Baseball: ELCO Breaks Out in Tyler Starry Benefit Game, Notch Victory Over Tulpehocken

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After a tough start to the week that included losses to Donegal on Monday and Garden Spot on Wednesday, ELCO had a chance to reset on Thursday afternoon in a non-league home matchup with Tulpehocken. In a game that honored ELCO alum Tyler Starry and benefited him in his battle against ALS, the Raiders responded with an inspired performance after Starry threw out the first pitch, erupting early on their way to a 16-1 win in just three innings.

Braden Gettle helped spark ELCO’s huge 1st inning, which saw the Raiders score nine times to seize complete control. Gettle delivered a two-run double, Owen Halpin singled home a run, Grant Wenger was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, and Ethan Cook drew a walk that forced in another run. An error added one more before Austin Smith lined a two-run single, and Gettle later added a sacrifice fly to cap the inning.

ELCO kept the pressure on in the 2nd. Wyatt Parker brought in a run with a sacrifice fly, Cook ripped an RBI single down the right-field line, and Smith followed with a triple to center that plated another run as the Raiders stretched the lead even further.

The Raiders added four more runs in the 3rd inning. Zach Martin singled down the left-field line to drive in a run, Tulpehocken committed an error that brought home another, Brinley Donmoyer added an RBI single to center, and Queston Rivera drew a walk that forced in a run.

On the mound, Wyatt Parker earned the win for ELCO. Parker worked all three innings, allowing two hits and one run while striking out one and walking two.

At the plate, Smith and Halpin each collected two hits, while Cook, Smith, and Gettle finished with three RBI apiece. ELCO totaled 12 hits and also showed patience by drawing seven walks, with Tyce Boyer and Grady Auker each earning two free passes. Defensively, the Raiders played a clean game without an error, and Halpin handled five chances in the field.

Tulpehocken’s offense was limited to two hits, with Grant Gehman and Cody Layser each recording one. Layser and Gehman both doubled, while Brady Woll drove in the Trojans’ lone run.

ELCO is now 4-5. The Raiders will look to keep the bats going when they travel to Manheim Central on Monday.

ELCO 16, Tulpehocken 1

If you are interested in learning more about Tyler or about how you can help, check out this GoFundMe.

ELCO Leaders

Braden Gettle: 2-2, 1 R, 3 RBI, 2B, SB
Austin Smith: 2-2, 1 R, 3 RBI, 3B, BB, SB
Owen Halpin: 2-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2B
Ethan Cook: 2-2, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB
Tanner Hibshman: 1-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 SB
Grant Wenger: 1-1, 2 R, 1 RBI, HBP, SB
Zach Martin: 1-1, 1 R, 1 RBI
Brinley Donmoyer: 1-1, 1 RBI
Wyatt Parker: 1-2, 1 RBI, SF

Pitching
Wyatt Parker (W): 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

Tulpehocken Leaders

Grant Gehman: 1-2, 2B
Cody Layser: 1-1, 1 R, 2B
Brady Woll: 0-1, 1 RBI

Pitching
Adam Schaaf (L): 0.0 IP, 3 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
Landen Hoffert: 0.1 IP, 1 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
Connor Servin: 1.2 IP, 8 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 1 K