Dominant pitching, timely hitting, and solid defense wins baseball games.

And Jim Thorpe had the full trifecta in Monday’s 8-1 win over Emmaus in the first round of the Lehigh Valley Connie Mack playoffs.

Jared Marykwas set the tone for the winners by striking out the first two hitters he faced. In five innings, the big right-hander allowed just two hits with one walk while ringing up nine strikeouts. His no hitter was broken up in the top of the fifth with two consecutive Emmaus singles.

Coach Pat Joyce was obviously pleased with his starter’s performance.

“Jared pounded the zone every inning. He was a real magician on the mound for us using his arsenal of fastballs and breaking pitches,” said Joyce. “Nine strikeouts and just two hits certainly gave our team a great chance to win the game.”

Jim Thorpe wasted no time to put a couple of runs up on the board. Lead off hitter Garrett Leinhard worked a full count walk in the home half of the first. He moved to second on a passed ball and then stole third base. After Jared Joyce walked to put runners on the corners, Ian Hubbard hit into a force play at second with Leinhard scoring. Marykwas then singled to right, and an infield error scored Hubbard with the second run, and that’s all Thorpe would need.

A six running third inning helped JT jump out to an 8-0 lead. Two straight walks and a pop single to center by Hubbard loaded the bases with no outs. Marykwas walked in a run and after Emmaus pitcher Austin Schaffer fanned the next two hitters, D.J. Richebacher lined a two-strike single to center, driving in two more runs. An infield hit by Michael Cadugan–Daugherty and Nate Sampel‘s two run single to right finished the scoring for Jim Thorpe.

There have been different contributors in each game of JT’s successful run at the end of the regular season, and Joyce is looking forward to the next playoff opponent.

“We are finding different ways to win games,” he said.” We took advantage of their 10 walks tonight. We tell our players to step into the box with a plan as to where you want the pitch to be for their best swings. We worked a lot of deep counts in the game, too.”

Observing the opposing pitcher’s selection of pitches on specific ball and strike counts has helped JT’s hitters’ approaches as well.

“We noticed their starter liked to throw his curve on 2-1 counts, and he was having trouble controlling his fastball,” added Joyce.

Emmaus scratched across its lone run in the fifth when Christopher Carter scored from third on a caught stealing throw to second by Hubbard.

Sampel relieved Marykwas in the sixth, and hurled two scoreless innings, allowing just one base hit.

Joyce likes the focus his team has brought to the field.

“We are a pretty confident team right now and it’s the best time to peak when you’re in the playoffs.”

Jim Thorpe will play Southern Lehigh at Southern Lehigh on Wednesday in the quarterfinals.

ALL STAR STILL SHINING

... Jim Thorpe’s Richebacher, who had two hits, three RBIs, and pitched a successful final inning in the Connie Mack All Star game last week, was on base three times with two walks and a two RBI single against Emmaus.

K FACTORY

... Marykwas and Sampel combined for a three-hitter and 12 strikeouts while walking just three. Half of the Ks were called third strikes, and both pitchers were consistently ahead in the counts for the entire game.

Emmaus 000 0100 1 3 1

Jim Thorpe 206 0000 8 6 0

Schaffer, Cook, (3), Deshenes (3) and Cook, Beidler. Marykwas, Sampel (6), and Hubbard. WP: Marykwas. LP: Shaffer.