Drive it home: Crosscutters clinch series over Spikes in dominant fashion

Will Binder, left, and Jacob Harper of the Crosscutters celebrate their team’s 12-5 win over State College at Journey Bank Ballpark.
DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

WILLIAMSPORT– On a bright, sunny Sunday afternoon at Bowman Field, the Williamsport Crosscutters came out of the gates swinging, never looking back on their way to their biggest win of the second half so far.

The Cutters logged multiple runs in four separate innings, Porter Brown and Mitch McCabe posted late-game, multi-run homers to help seal the deal and Brent Francisco shined in his Williamsport debut from the mound. In a pivotal Game 3, with the series split against the rival Spikes, the Crosscutters were able to win in dominant fashion, 12-5.

The win marked its first clinched series of the second half, one which saw Billtown start 2-5. With two wins in the last three games, it’s starting to gain momentum at a great time, still less than a fourth through the season.

“Overall, a lot of guys had good days and we played good defense today,” said Crosscutters manager Ryan Hanigan on the win. “Team win all the way around.”

The Cutters kicked off the scoring from the get-go, first taking advantage of three straight walks in the first inning before doing the same in the second.

Mitch McCabe of the Crosscutters celebrates his 8th inning home run against State College at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

A deep grounder from right fielder Mitch McCabe got them on the board as Porter Brown and Mark Shallenberger made their way home without much issue. Then, when they loaded the bases again in the second, McGwire Holbrook and Brown fired off back-to-back singles to add three more runs to their cushion.

“I think we’re kind of starting to relax as hitters and be aggressive on good pitches,” said Hanigan on the offense. “Being aggressive in general, making these guys pay when they make mistakes.”

Francisco impressed immediately, retiring the side in the first and second inning and not allowing a hit until the third, where he retired the side in four. At that point, Francisco had five strikeouts, a number that climbed to nine by the time he was relieved in the sixth.

“It’s good for my morale and team morale,” said Francisco on the outing. “I was expecting to go out there and play my usual game. I’m a strike thrower, and executed that pretty well.”

He played a big role in the team maintaining that early momentum. And with the stout performance, it’s likely that won’t be the last we see of him.

Pitcher Brent Francisco of the Crosscutters makes a diving stop on a ball hit by Cam Bufford of State College in the second inning at Journey Bank Ballpark. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

“Francisco came out, gave us a dominant start,” said Hanigan on Francisco’s performance and early impact on the team. “Kept their hitters off balance and looked really strong. We’re excited about him.”

Williamsport would add an insurance run in the fifth, as catcher Jacob Harper and McCabe each logged a hit before Josh Lopez bat Harper in with a sacrifice fly to centerfield.

And though State College would cut the deficit to three in the following inning, Porter Brown would nail the top of the left field wall for a well-timed grand slam to up its lead to 10-3. Then, McCabe followed him up with a two-run shot in the eighth to put the nail in the already well-secured coffin.

With Jacob James and Drew Clark keeping the Spikes at bay in relief from the mound, they had plenty of breathing room to finish the job.

Brown finished the game going 2 of 3, leading the team in RBIs with five, runs with two (tied with Florides and Cory Taylor) and on-base appearances with four including the homer. McCabe posted his second multi-hit game of the series, going 3 of 5 with four RBIs and a run.

Porter Brown of the Crosscutters singles in the 6th inning against State College at Journey Bank Ballpark.
DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The Crosscutters finished with ten hits, as every player that took to the plate attributed a run.

“These guys are getting hot, guys are getting going,” said Hanigan on the batting. “You start putting some hits together, some hard hit balls at-bat after at-bat and confidence starts building. That’s what we’ve been looking for. Tonight, we got it going.”

With the win, the Crosscutters improved to 4-6 on the season, two wins removed from .500 after previously starting with two wins in their first seven games. In now obtaining its first series win of the season, they receive a big confidence boost moving forward.

Off the heels of its first series win of the second half, Williamsport will resume play on Monday against league-leading Trenton, taking it on in the three-game series. It has a shot to continue climbing up the leaderboard if it can take advantage of this momentum.

“Whole new series, new team. We’ll be ready,” said Hanigan on the upcoming series against Trenton. “We’ll see what happens.”

Game One is set for 6:35 p.m. at Bowman Field.