LLWEYLEN – The Lansford Krajcirik Growlers put their best foot forward early Tuesday against Minersville-Branch Township in what could be called a late-season showdown in the Schuylkill County Teener League Junior Division.

Trying to jockey themselves for a high seed in the postseason, the Growlers (12-3) looked every bit the contender for a title shot, laying a big hurt on the Miners with an impressive 16-6 rout.

The win propels the first-year league entrant into third place among the 18 teams, though it still trails the top dog Hegins (15-0) and second-place Williams Valley (12-2) as the regular season slowly comes to a finish.

“I really thought we hit the ball well, maybe we didn’t get the (overall) pitching, but as a whole we played a pretty solid game,” said Lansford manager Tim Goida. The win dealt the Miners (11-3) only their third loss of the season.

“This is far from over,” continued Goida. “I mean, we are still going to (probably) play them again in the playoffs. We just had a good night and they didn’t seem to have it all together.”

Stephen Hood put a quick charge into the Growlers attack with a booming double that plated Chris Weaver, Hayden Goida and Cody Orsulak for three runs. Brad Hood, brother of Stephen, singled in the fourth run of the rally to open the game.

Krajcirik quickly countered the home club’s two-run rally in the home first. Lansford proceeded to build an impressive lead by scoring runs in every inning.

The winners pushed a run home in the second on a Weaver RBI single, and scored three in the third by taking advantage of two errors, an Orsulak double, and singles by Mike Pascoe and Tyler Black.

In the fourth, the Growlers strung together another double by Orsulak and singles off the bat of Goida and Michael Pascoe.

When Krajcirik went on top 12-1, they nearly pulled the plug on a five-inning, 10-run mercy rule, but the Miners found a way to answer and keep the game alive with a five-run rally to engage the game to the seventh.

By that time, coach Goida had shifted his players and used his whole bench. He also turned the ball over to two more pitchers.

Lansford would add a solo run in the sixth and plated three more in the seventh to set the final count.

GETTNG IT DONE … Five Lansford players had multi-hit days, with Goida having two singles and a triple to lead the pack. Orsulak doubled twice, while Stephen Hood collected a double and a triple. Pascoe and Weaver each had two singles. Chipping in with singles were Alex Woodword, Eddie Evans, Black and Brad Hood. Stephen Hood finished with four RBIs, with Goida and Pascoe each adding two.

FIRST TIME IN … Goida loves the move to the Schuylkill Teener League. “These are the teams our kids will compete against in high school. And it’s a much tougher league than the previous league we were in.”

THE LOSSES … Krajcirik’s three losses this season are to front-runner Hegins, second-lace Williams Valley and Frackville (8-7).

Lansford 413 311 3 - 16 17 5

Branch 200 040 0 - 6 9 5

S. Hood, Rorbach (4), B. Hood (5) and Goida; Polinsky, Steppa (6) and Rizzardi (7) and Schultz. W - Rorbach. L - Polinsky.