Baseball

Gorsuch, Blue Pirates set date with Marauders

NANTY GLO -- Taking the mound on the road in the first round of the District 6 Class 1A playoffs against Blacklick Valley didn't seem as daunting to Williamsburg junior Rowan Gorsuch after he helped lead the Blue Pirates to the district title game and the state playoffs last season.

Hitting off Gorsuch proved to be extremely challenging, however, for the Vikings.

Gorsuch allowed just two hits and two walks and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning to lead sixth-seeded Williamsburg to a 9-0 upset of third-seeded Blacklick Valley on Monday afternoon at Lloyd McMullen Memorial Field.

"It definitely made my nerves, pitching in big atmospheres last year, easier on me this game," Gorsuch said. "I just was able to pitch out there and do my thing."

The Blue Pirates got an RBI single from Parker Crownover in the top of the first inning that scored Preston Long, who had singled. Williamsburg followed that by taking advantage of two Blacklick errors in the third inning and an RBI single from Gorsuch to make it 4-0.

"Usually, that's our weakness," Williamsburg coach Jerry Palmer said. "We don't score, and it puts pressure on our own kids. Today, we put the pressure on them. Getting a few early runs like that, you can't beat it."

Gorsuch didn't allow his first hit until the fourth inning, but the Vikings loaded the bases in the fifth inning and brought the tying run to the plate after an error, walk and Collin Nedrich single.

Blacklick Valley cleanup hitter Logan Kaschalk hit a line shot up the middle, but Gorsuch knocked it down and made the out at first to end the inning.

"We had the right people coming up," Blacklick Valley coach Garry Wurm said. "Logan has been pulling through for us all year. He hit a nice shot up the middle, but Gorsuch deflected it and threw him out at first. That was our opportunity. I was hoping we could get a gap shot or something and get ourselves back in it and flip the momentum our way."

Gorsuch seemed to get stronger as the game went on and recorded four of his six strikeouts in the final two innings, and the Blue Pirates added five insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning.

"I was feeling it out there," Gorsuch said. "I felt good. I had my guys behind me, and they played pretty dang good. Those couple runs early gave me a lot of confidence."

Gorsuch pumped his fist and got a congratulations handshake from his catcher Luke Uplinger after getting the final out on a pop out.

"Rowan is pitching well," Palmer said. "The last couple games, he's been pitching really well. He's a solid first-team all star player. He's been on for us. When he's been on and finds it, he has been good all year."

Crownover finished 2-for-4, scored two runs and had three RBIs. Coltyn Wagner also added two hits for Williamsburg.

The Blue Pirates will play against Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic in the District 6 Class 1A semifinals on Friday with the chance to go to their second straight district championship game on the line.

"Four of these kids were there, and they know they can do it," Palmer said. "It's not a Williamsburg tradition in baseball, but we have a tough game next week whether it's BG or Juniata Valley. I'm excited. Last year was big, because they know they can make it. It's a tough road this year with a tough draw."

WILLIAMSBURG (9): Uplinger c 320, Long ss 231, Gorsuch p 311, Crownover 3b 422, A. Brantner 1b 400, Verbonitz cf 310, L. Brantner 2b 300, Wagner lf 302, Hughes rf 400. Totals -- 29-9-6.

BLACKLICK VALLEY (0): Younkin 2b 300, Reba ss 300, Nedrich c 01, McEvoy cr 000, Kaschalk rf 300, Jo. Hessler p-3b 300, Schilling lf 301, Je. Hessler cf 300, Noble 3b 200, Williams p 100, Kotelnicki 1b 100, Miller pr 000, Bartoletti 1b 100. Totals -- 26-0-2.

SCORE BY INNINGS

Williamsburg 103 000 5--9 6 4

Blacklick Valley 000 000 0--0 2 5

E--Long 3, Crownover, Reba 3, Williams, Nedrich. RBI--Crownover 3, Gorsuch, A. Brantner.

PITCHING

Williamsburg: Gorsuch (W)--7IP, 2H, 6K, 2BB, 0R, 0ER, 94 pitches.

Blacklick Valley: Jo. Hessler (L)--5P, 4H, 4K, 2BB, 4R, 1ER, 96 pitches; Williams--2IP, 2H, 4K, 2BB, 1HBP, 5R, 3ER, 47 pitches.

Records: Williamsburg (9-11); Blacklick Valley (12-9).