You can strategize all you want. But it all comes back to the fundamentals.
Solid defense. Timely hitting. But most importantly, shut down pitching.
On Thursday night at Elco High School, Fifth Ward rode the lights-out pitching of Lance Marderness to a key 6-0 Lebanon County American Legion baseball victory over Richland. Marderness was on top of his game throughout.
The hard-chucking righthander went the distance to get the win, Marderness scattered five hits, struck out two and issued just a single walk.
With his Lebanon teammates providing solid offensive and defensive support, Marderness worked in and out of trouble in three innings. Over the other four frames, he faced the minimum number of Richland batters.
The triumph was Fifth Ward’s fourth straight and improved its Lebanon County American Legion League record to 4-3. If Fifth Ward continues to get that type of pitching, it figures to challenge for the championship of the local summer baseball circuit.