Baseball: Palmyra Outlasts Lower Dauphin, Finishes Off 13-Inning Battle to Stay Unbeaten

If you like this type of coverage, please let us know by Following us on social media: Twitter/X – @lebcosports1 and Facebook.

For any questions, comments, or discrepancies, please reach out to dan@lebcosports.com.

Palmyra Outlasts Lower Dauphin, Finishes Off 13-Inning Battle to Stay Unbeaten

On Wednesday, Palmyra and Lower Dauphin locked horns and pushed a 2-2 tie into the 9th inning when darkness forced the Cougars to contact their travel agents for a return trip to Hummelstown on Thursday. When the two teams picked things back up, the weather conditions had changed and added another layer of difficulty to an already grueling battle. But in the end, Palmyra found the big inning it had been searching for and turned a marathon into a 9-4 victory.

The Cougars broke through first in the top of the 3rd when Adam Strohecker singled home a run to give Palmyra a 1-0 lead.

Lower Dauphin answered in the bottom of the 4th, tying the game when Max Hoopes brought home a run on a groundout. The Falcons then moved in front in the 5th, as Hunter Strohm doubled in a run to make it 2-1.

Palmyra did not let that stand for long. In the top of the 7th, Strohecker again helped produce the tying run, this time by reaching on a fielder’s choice that made it 2-2. From there, both teams traded chances but could not break through as the game stretched inning after inning.

When the decisive moment finally came, it came all at once.

In the top of the 13th, the Cougars erupted for 7 runs on 5 hits to blow the game open. Aidan Willard, who had already shown a patient approach all day by drawing 4 walks, delivered the biggest swing of the game with a 2-run homer to center. The Cougars kept the line moving around him, turning a tense pitcher’s duel into a sudden multi-run cushion.

That huge frame backed another strong all-around team effort. Julian Meley and Jesse Willi each collected 2 hits, while Strohecker, Matthew Eldridge, and Willard each drove in 2 runs. Palmyra finished with 13 hits, drew 9 walks, and continued to pressure Lower Dauphin on the bases with 4 stolen bases. Willard swiped 2 of them, and the Cougars also turned a double play in the field.

On the mound, Palmyra pieced together an impressive collective effort over 13 innings. Chuck Gnall started and gave the Cougars 3 scoreless innings, allowing just 2 hits while striking out 2. Max Woodley, Eldridge, Willard, and Nate Holtall followed in relief, with Eldridge earning the win after working 4 innings and allowing 2 runs while striking out 5. Willard and Holt helped slam the door late as Lower Dauphin could not recover from Palmyra’s 13th-inning outburst.

Lower Dauphin piled up 16 hits in the loss, with Chase Dehart leading the way from the 9 spot by going 4-for-6. Strohm, Ryan Ulrich, and Gavin Westerberg each drove in a run, while Braedyn Danner and Evan Ketty also collected multiple hits.

Palmyra is now 8-0. They will look to add to their win total when they host CD East on Tuesday.

Palmyra 7, Lower Dauphin 2

Palmyra Leaders

Julian Meley: 2-7, R, RBI
Aidan Willard: 1-3, 3 R, 2 RBI, 4 BB, HR, 2 SB
Ezra Good: 1-5, R, 2 BB
Adam Strohecker: 1-6, 2 RBI, BB
Jesse Willi: 2-7, RBI, 2B
Luke Risser: 1-0, R
Joey White: 1-4, R, BB, SB
Matthew Eldridge: 1-5, 2 RBI, BB, 2B, HBP
Anthony Pinko: 1-3, BB, SB
Logan Kriner: 1-3, R, 2B
Nolan Bown: 1-4, RBI, 2B, HBP

Palmyra Pitching
Chuck Gnall: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
Max Woodley: 2.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
Matthew Eldridge: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Aidan Willard: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
Nate Holt: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 1 K

Lower Dauphin Leaders

Braedyn Danner: 2-7, R
Hunter Strohm: 2-4, RBI, 2B, 2 BB, 2 SB
Ryan Ulrich: 1-7, RBI
Gavin Westerberg: 2-6, R, RBI
Evan Ketty: 2-6
Max Hoopes: 1-5, 2B, BB
Chase Dehart: 4-6, R
Tyler Newman: R

Lower Dauphin Pitching
Ryan Ulrich: 3.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 1 K
Max Hoopes: 3.1 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Braedyn Danner: 3.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K
Gavin Westerberg: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 1 K

Last Game: Palmyra Erupts Late to Finish Off Carlisle Early, Now 7-0