He was supposed to be a fill-in, an innings eater. But the way Mitch Long had it figured, if he was going to take the mound, he might as well pitch his heart out.

This week, the Annville-Cleona baseball team won two games. And Long was the Little Dutchmen’s winning pitcher in each win..

On Friday afternoon at Lyle Krall Field in Myerstown, Long pitched Annville-Cleona to a 12-0 five-inning, mercy-rule triumph over Elco. The sophomore southpaw was certainly on top of his game, limiting the Raiders’ potent attack to three hits, striking out two and walking one.

On Tuesday afternoon at home, Long had pitched five solid innings to earn the win in a 10-8 victory over Lebanon High. Long fanned seven Cedars and walked four.

But not only does Long know what to do with a ball in his hand, he also knows what to do when he steps into the batter’s box. In four games this week, Long slashed at a .357 clip, scored seven runs and drove in six other runs, with a double and a triple.

It was those types of performances which has the Little Dutchmen competing for a Lancaster-Lebanon Section Four crown and a District Three Class AA playoff berth.

– Jeff Falk