{"id":14987,"date":"2015-05-28T04:16:25","date_gmt":"2015-05-28T04:16:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/independentweekender.com\/?p=14987"},"modified":"2015-05-28T04:19:36","modified_gmt":"2015-05-28T04:19:36","slug":"decker-tosses-gem-as-blue-ridge-grabs-class-a-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenstreetdata.com\/PS\/2015\/05\/28\/decker-tosses-gem-as-blue-ridge-grabs-class-a-title\/","title":{"rendered":"Decker tosses gem as Blue Ridge grabs Class A title"},"content":{"rendered":"

BY CONOR FOLEY<\/strong>
\n Times-Shamrock Writer<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jake Decker said he felt something unusual before Monday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n

Nerves.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t have the confidence today, I really didn\u2019t. I was nervous,\u201d Blue Ridge\u2019s sophomore starting pitcher said. \u201cI was a wreck, really.\u201d
\nAfter he gave up a single to leadoff the game, he said it got worse.<\/p>\n

It didn\u2019t show, however.<\/p>\n

Decker tossed a complete-game, two-hit shutout and Blue Ridge beat Forest City, 2-0, to claim the District 2 Class A championship at PNC Field.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s Blue Ridge\u2019s first district title since 2006. The team lost to MMI Prep in last year\u2019s district final.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe feel pumped,\u201d Decker said. \u201cWe\u2019re really \u2014 we\u2019re excited.\u201d<\/p>\n

Decker struck out seven and walked one, but insisted he didn\u2019t feel right at the start.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think (the nervousness) is normal,\u201d he said. \u201cI usually come into a game very confident, and this is the first game I\u2019ve been nervous.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eventually, he settled into the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust keeping my composure,\u201d Decker said. \u201cJust pitching my game. Just playing baseball.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the righty faced only 23 batters Monday, two more than the minimum. He retired 10 consecutive hitters from the last out of the first inning through the fourth, and 19 of the final 21.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe just didn\u2019t have a feel for the curveball until the sixth inning,\u201d Blue Ridge coach Billy Marvin said. \u201cThe thing with Jake is he gets stronger as he goes. I knew if he found his curveball, that one run was enough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blue Ridge got Decker his first run in the fourth inniing. Derek Stento led off with a single \u2014 one of his three hits on the day \u2014 and moved to third when Decker reached on a two-base error. Trey Hillard walked to load the bases and, with one out, Evan Aldrich drove in a run with a fielder\u2019s choice.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo get that run in was pretty much the whole game,\u201d Aldrich said. \u201cI mean, we knew it\u2019d be a close scoring game.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Raiders added a run the following inning. With one out, Nick Swaha hit a dribbler to third. But the throw to first base sailed down the right-field line, and Swaha hustled into third on the error. With two outs, Stento singled him home to give Blue Ridge a 2-0 lead.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to get this last year, but couldn\u2019t get it done,\u201d Stento said. \u201cSo, our goal this year was to be district champs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Blue Ridge will play the District 4 champion in the first round of the PIAA playoffs, which begin June 1.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt kind of hasn\u2019t all set in yet,\u201d Hillard said. \u201cI don\u2019t think it will until tonight. But it feels amazing. I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve let go of this plaque yet, if that shows a sense of how I feel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Forest City got 2\u2154 innings of scoreless relief from Jon DeEsch, and Mitchell Blake got the other hit against Decker in the seventh inning.<\/p>\n

\u201c(Our team\u2019s) pitching really was good. They kept fighting back,\u201d Forest City coach Bill O\u2019Dell said. \u201cThey\u2019re a good team. That pitcher, he\u2019s dominating, he did a great job.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BY CONOR FOLEY Times-Shamrock Writer Jake Decker said he felt something unusual before Monday\u2019s game. 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