Starters Orioles beat Martins Creek, advance to Blue Mountain League baseball championship series

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

The bats for the Starters baseball team were clicking on all cylinders through the first two games of their Blue Mountain League semifinal series against Martins Creek.

Saturday afternoon's game produced more of the same as the Orioles handled the Creekers 8-0, advancing to the championship series against Hellertown, which swept Easton 3-0.

Game 1 is 1:30 p.m. today at Hellertown.

The Orioles had a monster second inning as they scored six of their eight runs off starting pitcher Rick Driscoll. They hit three home runs in the inning.

Third baseman Adam Wehr and catcher Pete McCauley hit back-to-back solo shots to get the inning started. Wehr went 3-for-3 with two homers and three RBIs.

"It felt great. Lately I haven't been hitting for power and that's what I wanted to do," Wehr said. "I've been eating big lately to try and push it out. Today I just came out and swung it."

The Orioles proceeded to load the bases with two outs for first baseman Rick Seltzer. Seltzer connected on a mammoth grand slam to center field to push the lead to 6-0.

Wehr added a two-run home run in the third inning off reliever Wayde Edelman to cement the game.

"We have a young team," Orioles manager Ron Miller said. "I think it took a year for them to get clicking. They're swinging the bat well at the right time and what more can you ask for? This is the time of year to do it."

"I thought we needed an early lead right away and I didn't want them to get any kind of momentum. They got down a little bit and the home runs did it. All I know is I'm going home happy."

Pitcher Garrison Rausch threw a complete game, only yielding three hits while walking two. He also struck out a pair, while commanding the zone.

"We didn't put ourselves in good situations especially in the first two games," Creekers manager Eric Schmitt said. "The first two games were probably the worst two games we've played in three or four years, easily. We probably haven't played that bad since about 2005.

"I don't want to say that it's one of those situations where you'd feel better if you lost by one run but we got our butt kicked. One or two plays would not have made the difference today."

The Creekers (21-13-1) grounded into seven double plays during the three-game series.

"That's a statistical anomaly in itself," Schmitt said. "That must be bad luck. The only way you ground into that many double plays is by hitting the ball hard."

Rausch didn't allow a hit after the second inning. His great control never allowed the Creekers to gain any kind of advantage and kept them off balance.

The Creekers never could seem to get their offense going as they were in an early hole. They struggled against Rausch and only managed five baserunners in the game.

The Orioles (21-13-1) scored 24 runs in the series while allowing six. The bats have gotten hot at the right time and are leading the team into the championship.

"It's tough but we'll come back tough same as we always do," Schmitt said.

Starters 062 000 0--8 12 0

Martins Creek 000 000 0--0 3 1

2B -- B. Wilt (S). HR -- Wehr 2, McCauley, Seltzer. RBI -- Seltzer 4, Wehr 3, McCauley (S). Rausch and McCauley; Driscoll, Edelman (3) and Forth. L -- Driscoll. SO-BB -- Rausch 2-2; Driscoll 1-3, Edelman 2-2.

Records: Starters 21-13-1; Martins Creek 21-13-1.


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