Normandy sweeps Valley Forge behind strong pitching and timely hitting

Normandy completed a doubleheader sweep of Valley Forge on Thursday at Veterans Memorial Park, rolling to an 11-1 win in Game 1 before closing the day with a 10-1 victory in Game 2. The Invaders controlled both games with efficient pitching, steady pressure at the plate and several big run-producing swings.

Game 1 turned in Normandy's favor behind a dominant all-around performance from Peyton Wolf. Wolf went 3 for 3 with a run scored and three RBIs at the plate, then delivered four innings on the mound, allowing three hits and one run. Lucas Albrecht finished the opener with a scoreless inning in relief. Cam Justice added to the offensive push by going 2 for 2 with a run and an RBI, while Nate Hinkle drove in three runs and Evan Lucas contributed two RBIs and scored once. Valley Forge's lone highlight came from Carlos Santana, who went 1 for 3 with a home run, one run scored and one RBI. Sean Frank and Evan Tappe each added a hit for Valley Forge.

Normandy carried that momentum into the second game and was just as sharp. Jensen Vargo set the tone with five scoreless innings, scattering four hits and keeping Valley Forge from building any sustained offense. Cullen Rooney followed with two innings in relief, allowing one run on one hit to help finish off the 10-1 result.

The Invaders' lineup produced throughout the second game. Rooney sparked the attack by going 2 for 2 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Hinkle went 3 for 5 with an RBI, while Wolf collected two hits and scored twice. Vargo also helped his own cause at the plate, finishing 2 for 3 with two runs and three RBIs, and Tommy Hayes added an RBI and a run scored. Valley Forge got hits from Frank, Santana and Nolan Orlowski, with Orlowski driving in the Patriots' only run of the second game.

Across the two games, Normandy received the kind of balanced production that can carry a team through a busy stretch of the season. The pitching staff limited Valley Forge to two total runs in the sweep, and the offense answered with 21 runs over the doubleheader. Wolf and Vargo anchored the work on the mound, while Rooney, Hinkle, Justice, Lucas and Hayes gave the Invaders contributions up and down the order.

For Normandy, the day was defined by control from the first pitch to the final out. The Invaders left Parma with two convincing wins, an 11-1 opener and a 10-1 finish, and plenty of production to build on heading into the next game.