Exeter rally makes Senior Day one to remember

Brady Hannahoe and Luke Weller made Senior Day at Exeter one to remember Monday as they came up with key hits to lead the Eagles back from a six-run deficit and to an 11-7 win over Central Dauphin, the top-ranked Class 6A team in District 3.

The Eagles (9-4) trailed 6-0 after two innings and 7-4 in the sixth before scoring seven times in the sixth inning to top the visiting Rams (9-2).

“The kids are resilient,” said Eagles coach Justin Freese. “They kept scratching, kept plugging away. This group, they just don’t give up. Down 6-0 after two, against the No. 1 seed in 6A, they could’ve easily rolled over. We were able to scratch a run or two across, and then we got our opportunity. That last inning, the seniors came up big.”

After three straight walks to open the sixth, Hannahoe delivered an RBI single to cut Central Dauphin’s lead to 7-5. One out later Weller cleared the bases with a three-run triple to give Exeter its first lead at 8-7.

Alex Kelsey’s fielder’s choice scored Weller and Evan Franek followed with a two-run single.

The win was a big one for the Eagles — and for Berks I.

Central Dauphin’s loss, combined with Gov. Mifflin’s win over unbeaten Muhlenberg, shook up the Class 6A power ratings. The Mustangs moved up two spots to No. 1; the Rams slipped three spots to No. 4. The power ratings are unofficial and do not reflect all of Monday’s outcomes.

The Eagles were No. 9 in Class 5A last week, fighting for a first-round home game, which will go to the eight highest-ranked teams. A 3-1 loss Friday to a 2-7 Conrad Weiser team dropped Exeter several spots in the rankings. The big win over Central Dauphin will give them a boost.

“We needed a signature win to re-solidify that power ranking,” Freese said. “Today we got that win.”

The Eagles got a big effort from sophomore Gavin Marr, who pitched four innings of relief to earn the win. He allowed one hit and one run and gave his team a chance to come back.

Senior Mike Greenawalt pitched a perfect seventh for the save.

The Eagles got nine hits, all from seniors: Hannahoe had three hits, to go with two RBIs and two runs scored; Weller had two hits, scored twice and drove in four; Nick Sydor had two hits and two RBIs; and Franek had two hits, two RBIs and two stolen bases.

Exeter was able to knock out Nate Payne, one of Central Dauphin’s top pitchers, in the fifth inning.

The Eagles are in third place in Berks I, behind Mifflin and Wilson, and are in position to qualify for both the Berks and District 3 playoffs. They have some key league games coming up, Friday at Muhlenberg, the Berks II leader, and next Monday at Wilson.

“To beat the 6A (No.) 1 seed, it just gives our guys a lot of confidence to say we can play with anybody if we play to our capabilities,” Freese said.