Baseball: ELCO Snaps Skid with Home Win Over Lebanon

ELCO Snaps Skid with Home Win Over Lebanon

After dropping its last three games, including two extra-inning contests, ELCO was back home on Monday looking to reset. Across the diamond was a Lebanon team still searching for its first breakthrough after being held scoreless in its first two games. Any concern about tired legs on the Raiders’ side disappeared quickly, as ELCO erupted for seven runs in the 1st inning and went on to a 12-2 win over the Cedars in a game that was cut short after five innings by the ten-run rule. The matchup was also broadcast as part of the LebCo Sports Live Series.

The Raiders wasted little time taking control. In the bottom of the 1st, Braden Gettle brought home a run on a groundout, while a pair of Lebanon errors also helped ELCO build momentum. Wyatt Parker added an RBI double, Grant Wenger drew a bases-loaded walk, Tanner Hibshman lined an RBI single, and Tyce Boyer followed with another run-scoring walk as the Raiders sent a message right away.

ELCO added on in the 2nd when Parker, a Lebanon transfer who joined the Raiders at the beginning of the school year, launched a solo home run to left field. The Raiders kept the pressure on in the 3rd as Austin Smith delivered a sacrifice fly and Isaac Tanger singled to left to bring home two more runs.

Lebanon got on the board in the top of the 2nd, then ELCO answered again in the bottom of the 4th. Zach Martin came home on a passed ball to make it 11-1 and keep the Raiders comfortably in front.

That set the stage for the 5th, where Lebanon showed some life. Diego Serrano connected on a solo homer to right field in the top half of the inning, but the Cedars could not keep the game going.

In the bottom of the 5th, ELCO pushed across the deciding run when Parker came around to score as the Raiders closed out the ten-run-rule victory.

On the mound, Parker worked all five innings to earn the win, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out eight and walking four. ELCO also backed him with a clean defensive effort, finishing the game without an error. Tangerhandled the most chances in the field with seven.

At the plate, Hibshman set the tone from the leadoff spot, going 3-for-4 to lead the Raiders. ELCO showed patience throughout the lineup, drawing eight walks as a team. Boyer and Wenger each worked two free passes as the Raiders consistently applied pressure.

For Lebanon, Serrano, Nyzaiah Rojas, Ryant Rivera, and Luis Reyes each collected a hit. Serrano and Reyes each drove in a run for the Cedars, who continued to battle despite ELCO’s fast start.

Serrano took the loss for Lebanon after working the opening two-thirds of an inning. The Cedars cycled through several arms the rest of the way, but ELCO’s early surge proved too much to overcome.

ELCO (2-3) will look to keep things rolling when it hosts Cocalico on Wednesday. Lebanon (0-3) is set to travel to Warwick on Wednesday.