Redeemer, LL feature firepower
First Posted:
The numbers have been eye-popping. For Lake-Lehman, it was 174 runs in 14 regular-season games. For Holy Redeemer, it was 120 runs in 15 games – all against Class 4A and 3A opponents.
Combined, the two teams have put up 56 runs through three rounds of the district playoffs.
But that doesn’t mean today’s District 2 Class 2A championship game is guaranteed to be a high-scoring affair.
“Obviously we’re just going to stress what we’ve been stressing all year long – the pitching and defense have got to be there,” Lake-Lehman coach Mark LeValley said. “We can’t go into a game, a district final, expecting to score double-digit runs.
“We have to go in anticipating a 4-3 game, a 3-2 game – rely on our pitching and defense and have confidence in that to get us through.”
For one thing, the venue could have an impact. Squaring off at PNC Field in Moosic will be fairly alien to high school players not accustomed to the size and dimensions of a pro stadium.
During the regular season, the Royals (11-7) hit 15 home runs as a team while the Black Knights (17-1) slammed 13. Redeemer’s Christian Choman and Lehman’s Josh Everett have homered in each of their respective team’s three playoff games so far.
Continuing those streaks at PNC Field instead of Hollenback Park and Lake-Lehman High School will be tougher.
“We’re still going to try and play our game,” Redeemer coach Chris Ritsick said. “I think playing at the bigger ballpark may cut down a little bit on runs, being that it takes the home run ball out of things a bit.”
On the other side of the coin, the stadium can also be tough on outfielders, who have to deal with much more room for balls to drop in, as well as the occasional shot off the wall.
Regardless, both starting pitchers – Tyler McGovern for the top-seeded Knights and Ted Ritsick for the No. 7 Royals – know that the opposing lineup will provide a tough challenge.
“He’s very excited,” Chris Ritsick said of his ace. “He’s a three-year starter and he’s always up for big situations for us. Teddy always wants the ball. He doesn’t back down and he’s looking forward to the opportunity this year.”
Though the teams play in separate divisions, the players are still familiar with one another. The schools faced off in the 2009 district quarterfinals, won 7-3 by the Knights.
Four current Lehman starters – Bryan Mathers, Zack Yursha, Adam Paulauskas and Ryan Murphy – played in that game, along with three for the Royals – Ritsick, Mark Malloy and Steve Ruch.
“We know them,” LeValley said. “We played them two years ago. We’ve played these kids from teeners and little league all the way up. Choman and Ruch and Malloy and (Pat) Condo and all those kids. … We’re familiar with them.”
AT A GLANCET
UP NEXT
District 2 Class 2A
Baseball Championship
Lake-Lehman vs. Holy Redeemer
PNC Field, Moosic
Record: 11-7 (No. 7 seed)
Coach: Chris Ritsick
Possible lineup
Player…(Playoff AVG)
Joel Peterlin, c
WVC season
at Coughlin…L, 5-4
Crestwood…W, 6-3
Pittston Area…W, 13-6
Nanticoke…W, 10-0
Hazleton Area…L, 5-3
Berwick…W, 11-0
at Wyoming Area…W, 14-7
at Wyoming Valley West…L, 10-0
Tunkhannock…L, 10-9
Coughlin…W, 14-0
Dallas…L, 6-4
at Nanticoke…W, 10-9
at Crestwood…W, 10-5
at Hazleton Area…L, 2-1
at Pittston Area…L, 13-11
District 2 tournament
Lakeland…W, 9-7
at Meyers…W, 9-1
Dunmore…W, 5-3
LAKE-LEHMAN
Record: 17-1 (No. 1 seed)
WVC Division II champions
Coach: Mark LeValley
Possible lineup
Player…(Playoff AVG)
Scott Bean, 1b
WVC season
Northwest…W, 14-4
at Meyers…L, 12-2
at Wyoming Seminary…W, 15-0
at Hanover Area…W, 14-4
at MMI Prep…W, 12-0
West Side Tech…W, 18-4
GAR…W, 13-0
Hanover Area…W, 4-3
Meyers…W, 11-4
Wyoming Seminary…W, 8-2
at GAR…W, 19-2
MMI Prep…W, 7-3
at West Side Tech…W, 14-5
at Northwest…W, 23-1
Division II title playoff
vs. Meyers…W, 3-1
District 2 tournament
Carbondale…W, 13-0
Mid Valley…W, 12-2
Hanover Area…W, 8-3
