Pirates Shutout Delran 7-0

Looking to snap a brief, two-game losing streak, the Pirates welcomed the Delran Bears to town on Thursday afternoon and handed them a 7-0 loss to move to 10-5 on the season.

Ryan Hanratty got the start on the mound for the Pirates, who are working towards a division title and a one-seed in the playoffs.

“I felt like we played better than a 2-3 record would indicate last week, other than the RV game that got out of hand. We had opportunities to win, but we just knew that this game meant something for our playoff seeding and helps us secure a one-seed and it keeps us alive for the division,” head coach Kevin Merrill said.

Hanratty struggled with his command throughout his five innings of work, walking the leadoff hitter in three of five innings. He hit the leadoff batter in an inning as well.

None of this mattered as Hanratty was bailed out by his defense a couple of times and definitely by his offense, which banged out 7 runs on 9 hits, including two home runs.

“He (Ryan) didn’t have his best stuff. His location was off, but he’s a tough pitcher. As long as he’s around the strike zone, it makes it tough for guys to hit him,” Merrill said. “As long as he gets ahead of batters, he can throw a lot of different pitchers from different arm angles. He’s a competitor. Anytime he got into any kind of jam, he found a way to get out of it.”

The home runs came from Eddie Gore and Nick Thevanayagam. The home run from Thevanayagam was a three-run shot that went over the wall after bouncing out of the left fielder’s glove. It sealed the win for the Pirates.

The Pirates plated one run in the first, two in the third and four in the fourth.

The two in the third came off the bat of shortstop Jimmy Cicale, who earlier in his at-bat narrowly missed a three-run home run down the left field line. But, as he said after the game, he will still take the two RBIs.

“I thought that ball was fair too, but I’ll take the single and the two RBIs. I knew I had to step up as a senior, but that if I don’t do it, the guys behind me will do it.”

Brandon Staub pitched the final two innings for the Pirates, allowing one hit. Hanratty allowed just three hits to go along with five walks and three strikeouts.

Despite three errors, the Pirates defense made some extraordinary plays this afternoon, including a stellar double play that got Hanratty out of a jam in the first inning.

“I know I have to work on my first-pitch strikes,” Hanratty said. “I need to get ahead. I think I walked the first batter almost every inning. We turned the one really nice double play and I’m just out there trying to throw strikes to let them hit it because of the defense out there behind me.”

Thevanayagam also made a beautiful running catch in center to preserve the team shutout.

The Pirates have two division games left and if they win both, they guarantee themselves at least a share of the division title.

Cinnaminson returns to the diamond on Friday, May 8 with an away game against Maple Shade at 3:45pm.