PINE GROVE – There was an about face taken by Lansford Sunday.

For the most part, it was a good omen.

But unfortunately, there weren’t enough sparks produced by Lansford to avoid a 6-5 loss to Pine Grove in a Schuylkill County Teener League Senior Division matchup.

Lansford dropped a 17-5 setback late last week to Pine Grove, and had to figure out a way to stay with the league contender.

The offense did its part, and the team received a big lift from starting pitcher Trent McAndrew, who went four full innings and faced one batter in the fifth before leaving with a twinge in his back.

McAndrew, however, suffered the loss, allowing only three earned runs, as several errors in a three-run fourth inning swung the momentum.

“Trent felt something happen on a pitch in the fourth, and he just didn’t seem right when he started the fifth,” said Lansford head coach Tim Goida.

“This was a great effort. We got beat by them last week, and to come out and give us the effort they did was an encouraging sign.”

Lansford engineered a run in the second, one in the third and three in the fifth.

The first rally saw AJ Jewells set the tone with a walk, which was followed by Aiden Rohrbach’s bunt single. That set the table for Drew Kokinda, who delivered an RBI single to put his team in front, 1-0.

Pine Grove quickly answered with a pair of rallies, the first producing two runs on three hits. Ty Drumheller singled home Hunter McCarroll, who also singled, and Garrett Brandt tripled in Drumheller, all with one out.

McAndrew settled down to wiggle out of trouble with a strikeout and a fly out.

Lansford answered with a tying run when Tyler Black blasted a double, and eventually came around to score on a Matt Engler single.

However, the Cardinals posted a three-run rally in the fourth when Quinn Brommer and Lance Lehman singled. A throwing error on a bunt allowed the runners to scurry home, and a wild pitch sent the home club in front 5-2.

There was still enough to kick-start Lansford’s engine in the fifth, with a three-run rally of its own to forge a 5-5 tie.

Brennan Kunkel singled and stole second, before Kokinda singled. With one out, Brain Bender picked up an RBI on a groundout. There were two outs when Hayden Goida delivered a clutch two-out single to tie the game.

The home club regrouped to score the game-winner in the fifth. Brent Andrews set the table with a walk, before a throwing error sent Andrews home with the eventual game-winner.

TOUGH LUCK LOSS

… McAndrew threw a strong four innings before leaving with his back problem. On the flip-side, Pine Grove pulled up a 13-year-old Wyatt Miller, who was on the “B” team. The eighth-grade student was very impressive.

BY THE NUMBERS

… McAndrew allowed six hits, walked three and struck out four. Miller went five innings, allowing five earned runs, seven hits with two walks and nine strikeouts.

HIT PARADE

… Lansford was led by Kokinda’s two hits. Goida and Black had doubles, while Engler, Rohrbach and Kunkle all added singles.

Lansford 010 120 0 - 5 7 2

Pine Grove 002 310 x - 6 8 0

McAndrew, Black (5) and Goida; Miller, Brandt (6) and Andrews. W - Miller. L - McAndrew.