High School Baseball:
Pemberton Starts Tournament With A Win

Friday, April 30, 1999

By Art Redd
SJSports Staff Writer

The host team started the weekend Minuteman Baseball Tournament off against Pemberton High School Friday afternoon. Williamstown would travel to West Deptford later that evening for the second game of the tournament. The Hornets (5-7) defense held in the late innings to defeat Washington Twp 11-10 to advance to the finals, Saturday at 2:30 PM. Pemberton's Chris Cotton caught a line drive to centerfield and doubled the runner at first to end the Minutemen scoring threat.

Just what every visiting team likes to do is to take the early lead on the road and give their starting pitcher some runs to work with. The Hornets did just that by scoring 3 runs in the top half of the first inning. But playing at home has its advantages. Township's first 2 batters didn't reach base because of outs, but the next 2 made due on their at-bats. Chris Godish reached first on a single and Rob Egan belted a massive 2 run homerun over the centerfield fence. Township sent eight batters to the plate but only scored the two runs on Egan's homer.

With the score now 7-4 through four innings, Pemberton took advantage of bases on balls. Steven Chambers drew a bases loaded walk for the first of four runs to come. Chris Cotton drove in the next run on a fielder's choice. At the end of the top half of the 5th inning, the Hornets had an 11-4 lead.

Daniel Alexander led off the bottom of the inning with a double. Jeff Graham reached base on a walk and Mike Getty singled to load the bases. Up to the plate stepped Chris Godish. With one crack of the bat, the Minutemen were within 3 runs, 11-8, off of Godish's grand slam homerun. Township got a big single in the 6th inning when Graham knocked in two runs to make the score even closer, 11-10.

There have been several games this season were the home team used every at bat to achieve the exciting come from behind victory. T.J. Phelps was called to pitch in relief to try and nail down the victory. Godish started the bottom of the 7th inning with a line drive single up the middle for the Minutemen. Just when things were looking up for them, centerfielder Chris Cotton caught a line drive off of Egan's bat and doubled off Godish at first. Pemberton got out of the inning and advanced to the Championship Game.

Photos by Art Redd