Knights impressive in Senior Night sweep of Christendom
By Paul Miller
Knightly News Co-Adviser
The Central Penn College Knights swept a doubleheader against the Christendom College Crusaders on Senior Night on Friday, picking up the win in the first game 3-1 and convincingly taking the second game 14-4.
The evening began with a heartfelt celebration of the senior Knights, as there were seven players who played their final game at FNB Field on Friday. Zach Boyer, Kevon Davis, Hunter Finkey, Zachary Haefner, Adam Hoover, Nick Fulton and Dylan Younghans all suited up in front of the home crowd for the final time.
After an emotional pre-game ceremony, the Knights were poised for a solid night, coming into the game having won four of their last five contests. The scene was gorgeous, with comfortable temperatures and a picturesque skyline for the Central Penn faithful.
Game 1
Starter Wyatt Koser started off the top of the first inning a bit rocky, giving up four hits while the Crusaders pushed a run across with a Matt O'Hara RBI single. Koser, though, was able to get through the first unscathed otherwise.
For the Crusaders, Joseph Romero pitched very well early in the game, only allowing one base hit over the first two innings. In the third, Romero struck out the first two batters and seemed to be cruising. But Owen Zell singled and stole second and Nic Joseph hit a mammoth triple off of the right-centerfield wall, plating a run.
In the fourth inning, Boyer led off with a double and Tanner McCoy singled and stole second. David Thomas drove in a run and Hunter Finkey hit in another run with a sacrifice fly, taking the score to 3-1.
For the Knights, Koser did not let off of the gas, not allowing another run for the remainder of the game. He only allowed five hits and two walks and only allowed one runner to reach third base after the first inning, earning the Knightly News Player of the Game honors.
To follow Koser, the Knights called upon Haefner to close down the game, which he did with flying colors. He allowed only one baserunner in picking up the save.
Offensively, Zell was 1-for-3 with two steals and a run. Boyer was 1-for-2 with a walk and a run.
Game 2
Trying to follow the momentum created from the first game, the Knights started off the second game facing an uphill battle. Christendom started the game with three consecutive hits off of Boyer, who started the game for Central Penn. Ultimately, the Crusaders pushed three runs across before the Knights came up to the plate.
The Knights needed an answer, and an answer is what they got, sending 12 batters to the plate and scoring seven runs in the bottom of the first. After base hits from Zell and Jefrandy Montero, Crusaders starter Paul Amuso threw a wild pitch, allowing both runners to advance. After a Gabe Kaufman sacrifice fly, Haefner came to the plate with the bases loaded and launched a double, driving in two. Brian Lowen and Montero continued the offensive output with RBI singles of their own, making the score 7-3 at the end of the first inning.
Boyer pitched well in the second and third innings, holding Christendom at bay early on. The Knights continued to pile on runs in the second and third innings, capped off with a two-run third.
The Knights relied on their bullpen in Game 2, with Younghans pitching two fantastic innings and Harvey McClain III tossing a clean sixth to preserve the lead for Central Penn.
The Knights offense was just too much for Christendom, plating another run in the fifth on an RBI by Haefner to go up 11-4.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Knights' bats came alive again. The main damage came from a triple from Boyer, knocking in two runs. Then, Boyer scored the closeout run on an error by Christendom, securing the victory 14-4.
Boyer was the Co-Knightly News Player of the Game, going 3-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs. Haefner was the other half of the Co-Knightly News Player of the Game honor, going 1-for-2 with three RBIs and two walks. Montero was 2-for-4 with three runs, one RBI and one steal.
Sunday's game versus Manor College
The Knights had another doubleheader over the weekend, picking up another doubleheader sweep against ESAC division foes Manor College. With the victories, Central Penn has won nine of their last 11 contests and is firmly in position for another shot at the ESAC Conference Championship. Their record currently stands at 18-10, just two wins short of the school record in victories in a single season. The team has five games remaining, including a tilt at Bucks County Community College next Sunday to conclude the season.