Nine-run first helps Grim, Mustangs erase early struggle, ease past Barons
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Ethan Grim knew even before he got on the mound Saturday that he didn’t have much in his tool hit. His curveball and changeup weren’t breaking effectively and his fastball was off the mark.
“I knew I didn’t have any pitch,” the Gov. Mifflin right-hander admitted.
It took him an uncharacteristic 32 pitches to navigate the first inning against Manheim Central and he was touched for a pair of runs – a big number for a guy who had allowed just five earned runs run over his first four starts.
Teammate Bryce Detwiler wasn’t overly concerned about seeing his team fall behind or seeing the Mustangs ace struggle.
“I knew our bats were good and we could put up a ton of runs,” the Mustangs shortstop said. “We got punched in the mouth, so we had to punch them back.”
The Mustangs didn’t wait to unload against the Barons, scoring nine runs in the first to build a commanding lead en route to an 11-2 non-league win at Rulon Griffith Field.
The win was the third straight and fifth in six games for the Mustangs (9-2), who helped out their District 3 power rating by knocking off Manheim Central (7-5), a perennial Class 5A contender and just two years removed from a championship.
To be fair the Mustangs didn’t get the best from the Barons, who were playing their fourth game in four days and were unable to use any of their top pitchers.
The Barons also greased the skids in that bat-around, 35-minute first inning with some defensive misplays, only one of which was scored an error.
Center fielder Ky Watson, a Coastal Carolina recruit, dove for Matt Koehler’s liner in the gap; it got past him and three runs scored. Earlier in the inning a fly ball just behind shortstop dropped for a single, the result of the swirling winds, and left fielder Cam Thompson misread a liner that went for extra bases.
Eight different Mifflin players scored in an inning which saw 13 batters come to the plate and ended with the Mustangs up 9-2.
“It was definitely a long inning,” said Detwiler, who prolonged it with a pair of doubles, the second of which brought home two runs. “I don’t think I ever did that in my life. It was kind of cool hitting two doubles and getting the team started.”
Detwiler, who scored three times Saturday out of the leadoff spot, has started off a lot of big innings. The University of Connecticut recruit is now batting .575 with 21 RBIs and 21 runs scored in 11 games.
He’s been the catalyst in a lineup that has produced 9.4 runs per game, second-highest in the Berks League (behind Berks Catholic). The Mustangs have a plus-70 runs differential, easily the best in the league.
“We put up six in the first against Boyertown on Friday,” said Mifflin coach Chris Hole. “Whatever we’re doing, we’re going to try to keep dipping into that magic bucket for a couple more games.”
The nine runs, to say the least, were more than enough for Grim, even when he wasn’t at his best. He got stronger as the game progressed and began throwing more first-pitch strikes but all those deep counts in the first two innings caused him to run up his pitch count; he only made it through 4 2/3 innings.
“I knew I didn’t have my best stuff in the bullpen, (so) I knew I just had to compete and just try my best,” said Grim. “It was the same at Wilson (in a 6-5 loss Monday), I didn’t really have any of my good stuff. I’ve just gotta battle at that point.”
Grim has an explosive fastball that can reach the mid 90’s and he got by with that Saturday, recording most of his eight strikeouts with it.
His velocity has increased 4-5 mph since the end of last season and he’s been getting all kinds of big-time attention. He already has offers from Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh, Connecticut, and Delaware. If he continues to progress he could see offers from Atlantic Coast Conference and Southeast Conference schools, as well.
Grim left after allowing five hits and one walk. He made pitches when he had to and stranded five runners in scoring position.
“We could tell he had good stuff,” said Hole. “He was missing just a bit low, and we want our pitches to be lone in the zone. He wasn’t getting that strike (so) he had to adjust.
“That’s a tough lineup, especially with (Watson) at the top. Overall Ethan did a good job on him, he let up that first-inning single, then he had him popping up, struck him out on some high heat. He navigated a tough lineup. He gave us a quality start after those first couple hiccups, and you really can’t ask more.”
