TOWAMENCIN – It took awhile for the North Penn Knights baseball team to break open a lead against the CB East Patriots, but in the latter half of the fifth and sixth innings, the Knights got their bats going and made plays in the field to close out an 8-4 victory.

Sophomore Colby Barrow got the win on the mound for the Knights, striking out six batters, and lasting five and a third innings on the hill. Barrow’s best work came in the second inning, retiring three straight batters to get himself out of a bases loaded jam. The Knights were able to follow up Barrow’s second inning with some offense, as Joe Picozzi scored on a Ryan Bealer single, and Senior Atlee Hasson stole home on a wild pitch to give North Penn a 2-0 lead heading into the third inning.

CB East would respond with a two run third inning to even the score, but the Knights were quick to retake the lead. The Patriots then switched pitchers, going from Freshman Nick Bitsko to Jack Roland. The Knights had their way with Roland, and eventually regained the lead at 3-2, after Atlee Hasson singled, scoring Zack Miles. This was a common theme for the Knights, as they were able to fend off CB East everytime they threatened to take the lead. The Patriots went scoreless in the fourth inning, thanks to Colby Barrow registering two of his six K’s on the day. Billy Collins singled to get things going for North Penn in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Senior Connor Mikulski came in to pinch run for Collins, and stole second base and home, giving the Knights a 4-3 lead. Rob Weiss added to the North Penn lead, hitting an RBI single up the middle to give the Knights a 5-3 lead heading into the fifth inning.

After Colby Barrow got the first out in the sixth inning, Senior Mason Blankenburg came in to pitch for North Penn. Blankenburg struck out the first batter he faced, and held the Patriots scoreless in the sixth.

The Knights broke the game open in the sixth. North Penn had a three run inning, with hits by Hunter Hamlin, who came in to replace Catcher Jake Drelick, and Ryan Bealer, whose RBI single pushed the Knights lead to five runs.

Blankenburg then made quick work of the Patriots, only giving up one run in the seventh.

The Knights face CB West for the next game this Thursday at 3:30.