Muhls’ late rally comes up short in season-opener against Barons

Muhlenberg fell behind by five runs, didn’t get its first hit until the seventh inning and still had a chance to beat defending District 3 Class 5A champ Manheim Central in the season opener for both Tuesday at Gochenauer Field.

Shane Rosenberry’s two-out, two-run triple in the seventh pulled the Muhls within a run but the catcher was left stranded there in a 5-4 non-league loss to the Barons.

“Manheim Central is good,” said Muhls coach Brian Kopetsky. “They’ll be one of the best teams we face all year. Their 2, 3, 4 and 5 hitters are as good as anybody’s got, and their lefty is legit.”

Jared Murray started and pitched four shutout innings for the Barons, striking out five; he walked just one.

“He’s 6-3 and throws in the mid 80’s,” Kopetsky said. “He’s a stud.”

Manheim Central scored four times in the fourth to take a 5-0 lead.

Muhlenberg, the defending Berks League champ, scratched across a run in the sixth when Rosenberry walked, was wild-pitched to second, then scored from second on a two-out strikeout/wild pitch.

In the seventh, Muhlenberg’s Luke Kolodziejski walked, advanced on Anthony Cipolla’s infield single and scored on Sean Patton’s RBI single. Cipolla and Patton scored on Rosenberry’s two-out triple down the left-field line.

“I’m happy with the effort,” said Kopetsky. “They didn’t quit; they battled back.”

Right fielder Gio Cavanna kept the Muhls in it with an over-the-shoulder catch that he turned into a double play, saving at least a couple of runs in the first inning, when Manheim took a 1-0 lead.

Muhlenberg is considered Gov. Mifflin’s top challenger for the Berks I title and the league championship.

Manheim Central beat Ephrata 2-1 last year for the District 3 Class 5A championship.