained confidence. The team is really starting to come together and gel. Everyone has a role on this team and they’re accepting their roles.”
Cinnaminson is now 8-6 on the year and will take on either Pennsauken or Holy Cross quarterfinal round of the BCSL Tournament on or before May 7.
Jim Sullivan got the start on the mound today for the Pirates. Sullivan went six innings for his first varsity win allowing just three runs, two earned, on six hits. He struck out three and walked one.
“My fastball and my curveball were on today,” Sullivan said. “I could throw my cutter when I needed it. He (Mike McAndrews) called the game and we were on the same page all six innings.”
Pemberton struck first in the top of the second on a Pirate throwing error. Cinnaminson answered in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI single from Sullivan.
“We wanted to work ahead and stay ahead in the count,” Sullivan said. “We wanted to pitch to contact today and it worked.”
The Hornets took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fifth on three hits, including a two-run double.
“For Jimmy Sullivan not to get a win until today, it’s hard luck because he’s pitched his butt off,” Merrill said. “He’s worked so hard. I couldn’t be happier for him.”
That lead would not hold for long as the Pirates got one back in the bottom of the fifth and two more to win in the bottom of the sixth.
“After the first inning we were trying to take the first strike and get ahead in the count,” shortstop Joe McGugan (2-for-3 2R) said. “He had over 120 pitches and he wasn’t coming out in the last inning. We did our job and got hits when needed.”
The run in the fifth came via a Nick Mahoney double that scored Jake Perkins.
In the bottom of the sixth Mike McAndrews singled with one out and pinch runner Mike Hess scored on a fielding error all the way from second base to tie the game.
“I was very proud of their approach at the plate today,” Merrill said. “I can barely count on one hand the number of bad pitches we swung at today. To swing at the right pitches in the right spots makes a world of difference.”
Pinch hitter Tim Profy drove in the game winner on a sacrifice fly to right that scored McGugan.
“We practice baserunning all the time and we are executing right now,” McGugan said. “It’s very important. Hess, Rob Berry and Christian Massara always get great jumps.”
Jack Conville relieved Sullivan on the mound in the top of the seventh and proceeded to slam the door shut on Pemberton, recording a 1, 2, 3 inning with two strikeouts.
“Conville is a guy that right now he has emerged as our number two,” Merrill said. “He’s pitched great in his two starts. He threw a lot of pitches on Monday and today would’ve been his normal bullpen day. He was eligible for an inning, mainly in a save opportunity.”
Cinnaminson’s next contest comes against Patriot opponent Bordentown on Monday, May 2 at 6:30pm.
Box Score
Pemberton 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 (6 hits, 2 errors)
Cinnaminson 0 1 0 0 1 2 X (8 hits, 2 errors)
WP: Jimmy Sullivan 6 inn, 3 K, 1 BB (Record 1-3)
LP: Matt Stoots 6 inn, 6 K, 2 BB
Save: Jack Conville 1 inn, 2 K
2B: P: Stoots, Sutton, Wilson; C: Jake Perkins, Nick Mahoney
Cinnaminson 8-6
Nick Mahoney 2-4, 2B, RBI
Joe McGugan 2-3, 2 runs scored (scored GW run on Sac Fly to right by pinch hitter Tim Profy)
Pemberton 4-7
Wilson 1-3, 2B, RBI
Stoots 1-2, 2B
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