CRUSADERS ROUT BRANDYWINE HEIGHTS 15-5, WIN FIRST BASEBALL TITLE
Harold Zeigler was in Hershey on Thursday for the District 3 Double-A baseball title game, won in dominating fashion by Lancaster Catholic — giving the L-L League a pair of district baseball champs (Warwick won in Quad-A). Here’s Zig’s story from Friday’s New Era:
HERSHEY — Thursday was a beautiful day in Mr. Jankowski’s neighborhood.
How could it not be?
Junior centerfielder Travis “Freddy’’ Jankowski led Lancaster Catholic to its first District 3 baseball title, smacking a three-run home run in the fourth inning to snap a 5-5 tie and propel the Crusaders to a 15-5, six-inning mercy-rule romp over Brandywine Heights at Hershey High School.
Jankowski went 2-for-4 with five RBIs and scored two runs.
Beautiful, indeed.
“It feels great,’’ he said simply.
Catholic won Section 4 of the Lancaster-Lebanon League but was beaten by Ephrata in the league quarterfinals. It then won three straight games in the District 3 Double-A playoffs.
The Crusaders will take a 17-6 record and three-game winning streak into States on Monday, when they open against New Hope, the District 1 champion, at a site and time to be determined.
New Hope knocked off St. Piux X 10-5 in the District 1 final Thursday.
Catholic, meanwhile, hadn’t been in a district title game since losing to Oley Valley in 1989.
“We told these kids at the beginning of the year we’ve been a great football powerhouse (and) girls’ basketball, but baseball’s never really done anything,’’ Catholic first-year coach Mike Davis said.
“These kids took it as a personal affront. They said, ‘We’re going to change that.’’’
Jankowski was a speedy wide receiver on Catholic’s football team last fall. His progression as an athlete paralleled the progression of his nickname, which began as a child when he was obsessed with Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers fame.
“When I was young, my older brother (Tyler) used to make fun of me for watching Fred Rogers every day,’’ Jankowski recalled. “He’d make fun of me and I used to hate it, but it just (evolved).
“Teachers even call me that today.’’
Catholic trailed 3-0 after 2 1/2 innings and 5-2 after 3 1/2. The Crusaders rallied to tie it in the fourth on a walk, Steve Remley’s RBI double, E.J. Harley’s RBI single, and an RBI double by Ryan Clark.
When Evan Montgomery was hit by a pitch, Jankowski came to the plate with two outs and two on. In the dugout, Davis heard reserve player Kevin Gibbons predict, “Freddy’s going yard, Freddy’s going yard.’’
On a 1-0 pitch from Garrett Zroman, Jankowski did just that, depositing the ball over the right-centerfield fence.
“I was up 1-0 so I was thinking fastball the entire time,’’ Jankowski said. “I just saw it and I hit it.’’
“He gets up there and bangs one out of here and (the dugout) went wild,’’ Davis said. “Gibby called it. And when something like that happens, wow, they just poured it on after that.’’
Catholic added three in the fifth — one on a solo homer by Tim Jones — and four in the sixth. Remley’s walk-off, three-run triple forced the mercy rule.
“They’re fighters,’’ said Davis, impressed that his team twice rallied from three runs down. “We don’t feel we’re ever out of any game.’’
“There was no doubt,’’ Jankowski said. “We always fight back.’’
This was a championship game in name only, not in quality.
Both teams made five errors, and Catholic sophomore shortstop Kevin Cotchen made three of them. There were also numerous mental mistakes and questionable baserunning.
Kyle Stoudt, who started and took the loss for Brandywine Heights, went 4-for-4 with three RBIs at the plate.
Montgomery went 3-for-3 for Catholic, while Harley got the win in relief with 2 2/3 innings of two-hit ball.
“The hallmark of this team has been solid defense, good pitching and small ball,’’ Davis said. “That’s just uncharacteristic that we played that poorly.’’
“It doesn’t matter,’’ Jankowski said.
It also doesn’t matter that the Crusaders did nothing in the L-L League playoffs.
“I’d say (this) makes up for it,’’ Jankowski said. “Leagues are tough to win, but Districts are a little better.’’
NOTES: Jankowski leads the team in batting average (.438), runs scored (23), and RBIs (18). … Harley, who improved his record to 3-1, had given up 20 hits in 132-e innings prior to yesterday. … Brandywine Heights’ record falls to 16-6.
