There are no easy assignments in this current version of the Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division. Still, Monday's trip to Carlisle for pitcher Michael Adams and Cumberland Valley must have felt that way.
Some of Carlisle's early-season swagger never made it to George Bowen Field as the Eagles were awarded four quick runs and eventually landed a 9-5 victory over the loose Herd. The end result was six errors gifted by host Carlisle, ruining any chance that southpaw Isaiah Lippert would add to his win total.
On the other side, Adams leaned on his fastball to scatter just two hits in five workmanlike innings, striking out four and keeping Cumberland Valley (5-2, 5-1) within a ½ game of frontrunning State College.
Christian McClure's two hits and two runs batted in paced the Eagles offense.
“I think we're confident but we all know we can get a lot better. That's the beautiful part of the game,” said CV first-year skipper Levi Mumma. “We're senior-laden and they have high expectations for themselves. It's my job to keep it balanced between keeping it light and keeping those expectations high.”
ROUNDING THIRD
With the crafty Lippert on the bump, Carlisle (6-4, 4-3) had grand plans to uproot one of Commonwealth's perennial favorites. But three early blunders on defense allowed Cumberland Valley to race ahead 4-0. Later, McClure's sharp single in the third, which scored courtesy runner Austin Bush, equalled the end of Lippert's day.
“I think it's contagious, just like hitting. I don't know what it is but it kind of snowballed on us,” Carlisle head coach Travis Smink said about the defensive mistakes. “We just needed a guy to step up today, make one play, and kind of get us back in the right direction. It was tough to climb out of that hole.”
It was tough getting Adams to relinquish his command, too. After striking out four in the first two innings, Carlisle only hit three balls out of the infield. Colton Brehm's fifth-inning chopper finally broke up Adams' no-hit bid. And even though JJ Robinson singled home Brehm with Carlisle's initial run, it was hardly enough.
Another error, coupled with McClure's RBI triple and Kole Aumiller's RBI infield single swelled CV's lead to 9-1. Lippert struck out six over three innings and surrendered just three hits.
Jack Davenport's two-run home run highlighted Carlisle's brief rally against CV pitcher Levi Scheid in the seventh.
DUGOUT CHATTER
“The early runs definitely help you as a pitcher. When we get those you go out and just try to get outs. I can pitch more to contact and not try to blow the ball by everyone.” – Eagles RHP Michael Adams
“We kind of dug ourselves a hole, kicking the ball around a little bit and not playing the kind of solid defense that got us this far. You did yourself a hole against a guy like Adams and he kind of got in a groove and didn't let up.” – Carlisle skipper Travis Smink
“Against a pitcher like [Lippert], you're not looking to barrel one up on him, you are just looking at putting the ball in play. The lead is never too good to sit. You can really outthink yourself if you're not constantly going after it and being aggressive. These guys want to stay aggressive.” – Cumberland Valley coach Levi Mumma