Huey gets undefeated FC started against Avella

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Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter Lead-off batter Ryan Huey (2) is greeted by Ranger teammates after he hit a home run to start the April 15 game against Avella at Polar Star Field.

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Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter Ranger Matt Sieg slides into third base just ahead of the throw to Eagle third baseman Isaiah Bradick in the fourth inning of the April 15 game at Avella's Polar Star Field.

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Mark Marietta/For the Observer-Reporter Fort Cherry's Blake Sweder connects for a double in the fourth inning of the April 15 game against the Eagles at Avella'a Polar Star Field.

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Mark Marietta/For the OBserver-Reporter Ranger relief pitcher Colton Temple makes the throw to first to retire the first Eagle batter in the fourth inning of the April 15 game against Avella at Polar Star Field.

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Mark Marietta/For the OBserver-Reporter Avella's Brian Martos pops a double into right field that drives in two runs in the second inning of the April 15 game against Fort Cherry at Polar Star Field.

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By Joe Tuscano

For the Observer-Reporter

newsrooom@observer-reporter.com

AVELLA – Ryan Huey is 5-foot nothing and weighs about the same. But the freshman can hit a baseball like no one’s business. And Monday was no different.

The Fort Cherry catcher sent a laser over the right-field fence in the first inning and that got the Rangers started on a 14-4 victory in five innings over Avella in a battle of unbeatens at Polar Star Field.

Huey’s hit was magnificent to watch, a liner that never seemed to lose velocity and height until it cleared the fence. It was one of 13 hits for these young Rangers, who are 5-0 in this rain-soaked season. Avella lost for the first time in five games. And here is the scary part. The Rangers had only two seniors on this game’s roster. The team has power and speed.

“I know it was gone when it left the bat,” said Huey of his second home run of the season. “It felt so good off the bat when I hit it. I don’t know. It just went off and never stopped. Coach told me it was gone and I just kept running. My guys backed me up. They just kept hitting. My home run sparked the team. But they kept going.”

Huey has been playing baseball since the age of 3, playing catch in the backyard with his father. He has risen through the Rangers system and is now reaping the rewards of varsity baseball. It’s not often that you see a catcher bat leadoff but Huey is a special player.

“We beat California twice, Avella and Chartiers-Houston,” said Fort Cherry head coach Bob Sawhill. “Our catcher is a freshman, pitcher is a freshman, first baseman is a freshman, second base is a sophomore, short stop is a sophomore. We’re very young.

“Huey is really good. Baseball is his No.1 sport. When he comes out, he’s ready to play. We’ve got a little bit of speed and some of these guys can fly. But we will see. We’ve got a long way to go.”

The Rangers led 5-0 heading into the bottom of the second inning. But the Eagles scored three times to get back into the game in the bottom half of the second. Fort Cherry erupted for three runs in the top of the third, then put the game away with six runs in the top of the fourth.

“The problem we had was when we made it 5-3, we needed to put up a zero for them and we couldn’t do it,” said Avella head coach Josh Fogg. “We’re very young, with seven seniors on the roster but only three who play.”

Huey also doubled twice and reached second base on an error. The top of Fort Cherry’s lineup went a combined 7-for-12, and produced nine runs.