James Stratico hit a grand slam and Jordan Jankowski struck out 14 as Peters Township reached the WPIAL playoffs with a 10-5 win over Canon-Mac. Details in tomorrow's paper. (Oh, there will be a C-M story coming in the next couple days on winning the section.)
Couple other things. Peters Township has a scary offense. Just ask Mike Toward. I've only seen him pitch twice this season, both against Peters, and he looked shaky both times. He's normally solid, so maybe he's just got a mental block against the Indians (and there's nothing wrong with that, they're a tough team). PT didn't beat opponents down the stretch so much as they pummeled them into submission (78 runs in the final eight games, four times scoring 10+).
Peters' pitching seems to be improving at the right time too. While the offense is busy clicking away, the pitching staff gave up just 24 runs in the last eight games (although 15 came in their one loss) with three shutouts.
The Big Macs' offense isn't too shabby either. Jankowski entered the game with something like a 0.37 ERA and C-M got five across the plate (four were earned). Granted, he struck out a bunch but they also got to him a couple times, including in the seventh, when the Big Macs could've easily folded after the Stratico grand slam.
Not sure what seed Canon-Mac will get in the playoffs but they should still be top three even with the loss. Section 3 was pretty tough to say the least.
I'll probably give blog updates for future games I cover so long as I still have access to this blog (Mike rules with an iron fist) for anyone who may have appreciated my updates earlier. I think that's all for now.
19 comments:
talk about a recovery by pierpont. wow.
He was smoking alright. Struck out 4 straight after getting hit. A HBP ended his recovery though
Matty P sure did hit a shot off JJ...
PT is gonna be a tough draw for someone in the playoffs. They are loaded.
Matty P sure did hit a shot off JJ...
PT is gonna be a tough draw for someone in the playoffs. They are loaded.
Kevin,
You're doing a great job blogging. Some might begin to wonder, Mike who?
Keep up the good work and hope you stick around!
Section 3 should be very well represented in the WPIAL play offs. With all due respect to Mt Lebo, I think CM, BP and Peters are the 3 best teams in the section. Having been through a very tough regular season, all 3 teams are battle tested and should be ready to
wreck havoc in the play offs.
Kevin, I echo the remarks of Monique, keep up the great work.
Mike "Turtle D" Toward is going to be a darn good pitcher before all is said and done. Best curveball in the Wpial. And if that isn't enough how could you not like a kid with that nickname?
I doubt that Kevin will keep having access to the blog if more NHL polls keep appearing on it.
Turtle D?
Actually I haven't had anything to do with the polls on this blog.
Funny you say that though. We joked in the office that I'd turn this into an NHL blog while Mike was gone. I've managed to restrain myself though.
What does the name "Turtle D" mean? The best I can come up with is that he has a shell on defense? If anyone knows the origins behind the name, please inform me. I'd love to know.
I heard the name originated when his friends found out he had a pet turtle named Dee-Dee. This could be rumor though...
I heard the name is in honor of his mom, Denise. Apparently she spent time in the galapagos islands as a teenager and the family's love for turtles was born. Could just be a rumor
Wow, what neat ideas. I actually heard from his sister that the name comes from when he was younger he was afraid of his shadow and would curl up like a turtle. His middle name is Daniel. Rather than Michael Daniel Toward, Turtle Daniel Toward is what his mother would yell when she was mad at him. Sure enough in high school the name was shortened to Turtle D....
I can add that after a game that “Turtle pitched in, the umpire behind the plate stated that in his years of watching baseball, this kid has the best curve ball that he had ever seen. As a sophomore, he chalked up an impressive 3 wins for CM, I can’t wait to see the opponents knees buckle when he is a junior or a senior.
As for where his nickname came from, as a child, he thought the North Carolina Tar Heel mascot looked like a turtle and hence the nickname. And now you have the rest of the story….I think
Was that ump "Diamond Dave"...
Anyhow, the true origin of his nickname stems from his love for the Ninja Turtle movies. Every year since age 6 he has been the Purple One on halloween(Leo). Pitching coach Timmy Mills got wind of this and gave him the nickname.
Chocolate Truffles is the best nickname ever. Apparently a boy on Peters goes by this nickname because when he was a boy he loved those things. His mom and dad made him a deal that any time he hit a homerun he would get a chocolate truffle. To this day he is still hitting homeruns and he owes it all to his favorite snack. Good luck in the playoffs to all of the Peters boys and especially "chocolate truffles"
I thought he was the hamburglar... i guess he loves both.
Hamburglar? Haha! Isn't that the guy from the McDonald's playground? Brian I'm not sure where you come up with these but you are pure hilarity lol.
I can just imagine how much the fans in the MAC are going to get on the hamburglar next year when they learn of his nickname.
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