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Game Recap: Hempfield at Warwick

May 5, 2015

By Mark Chimel
PA Area Scout

A Lancaster Lebanon Section 1 tilt between the section's top two teams and the No. 2 and No. 5 teams in District 3 AAAA looked like a great match-up on paper, but the Hempfield offense erased all doubt as the Black Knights won 14-1 in five innings. Warwick, unable to use injured ace Thomas Elliott who handed Hempfield their lone section loss earlier in the season, turned to 2016 RHP Matt Cover instead. Cover surrendered three singles in the first, but was able to escape with only one run allowed. He surrendered a lone run in the second inning as well as Hempfield moved in front 2-0.  

Jon PetersonAfter Longwood signee, Jon Peterson (right) ended the bottom of the second with a diving catch in left field, the Hempfield offense really caught fire and commanded the game the rest of the way. A three run third inning was highlighted by doubles from Peterson, Derek Manning, and Jonathan Beck. Warwick scored their lone run of the game in the bottom of the inning as Elliott pinch hit and brought in Drew Keller via an error. 

Hempfield then answered back with four more runs in the top of the fourth to put the game virtually out of reach. Warwick reliever Luke Hackman showed some good stuff when he entered the game in the fifth inning, but it was not enough to slow a rolling Black Knight offense as they tacked on five more runs to take a 14-1 lead. The five-run inning was punctuated by a home run off the left field scoreboard for Peterson. Hempfield reliever Andrew Corso then shut the door on the mercy rule victory in the bottom of the fifth. 

The Hempfield offense was paced by huge days from Peterson and Manning who had three hits each and Beck who added two hits. Manning, an unsigned senior, also drove in eight of the fourteen runs. Pitchers Alec Miller and Corso were also solid on the mound for the Black Knights scattering seven hits while allowing no earned runs over the five innings. Miller got the win for the Black Knights, working three innings, striking out two and walking just one. Warwick's Drew Keller was solid in the losing effort, going 2-3 at the plate while scoring the lone run for the Warriors.

Hempfield will look to continue their hold on the top seed in the district as they turn around and face Mid-Penn foe Hershey tonight under the lights. Warwick now slips to third place in the section and will look to rebound in a non-conference match-up against Wyomissing on Wednesday. 

For scouting notes on Miller, Corso, Beck and Hackman see today's Pennsylvania Scout Blog.

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