Henderson wins contentious game
Daily Local News - May 2, 2002 by Peter DiGiovanni

WEST CHESTER -- It really felt like baseball at Bob Owens Field on Thursday.

The sun was shining, the warm breezes were wafting through the Chester County air and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The stage was set for a serene day at the ballpark.

But settings can be deceiving.

By the end of the West Chester Henderson and Coatesville high school game, the mood had definitely changed.

In a game marked by much contention over the umpiring, West Chester Henderson (2-4 Ches-Mont, 6-5 overall) defeated the Red Raiders 10-7.

The fun broke out in the top of the sixth inning with Henderson holding a 5-1 lead.

The Warriors had scored four runs off Red Raiders starter Mark Yearsley in the bottom of the fifth to break a 1-1 tie.

The Warriors tallied those four runs on two hits in the inning.

But the Red Raiders (3-3, 6-8) did not die there. An error by Henderson shortstop Greg Kullman started the Red Raider uprising.

The next batter, Joel Giuseppe, promptly drove a Nick Jones fastball over the left field fence, cutting the lead to 5-3.

Jones, a junior, who had held the Red Raiders to two hits to that point in his first Ches-Mont League start, was done after the home run.

"We had some unforeseen injuries this week and I told two guys to be ready," Henderson coach Luke McNichol said.

"Today I told (Nick) Jones he was getting the ball and he did a heck of a job in his first Ches-Mont game."

Matt McGreevy came in to protect the lead and loaded the bases.

Then Matt Jamison grounded to shortstop Greg Kullman, who wheeled, and fired to second base.

Chad Walton came steaming toward second and made contact with second baseman John Roberts.

Roberts throw went wide to first, allowing two Red Raiders to score and giving Coatesville a 7-5 lead.

McNichol argued vehemently for an interference call, but the play stood.

"The runner did make contact with our player but the umpire did not think there was any intent so that is all I want to say about that."

This was only a prelude to more conflict with the umpires in the bottom of the sixth.

Coatesville reliever Jeff Shumate entered the game to start the sixth.

Roberts greeted him with a sharp single to left. Greg Kullman followed with a walk, while the Coatesville bench screamed at numerous ball and strike calls.

John Connor doubled to tie the game, sending Shumate out of the game and bringing Yearsley back into pitch after throwing 90 pitches already.

"We didn’t have time to get the other guy warmed up," Coatesville coach Hal Ziegler said.

"Shumate (Jeff) did not have anything today so that is why Mark went back in."

Henderson seemed to smell blood now. Mike McCardell was intentionally walked and after Steve Orendorf plated a run on a fielders choice, pinch hitter Bret Shapot came to the plate.

More yelling from the Coatesville bench followed as Shapot worked the count to 2-2.

The lefty then stroked a shot to center that got by a diving Kyle Walker for a triple and the Warriors came back to take a very important, if not pretty, Ches-Mont win.

"I mean it is a shame the umpires have so much of an impact on an important game like this," a clearly agitated Ziegler said.

"The game should be about the players."