When the job is tough, and someone has to do it, Hunter Long knows how to get it done right. He is the Annville-Cleona baseball team’s go-to guy.

At the plate, and behind it.

Long was certainly the right man for the job on Monday at home against Lancaster-Lebanon Section Three front-runner Manheim Central. The senior  catcher led the Little Dutchmen to an important 6-2 victory over the Barons.

Long drilled a two-run homer in the bottom of the fifth inning to provide Annville-Cleona with what would prove to be the decisive runs. Long’s drive was key in that it provided an immediate response to the two runs Manheim Central had scored in its previous at-bat to knot the score.

But Long also got it done behind the plate, from his catching position. He called a good game, and generally handled winning pitcher Eli Setlock well.

The result made Long and the Little Dutchmen 7-2 overall and 5-2 in Section Four of the L-L. It also snapped Annville-Cleona’s modest two-game losing skein.

For the week, Long hit .375 with a double and four RBIs. For the season, Long is batting well over .300 with 10 RBIs.

 – Jeff Falk