Knights win convincingly in home opener versus Patrick Henry
By Paul Miller
Knightly News Co-Adviser
Photos by Noah Lopez
Knightly News Photographer
noah.lopez@mymail.centralpenn.edu
The Central Penn College Knights were victorious during their home opener, beating the Patrick Henry College Sentinels in both games of a USCAA doubleheader on Wednesday.
The Knights, who had not played since a doubleheader loss versus Clarion on Feb. 14 due to weather and field conditions, generally looked sharp while having the opportunity to debut new players to the team before ESAC Conference play.
Game 1
In the first game, coach Chaz Stevens sent his ace Cameron Smiley to the mound, and he certainly did not disappoint. In the first inning, Smiley struck out the first three batters, starting what would ultimately be a memorable outing for the senior.
In the bottom of the first, freshman Jamarcus Wilson reached first on an error, and quickly made it to third after a passed ball. Two batters later, Tanner McCoy walked, as did Nic Joseph to load the bases. But the Knights were unable to capitalize with the bases loaded and one out, as Jordon McCahan flied out to first base and Tanner Boyd struck out swinging.
Going to the second inning, Smiley hit Slemmer for Patrick Henry to lead off the inning. After striking out the catcher Kuzowski, he allowed a single to Fields, allowing Slemmer to go to third. After Fields stole second, the Sentinels had second and third with one out. Smiley, to his credit, buckled down and struck out the next two batters of the contest, getting out of the jam.
The bats of the Knights came alive in the bottom of the second inning. To lead off the inning, senior Roniel Morel walked, followed by a single from freshman Jack Getty. After a double steal, Weston Campbell doubled, driving in the first run. Then, Wilson launched a line drive to the outfield, leading to a tough play and subsequent error from Patrick Henry, allowing Getty to score. Later in the inning, Tanner McCoy tripled, plating Wilson and allowing the Knights to take an early 3-0 lead.
As Smiley entered the game for the third inning, he allowed a lead-off single to Ziemnick, followed by a walk to Bell, giving the Sentinels first and second with no one out. After a fielder’s choice got Ziemnick out at third, Smiley shut the door on his 3-inning outing by striking out Hope and Slemmer. Across the three frames, Smiley allowed two hits and two walks, striking out eight.
In the bottom of the third, Boyd singled for the Knights, who moved to third after a walk to Morel and an error. Then, on a very interesting play for Central Penn, Boyd was able to score after the ball got away from Kuzowski after a third strike on Getty.
The hot bats continued for Central Penn in the fourth inning. After Thomas singled to lead off the inning, Joseph came to the plate and launched a massive home run to left field, the first of the season for the Knights, putting them up by a 6-0 score.
After Cullum exited the mound for Patrick Henry, Aquino immediately got himself in trouble with walks and balks. After walks to Campbell and Wilson, both ultimately came around to score after a series of balks by Patrick Henry. This allowed the Knights to take an 8-0 lead and never look back.
For the Knights, Brayden Kipple impressed out of the bullpen. Entering in the fourth inning after Smiley’s dominant outing, Kipple proceeded to pitch three scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and two walks, striking out five. This was a needed lift for Central Penn, which has eight games in eight days over the next week.
The Weis Knightly News Co-Players of the Game were Smiley, with no runs and eight strikeouts in three innings of work, and Joseph, who hit the towering home run to put the Knights ahead for good.
Game 2
As the Knights were able to weather a few minor struggles in the first game, they hit on all cylinders in the second game.
Offensively, this was a game that the Knights were able to dominate, starting in the first inning. After Terrell Smith-Cole walked, he quickly advanced to second on a passed ball and stole third. Then, Tanner McCoy reached first on an error by the shortstop, driving in Smith-Cole to get the Knights on the board.
The offensive barrage continued in the second inning. To lead off the inning, Jordon McCahan singled and quickly stole second. Thomas stepped in and drove a shot to right, and the rightfielder was unable to come up with the ball, allowing McCahan to score and Thomas to move all the way to third. Then, Boyd lined a single to score Thomas, making it 3-0 Knights.
The scoring continued in the second inning as Gabe Kaufman singled and stole second, putting runners at second and third with nobody out. Next, Wilson walked, Smith-Cole reached on a fielder’s choice, driving in another, and McCoy doubled, driving in two more. Then, to cap off a stellar day, Joseph drove in another with a single of his own, allowing the Knights to take a 7-0 lead.
In the third inning, the scoring continued for the Knights, as the Sentinels had little answer for the ESAC Champions. Some highlights of the inning included:
- Christopher Reyes got his first college hit and RBI
- Kaufman registered two more hits and four RBIs in the frame
- McCoy singled and drove in two
- Darwin Cruz doubled and drove in a run
In total, the Knights were able to plate 10 runs in the bottom of the third inning, showing the depth of their lineup in an impressive offensive showing.
The starter for the Knights, sophomore Sam Royer, was able to shut the Sentinels down throughout the contest, pitching four strong innings for the Knights, allowing only two hits and one walk while striking out eight Sentinels.
The Weis Knightly News Co-Players of the Game were Royer, allowing no runs in four innings of work, and Kaufman, who went 3-for-3 with four RBIs and a steal.
With the victories, the Knights move to 2-2 on the young season. They will return home to FNB Field this Friday for a doubleheader clash versus Christendom, with games scheduled for 2 and 4 p.m.