Mike Mastovich
The Tribune-Democrat
JOHNSTOWN —
In one week’s span, the Johnstown High baseball team transformed from a struggling group to a confident, winning bunch having a lot of fun.
The Trojans used a 15-hit outburst and a complete game from right-hander Nate Nickles to beat host Westmont 10-1 on Wednesday.
It was Johnstown’s second victory of the week. That might not seem like much unless one considers that Johnstown was outscored 30-1 in two setbacks to LHAC powers Richland (14-0) and Somerset
(16-1) a week ago.
“We got killed last week,” veteran Johnstown coach Dee Dee Osborne said. “They stuck a fork in my butt and turned me over.
“You can only beat a dog for so long. These players have got to realize that we’re Johnstown. We’re the hub of the city.
“They’re wearing that label across the chest, and they’re representing the city. We are the Trojans.”
The Trojans (3-3, 2-2 LHAC) were well-represented on Wednesday.
Lead-off batter Gervon Simon went
4-for-5 with a double, two runs and one run batted in. No. 9 hitter Justin Ramsdorfer went 3-for-4 with two runs scored.
In between those two in the lineup: Curtis McClain, whose family recently moved into the district from Texas, had three hits and scored one run; Tyler Boyd and Jerrell Thornton each had two hits; Joey Koshal blasted a two-run homer in the first; and Nolan Eidem had four RBIs, including a two-run single.
“Last week we weren’t playing like a team,” Simon said. “This week we’ve got the chemistry together. We got a transfer from another school. We’re playing together, and we’re all in it together. We have one goal and that’s to win.”
Nickles struck out seven and walked one in a seven-hitter.
“The curve ball and the change-up were working really well today,” Nickles said.
“The biggest thing is we played like a team. We fielded the ball and hit the ball real well. We pitched. We played like a team.”
Johnstown methodically built its lead with a three-run first, two in the second and fourth, and three in the sixth.
“Having that early lead helps so much,” Nickles said. “It makes me want to go out on the field and try 10 times harder.”
Westmont scored an unearned run in the fourth. A.J. Rievel singled, Luke Gindlesperger walked and Dan Price reached on an error. Casey Eckenrod’s sacrifice fly plated Rievel.
“They put the ball in play,” said Hilltop coach Knupp, whose team is 3-3. “They put the ball on the ground. We had six or eight or 10 fly balls. A kid that’s not putting a whole lot on the ball, you’ve got to adjust your swing and get the ball on the ground. We didn’t do a good job of making adjustments at the plate. We were hitting lazy fly balls instead of trying to go the other way, trying to go up the middle or being disciplined at the plate. It cost us.
“We want to win every day,” Knupp said. “At times we’re playing good baseball. At times we’re lackadaisical. This was one of those lackadaisical days.”
