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Phils belt State College
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
By Andy Stine Sports Writer
PHILIPSBURG - Not only was the hit parade on at the Don Womer Baseball Complex on Tuesday evening, but so was the right arm of Philipsburg pitcher Parker Watson.
The Phils banged out 13 hits, including five for extra bases. Meanwhile, Watson gave up two earned runs over five innings of work as Philipsburg outslugged State College in a Central Penn League contest, 15-3. The game lasted five innings due to the 10-run rule.
"That's the first time we really got the bats going," said Philipsburg manager Dusty Minarchick. "We had our bats on our shoulders the last two games. I told the guys to come out swinging and good things will happen once you put the ball in play, and that's exactly what happened today."
"I said, ‘we need to come out firing. We need to jump on these guys and take them out of the ballgame a little bit and never look back.'"
Watson only gave up an infield single in the top half of the first to set down State College. In the bottom half, it looked like State College would get out of the frame with no runs given up. But with two outs and a runner on first, a Shane Hoover grounder was misplayed by the State College second baseman to extend the inning.
Aaron Lidgett hit a single to bring home Watson, who reached on a fielder's choice, for the first run of the game. After the RBI single, Curtis Baugh drove the first pitch he saw from State College pitcher Nick Harner into the trees in left field for a three-run jack.
"That thing was a shot," said Minarchick. "We know Curtis can do that. He did that all last year for us. It was just a matter of time. He was struggling a little bit and that picked him up. I think that will pick up his confidence."
The Phils were not done with the first inning, though. After the homer, Luther Harlow belted a pitch into the right-center field gap for a triple. Derek Greene brought him home with an RBI single to give Philipsburg a 5-0 lead.
Watson sat down State College again after just one more single in the second inning. And the Phils went back to work in their half of the frame.
After Watson reached on an error, Cody Lee hit a drive to left field that fell in for a double to bring Watson home. After a popout, Lidgett reached on an infield single in the hole between the shortstop and third baseman. A fielder's choice from Baugh scored Lee to give the Phils a 7-0 advantage.
State College got on the board in the third inning. With two outs and runners on first and second, third baseman Kenny Craig hit a double to left-center field that scored both runners to cut the deficit to 5. However, Watson got out of the inning via strikeout on the next batter.
Watson found some trouble again in the fourth. After a double from Alex Singer and a single from Ed Goodall, Watson earned a strikeout for the first out of the inning. Then, leadoff hitter Tanner Witter hit a ball right back to Watson, who threw out Singer breaking for home. Watson got another strikeout to get out of the jam.
"He does that every time," said Minarchick. "We always feel pretty comfortable when Parker is on the mound. We feel like we're going to be in every game.
"We've been pitching great and we've had a lot of different guys play different positions. Everyone seems to be doing their job. It takes a team effort."
Philipsburg's big blow of the game came in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Phils scored eight runs on six hits in the frame. Cody Lee hit two more doubles in the fourth inning alone to give him three two-baggers in the game. Lee was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs, while Aaron Lidgett was 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI.
"He does a great job," said Minarchick of Lee. "He just goes in and gets the bat off his shoulder and just hits. He's probably the most relaxed kid on the team when he's hitting. Hopefully, he continues to do that all year for us."
The Phils did give up an unearned run in the last inning, while State College loaded the bases with just one out. However, Watson got two popouts to end the game.
Philipsburg improved to 3-2 on the season. The Phils will entertain Clearfield tomorrow evening. First pitch is slated for 6. State College-3
Witter cf 3000, Herzing 2b 3110, Lebarron 1b 3120, Smith dh-p 2100, Craig 3b 3022, Van Horn lf 2000, Singer ss 3021, Goodall c 3010, O'Melia rf 3000, Harner p 0000. Totals: 25-3-8-3.
Philipsburg-15
Smith c 3111, Watson p 4312, Lee lf 4333, Johns lf 0000, Hoover 3b 3100, Ammerman 1b 1011, Lidgett cf 3231, Pepperday cf 1000, Baugh ss 2214, Harlow 1b 1111, Belko 3b 0000, Greene 2b 2111, Belinda 2b 0000, Golemboski rf 2111, Dotts rf 0000. Totals: 26-15-13-15.
Score by Innings
State College 002 01- 3 8 2
Philipsburg 520 8x-15 13 2
Errors-Herzing, Craig; Greene, Belinda. LOB-State College 9, Philipsburg 5. 2B-Craig, Singer; Lee 3. 3B-Harlow. HR-Baugh (2 on, 1st inning). SF-Harlow. SB-Watson, Lidgett.
Pitching
State College: Harner-3 2/3 IP, 9 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 4 BB, 0 SO; Smith-1/3 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 SO.
Philipsburg: Watson-5 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 SO.
WP-Watson (1-0). LP-Harner.
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