TEENER BASEBALL: Haven rolls past Branch for Senior Division title

Jul. 12—SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Talan Spittler was making his first mound start since the playoffs began.

He hadn't worked in a game since the regular season ended.

It didn't matter, he was spot on.

And behind him, the defense was error-free. Offensively, they scored early and often.

In the end, Schuylkill Haven captured its first Schuylkill County Teener League Senior Division Championship since 2020 with a 10-0, five-inning victory over Branch on Wednesday evening at Schuylkill Haven High School's Scott Buffington Field.

Spittler hurled all five innings and was perfect in four of them, working 1-2-3 innings in the first, second, fourth and fifth frames. He allowed only two hits, a pair of two-out singles by Cam Rogers and Logan Hutsko in the top of the third. He ended that threat when he got Dante Carr to hit a sky-high popup that Hunter Correll eased under at shortstop.

It was all part of the plan Spittler had when he took the mound in the top of the first inning.

"I came into the game just looking to throw strikes, keep the ball low," Spittler said. "Sometimes, I didn't follow through with that, but I knew if I kept the ball low, their first three are their main hitters and they weren't going to hit it."

Spittler struck out two and didn't walk a batter.

"I tried to keep the ball low, and after I got through them, I just kind of focused on throwing strikes," Spittler said. "That's my thing. I don't throw hard enough to blow it past them, so I just pitch to contact and my guys behind me help me out."

Spittler was also a big part of Haven's night offensively, scoring after leading off the bottom of the first with a double, dropping down a sacrifice bunt in the second, then walking and scoring another run in the bottom of the third.

In all, Haven pounded out eight hits over the five innings, with Correll and Brayden Fasnacht adding a double apiece. Correll finished with a double and single, scored once and knocked in two. Fasnacht also knocked in a run.

First baseman Gavin Wade singled in two runs in Haven's four-run third and also reached first in the second inning on a throwing error that allowed two runs to score.

Haven coach Teddy Smith said it was the combination of Spittler's performance on the mound, the error-free defense and the offense that scored 10 runs over the first three innings that led to the victory.

"Anytime you have a lead on the mound, it's easier," Smith said. "You can do anything you want.

"And, he had a defense behind him. This is a credit to everyone here."

For Branch, the loss was a disappointing end for a postseason grind that included playing five games over a span of six days.

The fourth seed, Branch suffered a first-round loss to Pottsville before recording elimination-round wins over Schuylkill Valley, Frackville, Hegins and Blue Mountain.

"It didn't work out," Branch coach Dave Pedron said. "Our pitcher pitched well, but you know, five games in six days, it's a drain.

"Give Haven credit, they played well and the ball went their way. He (Spittler) was on today. That's baseball. Sometimes you lose."

The championship was the fifth for Schuylkill Haven since 2012. Haven also won the Senior Division title in 2014, 2018 and 2020.

"This is a credit to everyone here," Smith said. "Really, this season was progressive for high school.

"That's where these guys are going to be the next two years, and that's what this is all about. Expectations were high and they met them. This is all about the kids. They had a task and they got it done."

Contact the writer: croth@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6025; @repheraldsports on Twitter