Pine-Richland baseball makes right adjustments to get off to strong start

By: Jerin Steele
Saturday, April 20, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Peyton Ford said Pine-Richland baseball coach Kurt Wolfe has a consistent message.

“Coach Wolfe always says to expect to adjust,” Ford said.

That advice can be about an approach at the plate but also be a more encompassing philosophy.

For the Rams, rainouts have brought plenty of adjustments to the schedule.

From April 15-19, Pine-Richland was scheduled to play five consecutive Section 1-6A games, three with Seneca Valley and two makeups against Allderdice.

So far, the team has shown it has the makeup to welcome anything that comes its way.

The Rams took the first two games against Seneca Valley and moved into first place in the section standings.

In the first game, there was timely hitting, strong defense and a very good start by junior hurler Keegan Deihl in a tight 3-2 victory.

The next day, they won 5-4 in walk-off with Tommy Zimmerman driving home the winning run in his first at-bat of the season. Zimmerman had been sidelined due to a shoulder injury.

Deihl pitched 6 2/3 innings in the series opener and allowed only two runs. He struggled with command early but locked in and ended up striking out seven.

“The first couple innings, the fastball wasn’t being located as well as I wanted it,” Deihl said. “I found the slider a little later and that got hitters off balance. I settled in with the off-speed and got the fastball working.”

Deihl got some special plays from his defense. Shortstop Danny Pedersen made three big diving stops that led to outs. His last one came on the final out of the game with the bases loaded and two outs, allowing Tristan Farrar to secure a save.

There was also a superb play by Ford in center.

With a runner on first, Owen Yarussi hit a chopper back to Deihl, who went to second, but his throw sailed into the outfield. The runner, Mike Delduca, rounded second and headed to third, but Ford picked up the ball and fired a strike to Rams third baseman Anthony Annichine, who tagged Delduca out.

“I saw him halfway (to third) and thought I could get him, so I just chucked it,” Ford said. “In practice, I try to throw it right on the money every time. I trusted that and was able to execute.”

Deihl ended up getting a groundout to get out of the inning unscathed.

He was appreciative of his teammates’ defensive efforts.

“Got a special play by (Ford),” Deihl said. “It was an absolute laser. We don’t win without him. Danny has always been Mr. Smooth. We always trust him in the field. Love having him out there.”

Sam Heckert provided a two-run double in the second inning to give the Rams a 2-1 lead. Tanner Cunningham had an RBI single in the seventh to make it 3-1. Cunningham’s hit proved to be crucial, because Seneca Valley got a run in the bottom of the seventh.

The two wins against Seneca Valley were big and depending on the results for the rest of the five-game stretch, the Rams could be in position to secure a third consecutive section title. They were 5-1 and at the top of the standings as of April 17.

Adding to the section title streak is a goal on the list, but this Rams team has higher aspirations.

“We’re trying to get some championships,” Ford said. “I personally want that WPIAL championship. Being section champs is cool, but it doesn’t mean as much if you lose in the (WPIAL) semifinals or quarters.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Pine-Richland