EAST SULLIVAN – The members of the Sumner High pitching staff know if they throw strikes, the Tigers’ defense will take care of the rest.

Judging from Sumner’s offensive production against John Bapst of Bangor here Monday, the pitchers aren’t hurting for offensive support, either. Sumner slammed Crusader pitching for 15 runs and 12 hits in the first two innings en route to an 18-0 Class B baseball victory in a game shortened to five innings because of the 12-run rule.

John Bapst was the “home” team, because the game was scheduled to be played in Bangor but was moved because of wet field conditions.

Sophomore righthander Micah Richardson pitched a three-hit shutout as Coach Greg Linscott’s Tigers improved to 9-1. Richardson (3-0) struck out three and walked one as Sumner posted its first shutout of the season. He threw just 51 pitches.

“This is the best he’s thrown this year, no question,” Linscott said. “He’s an outstanding kid.”

“The pitchers throw it over the plate and we make the plays,” said Sumner senior Steve Snurkowski. “We’ve got confidence in our defense.”

The Tigers appeared to have offense on their minds early, striking for nine runs and six hits in the first inning off loser Kevin Mahon (2-3). Sumner also put on an impressive display of aggressive baserunning, stealing seven bases in the first inning alone.

Scott Emerton drew a leadoff walk, stole second and third, then scored on a passed ball. One out later, Billy Rayner walked, stole second and rode home on Scott Young’s line single to right field.

Young stole second and came home on Roy Warren’s bloop single to left field. Warren stole second and went to third when Mike Leavitt reached on an error, before Richardson helped his own cause with a hard, two-run single to right.

Richardson swiped second, Mike Bridges walked and Emerton grounded a single through the middle to load the bases. Snurkowski followed with a sharp, two-run single to left and Rayner pounded an RBI single to left to make it 9-0 after one-half inning.

“They did everything I expected them to do,” Linscott said. “If the defense is there and our bats come around, we’re going to beat every team we play.”

Sumner rallied for six runs on six hits against Crusaders reliever Tom Bennett in the second inning. Richardson stroked his second two-run single of the day, while Snurkowski had a two-run single and Rayner a double that knocked in two runs.

Richardson was also a major contributor with the bat, going three-for-three with five RBIs. Emerton had three hits, scored four runs and stole three bases, while Snurkowski knocked in four runs with a pair of hits and scored twice.

Warren went three-for-three, scored three runs and stole three bases, while Rayner added two hits and three RBIs and Young two hits for the Tigers, who finished with 17 base hits.

Sumner hustled its way to 13 stolen bases, keeping the pressure on whenever the Tigers had baserunners. The Tigers committed one error.

Alex Peters tripled for 2-6 John Bapst.

Tigers 18, Crusaders 0

Sumner John Bapst

Name ab r h bi Name ab r h bi

Emerton, cf 4 4 3 1 Mahon, p-3b 3 0

1 0

Graham, cf 1 0 1 1 McManus, ss

2 0 0 0

Snurkowski,ss 4 2 2 4 True, cf

2 0 0 0

a-Dyer 1 0 0 0 Hachey, cf

0 0 0 0

Rayner, c 2 1 2 3 Shannon, 2b 0

0 0 0

Young, 1b 4 1 2 1 McDevitt, 2b

1 0 0 0

Greene, 3b 3 0 0 0 Miragliuolo,c

2 0 0 0

Warren, lf 3 3 3 1 Peters, dh

2 0 1 0

Tracey, lf 1 0 0 0 Bennett, 3b-p

0 0 0 0

Leavitt, 2b 2 2 0 0 Day, lf 1

0 0 0

Potter, 2b 1 0 0 0 DeSanctis, lf

1 0 0 0

Richardson,p 3 2 3 5 C. Haas, 1b

2 0 0 0

b-Reckner 1 0 0 0 T. Haas, rf

0 0 0 0

M. Bridges, rf 2 2 0 0 Millett, rf

2 0 1 0

B. Bridges, rf 1 1 1 0

Totals 33 18 17 16 Totals 18 0

3 0

a-struck out for Snurkowski in the fourth

b-grounded out for Richardson in the fifth

Sumner 961 11

– 18

John Bapst 000 00

– 0

E – Warren; Bennett, Day 2, Shannon, Mahon,

2B – Graham, Rayner, Richardson

3B – Peters

LOB – Sumner 5; John Bapst 4

DP – Leavitt to Young

SB – Emerton 3, Rayner, Young, Greene, Warren 3, Leavitt 2, Richardson, B. Bridges

Pitching Summary

PITCHER IP H R BB

SO

Richardson(W,3-0) 5 3 0 1

3

Mahon (L,2-3) 1 6 9 3

0

Bennett 4 11 9 3

4

WP – Mahon 2, Bennett 2

PB – McManus

TIME -1:25