Bucks County Ghost spent four innings looking like they were ready to run away with it. Then came the sixth inning, and what looked like a blowout nearly turned into a ghost story.
Behind a five-run outburst in the fourth and a steady outing from Nick Shiffler, the Ghosts held off the ASBA Futures Collegiate Team, 8–5, in a game that was cruising until it wasn’t.
It started simply enough: a sac fly from Will Scibona in the first, followed by a balk in the second. Then came the fourth, where the Ghosts blew the game open. Ryan Brown lined a two-run double, Jalen Soberal ripped a triple to deep center, Jake Ruple added another sac fly, and Nick Tuccillo delivered an RBI single — all part of a five-hit, five-run blitz that made it 7–0.
But the Futures weren’t done. They made things interesting in the sixth, stringing together five hits of their own. Jaydan Duncan got the party started with an RBI single, Conor McCartney cleared the bases with a triple, and Nick Prince added a groundout RBI to slice the lead to 8–5.
That was as close as they’d get.
Shiffler, who opened the game with three scoreless innings, earned the win after allowing just one hit and one walk. Adam Canale handled the final four innings, giving up all five runs but never losing the handle entirely. He walked none and struck out three to finish the job.
Scibona and Brown each picked up two hits for the Ghosts. Soberal — who tripled, stole two bases, and drove in a run — was a sparkplug in the middle of the order. In all, six different players drove in at least one run for Bucks County, which also swiped four bags in a balanced offensive showing.
McCartney led the Futures with three RBIs.
Fightin Quakers edge Rake
On an evening where every pitch felt like a chess move and every base runner a small victory, the Philly Fightin Quakers did just enough to slip past the Rake Collegiate Team, 3–2.
They waited until the fourth to break through. Frank Provenzano punched a single down the right-field line, and Pete Hoffman followed by drawing a bases-loaded walk. Just like that, it was 2–0.
Rake answered in the bottom half, a walk, a defensive miscue, and two runs later, things were even again.
Then came the swing that mattered: Joel Bonner’s RBI single in the fifth gave the Quakers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
On the mound, it was a day for the arms. Justus Agosto started for Philly and struck out seven over four innings of one-hit ball. He walked two, allowed one earned run, and danced out of a couple of jams with poise. Evan Bush came on in relief and was spotless — three innings, no hits, no walks, no strikeouts, just outs. And a save.
Rake countered with an equally electric staff. Jordan Sesar struck out seven in 3.1 innings while allowing two runs. Logan Woodward followed with 3.2 innings of one-run relief, fanning seven more.
The two teams combined for 21 strikeouts.
Sam Batiancila led the Quakers with a pair of hits. Bonner, Hoffman, and Provenzano each drove in a run, and the team added four stolen bases for good measure.
Rake’s lone hit came from Bobby Hansen. Ryan Madden and Trevor Harris accounted for the two RBIs, and Harris swiped two bases.
Standings
1. Fightin Quakers (5-0)
2. Bucks County Ghost (3-1)
3. Rake (2-3)
4. Philly Mummers (1-2)
5. Philly Bandits (1-3)
6. ASBA Futures (1-4)
Thursday's Schedule
Bucks County Ghost vs. Philly Fightin Quakers | 6pm | Council Rock North
Philly Badits vs. Philly Mummers | 6pm | Gwynedd Mercy
