Another day, another ‘W’ for the Cinnaminson Reds in the Rancocas Valley League on Wednesday night. The Reds took down the Burlington Township Pirates 3-0 for their seventh straight win.
“We’re just playing well. We’re doing all three things well,” manager Frank Sirolli said. “We’re getting good pitching, timely hitting and excellent defense. We’re getting like one strikeout per inning, but we’re playing phenomenal defense right now.”
Cinnaminson is now 9-1 on the season after beginning the year at 2-1.
Jim Goodwin was handed the ball for the Reds and he dazzled for seven innings, allowing just three hits, while striking out nine en route to his fourth win of the season.
“Last year was the first year I didn’t pitch in college so this year I went back to my old high school and college routine,” Goodwin said. “I threw a lot of bullpens in the winter and it allowed me to get sharp right away.”
Goodwin retired the first eight batters he faced before allowing a single with two outs in the top of the third. He retired the side in order five out of seven innings during his complete game.
“He’s consistent. He gets ahead,” Sirolli said of Goodwin. “He’s not afraid to throw any of his pitches in any count. He’s very confident in what he’s got and he uses everything to get people out.”
The 3-0 win was the second straight shutout for the Reds and fourth of the season for the pitching staff. Over their last three games, the Reds have outscored their opponents 22-1.
“I think right now we’re playing at a high level, but there’s room for growth,” Sirolli said. “We could sharpen up with the pitching. We’re doing everything a little bit better than our opponents. I think we can get better though.”
The Reds scored a single run in the third, fourth, and fifth innings.
In the third, third baseman Jeff Vitale led off with a single and came around to score the game’s first run on an RBI double from shortstop Kyle Higgins, his fifth RBI of the season.
In the fourth, manager Frank Sirolli led off with a walk and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by left fielder Joe Sirolli, his fifth RBI of the season.
In the fifth, catcher Bill Dove led off with a home run to cap the scoring. It was his first of the season and third for the Reds in 2016.
“Me and Billy are good. I think I shook off maybe once or twice tonight,” Goodwin said of his relationship with Dove. “He knows what I like to throw and he does a real good job reading hitters. I trust him with the fingers he’s putting down.”
The Reds are the first team in the league to hand Burlington Township pitcher Chase Thomas a loss this year. He is now 5-1.
Cinnaminson returns to the field on Thursday for a 6:15pm first pitch at Willingboro’s Kennedy Recreation Center Field. Cinn City Sports will have coverage of the game.
The Reds are 2-0 against the Townsends in 2016, taking home a 1-0 win on opening night in walkoff fashion and a 5-1 win towards the end of May.
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