JOHNSTOWN —
If pitching is the key to winning the AAABA tournament, then Philadelphia Bandits manager Mike Gossner had to be happy on Monday.
Right-hander Kyle Mullen did not allow a run in eight against Altoona, striking out nine and allowing just four hits in a 6-1 victory over Johnston Realty.
“Kyle actually has been doing that all year for us,” Gossner said. “Every time he goes out there, we know that we are going to get six, seven, or eight innings out of him. He didn’t want to come out (in the ninth inning).”
The Bandits won the Altoona Regional last week and came into the national tournament with a considerable amount of momentum.
“We do (feel confident),” Gossner said. “I have been up here a lot of years, so I just try to keep our guys level. I hate to say this cliche, but take it one game at a time.”
Last week, the Bandits embarrassed Altoona with a 12-0 game that ended early because of the 10-run mercy rule. That was not the case Monday as manager Mel Curtis’ youthful squad showed some promise.
The game was scoreless through two innings as Altoona right-hander Andy Lytle shut the Bandits down through two innings. In the third, Lytle walked Brandon Norton and then hit Sean Coyle with a pitch.
Dillion Moyer followed with a perfect bunt that he legged out for a base hit, loading the bases with one out.
Bandits’ designated hitter Nick Ferdinand then lofted a sacrifice fly to center to score Norton. On the throw to the plate, the ball went out of play, allowing Coyle to score for a 2-0 advantage.
“I thought Lytle pitched a phenomenal game,” Curtis said.
“To be down 2-0 and have a one-hitter going – the bunt was the first hit of the game.”
Lytle allowed seven hits and four runs over five innings, striking out two and walking two.
The Bandits scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 4-0 advantage.
Curtis was pleased with his team’s improvement from last week, but the Johnston squad could not get timely hits off Mullen.
“We played better today, but we just didn’t hit,” Curtis said.
“We had six hits, but (the Philadelphia pitchers) had something like 12 strikeouts. We couldn’t get the key hit to get the guy in from second or third.”
Altoona stranded eight runners in the game.
The Bandits scored single runs in the seventh and eighth innings against reliever Christian Muth.
Mullen by relieved Joe Harvey after eight innings, and he quickly got two strikeouts. However, Harvey then issued two walks, followed by a double from Altoona third baseman Andy Glass down the left-field line, scoring Nick Eversole for Altoona’s only run of the game.
Philadelphia had five players with multiple hits in the 13-hit attack: Norton, Stephen Sulcoski, Chris Branigan, Steve Shelinsky and Moyer each had two hits.
Glass led the Altoona offense with a 2-for-4 effort.
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Mullen, Philly stifle Altoona
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