Baseball: Strohecker’s Late Three-Run Blast Lifts Palmyra Past Lower Dauphin in 4A Showdown

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On Monday, the top two Class 4A teams in District 3 squared off, with Palmyra looking to wrest the No. 1 spot away from Lower Dauphin and complete a season sweep of its Keystone Division rival.

The Cougars found their answer late.

Trailing by a run in the bottom of the 6th, Adam Strohecker delivered the swing of the night, launching a three-run home run to left field to lift Palmyra to a 4-2 win over Lower Dauphin.

Lower Dauphin opened the scoring in the 3rd when Ryan Ulrich doubled to bring home the game’s first run. Palmyra answered in the bottom of the 4th, tying the game at 1-1 before the Falcons moved back in front with another run in the 5th.

That lead held until the bottom of the 6th. Ezra Good and Nolan Bown each reached ahead of Strohecker, who came through from the No. 7 spot in the order with the biggest hit of the game. His three-run blast turned a 2-1 deficit into a 4-2 Palmyra lead.

From there, Aidan Willard finished the job on the mound. After entering in relief, Willard threw 3.0 hitless innings, allowing no runs while striking out 3. He worked around 6 walks but kept Lower Dauphin from adding on, earning the win in a matchup with major District 3 implications.

Matthew Eldridge started for Palmyra and gave the Cougars 4.0 innings, allowing 7 hits and 2 runs while striking out 2 and walking none.

Offensively, Strohecker led Palmyra with 3 RBI, while Good, Bown, Joey White, Strohecker, and Jesse Willi each had one hit. Willard also added pressure on the bases with 2 stolen bases.

For Lower Dauphin, Evan Ketty went 2-for-2 to lead the offense. Ulrich doubled and drove in a run, while Colin Shaffer also had an RBI. The Falcons showed patience at the plate with 6 walks and stole 5 bases, with Braedyn Danner stealing 2.

With the win, Palmyra (15-1) is now in control of its own destiny with 4 games left in the regular season. The Cougars will be back in action Wednesday at CD East.

Palmyra 4, Lower Dauphin 2

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Palmyra Leaders

Adam Strohecker: 1-3, R, 3 RBI, HR
Ezra Good: 1-2, R, 2B, BB
Nolan Bown: 1-2, R, 2B
Joey White: 1-3, RBI
Jesse Willi: 1-2, BB
Aidan Willard: 2 SB

Pitching
Aidan Willard (W): 3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 6 BB, 3 K
Matthew Eldridge: 4.0 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K

Lower Dauphin Leaders

Evan Ketty: 2-2
Ryan Ulrich: 1-3, RBI, 2B, BB, SB
Max Hoopes: 1-3, R, 2B, BB
Chase Dehart: 1-4, SB
Braedyn Danner: 1-4, R, SB
Gavin Westerberg: 1-2, 2 BB
Colin Shaffer: RBI

Pitching
Colin Shaffer: 4.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
Braedyn Danner: 2.0 IP, 2 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K

Full Box Score