One of the goals coming into the 2015 season for the Pirates was a BCSL Tournament title. That goal will have to wait at least one more year as the Pirates were eliminated from the tournament by Rancocas Valley on Saturday by a score of 23-6.
The Red Devils not only advance in the tournament to the semifinals, but they also exacted a little revenge on the Pirates, who beat them 9-0 earlier in the season.
“The first time we beat them, they had the one inning that things fell apart and we took advantage. Today, we had the one inning where things fell apart and they took advantage. Everything seemed to just fall apart. That’s baseball,” head coach Kevin Merrill said following the loss.
The day started off on the wrong foot for the Pirates, who allowed a two-run home run in the first before getting an at-bat in the game.
Starting pitcher Brandon Staub lasted just one and one-third innings on the mound as Rancocas Valley scored 15 runs in the second inning en route to the victory.
Cinnaminson is now 9-4 on the season.
“We certainly could be better. We haven’t played our best yet,” Merrill said. “We have played some really good games, but in those games we’ve had guys that are not performing at their peak. We certainly have room for improvement. 9-4 after losing some top guys from last year’s squad, I am happy with that record.”
The Pirates took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the first on a two-run double by Jimmy Dever. That would be the only lead of the day for the Pirates.
Cinnaminson answered with three runs in the second, but could not push anything else across the plate in the third, fourth or fifth innings.
This is the first time in five years where Cinnaminson will not compete for the BCSL Tournament title.
The Pirates will use Sunday and Monday to regroup and work on some things at practice. Then, they begin their push for a division title and a deep playoff run.
“We still have our division title that we can control ourselves. We have three division games left that if we win-out, we are guaranteed co-champs. We have to take this one game at a time and focus on what we can control,” Merrill said.
After an off-day on Monday, the Pirates will hit the road Tuesday to take on Burlington Township at 3:30pm.
