Cinnaminson’s RVL team, the Reds, took down Willingboro by a score of 8-5 in the season opener Wednesday night.
Coming off a season in which the Reds fell in the RVL Finals to Burlington in five games, Cinnaminson is expecting another big season from start to finish.
The offense was in mid-season form on opening night, despite the unseasonably cold weather, scoring eight runs on 10 hits. The Reds built a 6-0 lead by the bottom of the fourth, but Willingboro refused to go down without a fight.
“It’s definitely a relief for the pitchers (the lineup strength) even though we have guys who can shut it down on the mound,” infielder Kyle Ballay said. “It’s good for us too because we know if we have a night off at the plate, our pitching will get the job done.”
Willingboro cut the lead in half with three runs in the top of the fifth and then moved to within two of the Reds when they plated two more in the top of the sixth.
“It felt good at 6-0, but a couple of things dropped their way to make things interesting. Both Kyle’s (Ballay and Higgins) hit the hell out of the ball tonight so they picked us up,” manager Brett Miller said following the victory.
Ballay went 3-for-3 with 3 runs scored and one RBI. Higgins went 3-for-4 with 2 runs scored and 3 RBIs.
Cinnaminson tacked on two huge insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to take an 8-5 lead heading into the final inning on the strength of back-to-back triples and an RBI single to open the inning.
The Reds drew five walks in the game, one of which came with the bases loaded early in the game.
“They (opponents) know we have a lot of dangerous hitters. We don’t have a lot of young, raw guys. We have a really good lineup,” Miller said.
Willingboro loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, but the Reds were able to keep them from plating a run.
Willingboro was able to load the bases in the seventh on one hit, a walk and an error, the first error of the night for the Reds. Cinnaminson’s Jim Goodwin got two strikeouts and an infield pop-up to end the game and take home a win to open the season.
Clinton Hart got the start for the Reds, going 4.1 innings. He was charged with three runs, all of them earned. Hart allowed those three runs on two hits while walking five, hitting one and striking out three en route to a victory.
Goodwin pitched the final 2.2 innings for the Reds to record the save.
The Reds had their second game of the season cancelled, so they will not play again until next Wednesday, May 20 at 7:30pm when they host the Burlington Township Pirates at Memorial Park.
