Towamencin-10 consecutive days of nothing. The sound of the bat connecting with the ball was absent and the screams of teammates communicating disappeared. A break like this for a team would almost certainly seem derailing. Somehow, this North Penn squad used the hiatus as motivation. Having a bitter taste in their mouth from an extra innings loss against CB East for all ten days, the break was viewed as a possible season restart. A 4-3 start to the year was not near where they had hoped to be and they knew it. So in the first game back, Senior Mike Lennon wanted to make a point and did it in a big way. Lennon went all 7 innings and led his team to a 6-0 win over Council Rock South. Pitching a complete game shutout for his team was a momentum swing coming off the break. 

“We were just eager to play,” Lennon said. “We were ready to get a [win] on the board all the way from the beginning of the week and start out strong.”

While Lennon was dominant on the mound, he got help behind him, including Sophomore third basemen Justin Egner. Getting his first career start, due to Covid protocols, Egner had a day both at the dish and in the field, going 2-3 with an RBI and 3 infield assists. Egner credited being prepared and not being overly excited for the start. 

“I was just trying to stay within myself,” Egner said. “Just do a job. Not making the start a big deal.” 

Knights Coach Kevin Manero dove a bit deeper into Egner’s start, talking about how senior leadership has allowed for Egner to learn in practice and get coached up without getting game reps. 

“RJ was side by side with Justin all year long,” Manero said. “Justin stepped in today and played great third base, and came up with some key at bats. I credit RJ for a lot of that for showing Justin the way. That’s how teams develop key players year after year.” 

The leadoff hitter for Council Rock lined a single into right, but it didn’t phase Lennon as he sat down the next three hitters, two of them being retired on strikes. Next time out, Lennon did see a little bit of trouble, but got out of it with the help of a great diving catch by Senior Ryan Sullivan to end the inning. The third inning was more of the same for the West Chester commit. After throwing out a bunt attempt, Lennon forced a groundout to first base. Senior catcher Evin Sullivan made a great play picking off a runner at first to close out the frame. 

“Evin made a huge play there throwing out the runner at first,” Manero said. “After making an error, he’s able to punch out the runner at first. That’s big time.” 

Offensively, the Knights started very quiet. Through the first 3 innings, North Penn had only managed 2 baserunners and struck out 7 times. Seeing his team frustrated, Manero huddled his team together and spoke to them before the bottom of the 4th, in an attempt to rally them to a big inning. 

“We just weren’t aggressive early in the game,” Manero said. “We were taking too many fastballs for strikes. They responded in the 4th after we changed our approach.”

A big 4th inning was started by Junior Ethan Cohen getting walked, setting up Senior Sam Cohen. On a 2-1 count, the senior drove a pitch to deep center allowing Ethan to score and Sam slide into third with an RBI triple. Sophomore Jack Picozzi laid down a bunt and an overthrow to first, gave Cohen the opportunity to come home, making the Knights lead 2-0. 

“I thought Picozzi’s bunt changed the complexion of the inning,” Manero said. “It’s little things we have to be able to do when facing a pitcher that is giving us a hard time.”

Ryan Sullivan followed up with lining a ball to second that was bobbled and put runners at 1st and 2nd. Junior Pat Breen drew a walk that loaded the bases and Egner came through in the next at bat, lining a ball to right that couldn’t be fielded cleanly, scoring Picozzi. A single by Evin Sullivan scored Sullivan and kept the bases loaded with only 1 out in the inning. Senior Jeff Sabater took a pitch in the leg, which forced Breen in from third. Ethan Cohen came up for the second time in the inning and sent a sac fly deep enough for Egner to score, making the North Penn lead 6-0. 

“Good two strike contact and hitting balls up the middle, which is exactly what we want,” Manero said. “It was just a great approach in that inning.” 

After seeing his hitters give some run support, Lennon came back on the hill and continued his gem of a game. Sitting down the hitters in order with a groundout, flyout to third, and his 6th punch out of the game. Having to sit for that long then returning is hard to stay loose but Lennon decided to go to the bullpen to stay warm. 

“I actually got up and got my blood flowing,” Lennon said. “I was running and just wanted to stay within the game.” 

The last two innings was nothing but cruise control for the lefty. Two ground balls and a strikeout retired the 6th inning. The seventh inning saw Lennon retire the hitters in order for the 4th time in the game and get his 8th strikeout of the contest. After the final out, Lennon and Manero embraced on the field as that kind of a start is everything a coach could ask for. 

“He just executed pitches and did exactly what a pitcher has to do,” Manero said. “Confident, poised and quick work ethic is just everything we want to see in our pitchers.” 

North Penn (5-3,2-3) looks to ride that momentum into Wednesday’s game when they host Bensalem at 3:45.