Hurricanes rally for win

Pitcher Dane Ciavarella had confidence that his teammates would push some runs across the plate sooner or later.

Finally, in the seventh inning, a three-run rally propelled the Franklin Township Hurricanes to a 4-2 Keystone Babe Ruth League win over the Franklin Township Shockers.

"There were two good teams out on that field today," said Ciavarella, who finished with seven strikeouts and two walks. "It definitely did start off slow for us, but our offense progressed throughout the game, especially in the late innings. We continued to play good defense."

Shockers' starting pitcher Thatcher David kept Ciavarella and his teammates off balance for the first five and a third innings.

The Shockers scored the first run of the game on a Joe Oriel RBI-single, which brought in Anthony Farole and put runners on second and third as AJ Wenrich singled earlier in the inning.

Ciavarella settled in and recorded his second strikeout of the game to end the threat.

The two pitchers battled for the next four innings with support strong from the defense behind them.

David allowed the Hurricanes' Dan Dailey into scoring position in the second inning after walking him. He also walked Bryce Micciche in the fourth, but his defense bailed him out each inning.

David gave up a single in the third, but a fine defensive play ended the threat when Billy Angst's tried to stretch a single into a double and Wenrich caught him in a run-down.

Ciavarella watched two Shockers reach base errors while one reached base via a walk in the fourth.

In the sixth inning, Ciavarella's RBI-single scored Angst, who earlier singled.

Jimmer Farano came in for David with the bases loaded in the sixth. He struck out Cole Rex and got Mike Cataldo to ground into a fielder's choice to end the inning.

The Hurricanes prevented extra innings with their seventh-inning outburst.

Mike Hickey and TJ Prontnicki led off with back-to-back singles. Pat Divigneaud poked a bouncer to Farano and the throw got away. Divigneaud reached on an error, which allowed Hickey to score from second. Angst gave the Hurricanes some insurance with a two-run double.

"They're giving us outs and we don't make the plays," said Shockers' manager Donnie Rehrigh. "I'm not disappointed. My guys fought. They battled. They got the tying run to the plate in the seventh inning with one out."

AJ Wenrich opened the seventh with a double for the Shockers. Oriel lined a one-out single and reached second on the throw. Unfortunately for the Shockers, Vince Mele lined a pitch right at the Hurricanes' second baseman, who turned the game-ending double play.

"Thatcher (David) did a great job on the mound for them and I can't take anything away from him," Hurricanes' manager Ricky Strohl said. "Coming into the game I didn't know what to expect with a kid I have never saw before. He held us at bay for five and a half innings and he looked really good.

"Our rally was better late than never. They're going to knock a couple of years off of my life if they keep doing this. "

Wenrich finished with two singles and a run scored for the Shockers (10-3 overall), while Angst was 3-for-4 with two singles, a double, a run scored and two RBIs for the Hurricanes (10-2). Teammate Mike Hickey recorded two singles and a run scored in the win.

FT Hurricanes 000 001 3 - 4 10 2

FT Shockers 100 000 1 - 2 4 1

Ciavarella and Duvigneaud; T. David, J. Farano (6) and Farole. W - T. David. L - Ciavarella.