On This Date (June 12, 2001): Lehighton routs WE
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Since May of 1999, the Times News Sports Department has featured an On This Date practically every day, highlighting an event that happened in the past. With the coronavirus putting a halt to sports locally and nationally, the On This Dates have been expanded to the stories that actually ran in the next day’s newspaper. Today’s On This Date story is from June 12, 2001).
By Julie Anne Halenar
The Lehighton Legion team had 17 hits in five innings to win 15-2 over West End on Tuesday.
Every starter contributed at least one hit for Lehighton in the game at Allen field as it improved its record to 3-2.
Ryan Snyder sealed the win with a grand slam in the fifth inning.
“It was a 1-2 pitch,” Snyder said. “I was trying for a single. I didn’t think it was going that far.”
Lehighton scored five runs during the fifth inning. Chad Serfass led off with a double, while Ryan Smith walked. Serfass and Smith advanced when West End pitcher Josh Cunningham balked.
Matt Long and Rich Evanko were both walked.
West End brought in Gary Heffelfinger to pitch to Snyder. On the fourth pitch, Snyder flew the ball over the fence.
Snyder, Lehighton’s catcher, finished the game 3-for-4 with 5 RBIs.
“From the start of the game, you could see that we came to hit today,” Coach Chris West said.
Three runs were scored in the first inning by a double by Long, who was 2-for-4, and singles by Snyder and Matt Davis.
In the third inning, Nick Pope scored off a triple hit by pitcher Dedan Brozino.
Brozino scored a play later from a single hit by Trevor Krisak.
Jake Tarr and Smith began the fourth inning with singles. Long hit a triple to deep center field to bring in Tarr and Smith. Pope followed with an RBI single, and Snyder hit a double. Davis, 2-for-4 for the day, knocked in two runners with a single to bring the score to 10-1.
Brozino (2-0) threw a six-hitter and credits his team for the win.
“I let my team help me out,” he said. “I felt relaxed out there. It was just a good day for us.”
Coach West said, “He had a great start and great control. We were solid all the way around.”
Lehighton will play away against Lower Macungie on Thursday.
Lehighton 302 55 - 15 17 1
West End 100 01 - 2 6 0
Brozino and Snyder; Behler, Heffelfinger (4), Cunningham (5), Heffelfinger (5) and Mink. W - Brozino. L - Behler. HR: Lehighton - Snyder (5th, three on).