Austin Sommers makes contact for the Lehigh Valley Revolution in 15U World Series. 

By Sean Reilly 

Whenever Phillip Taylor came to the plate for the Lehigh Valley Revolution on Friday afternoon, he did so with a specific purpose in mind.

“I was sitting back and trying to hit the ball where it was pitched and taking it to all sides of the field,” he said. “Left field, right field, it didn’t really matter. I was just trying to sit back and drive it.” 

The first baseman went 3-for-4 with four RBI as his Pennsylvania team completed play at the Diamond Nation 15U World Series with a 12-3 triumph over the NJ Jays in Flemington. 

The win completed a solid 3-1 week for the Revolution, which outscored its opponents, 29-15.

The top portion of the order was particularly effective for the Revolution in the contest as the first three hitters – Connor Gerhart, Tyler Reichenbach and Taylor – reached base a combined eight times in 12 plate appearances, with five runs and seven RBI. 

“The whole team really did well this week,” Taylor said. “They really picked it up and started scoring a lot of runs.” 

The Jays, who entered the game with a 0-3 record, began it positively when Brady Kelliher hit a ground ball that was overthrown to first base. As he took off for second, the throw there sailed into the outfield, which allowed him to circle the bases.

Lehigh Valley, however,  took control with a three-run second. Derek Behler led off by hitting a tapper in front of the plate that resulted in a single. Andrew Rendler hit a fly ball that was misplayed into an error which placed him on second and sent Behler to third. Connor Adams grounded out to second, which scored the first run. Andrew Berger and Gerhart each walked to load the bases. After a foul out to first base, Taylor ripped a two-run single to center.

Lehigh Valley then scored seven times in the third for a 10-1 lead. The inning included a two-run single by Reichenbach, a RBI base hit from Taylor and two-run single off the bat of Petros Tsihlis. 

The Jays scored twice in the bottom of the inning when Casey Deleny’s grounder resulted in an overthrow to first which scored two runners. 

Lehigh Valley took a 12-3 lead in the top of the fifth after Taylor supplied an RBI groundout and Reichenbach, who had reached on a walk, scored on a wild pitch.

“To end with a W was great,” Taylor said. “It was a great showing to end on a mercy rule. I love playing here. It’s a beautiful place and I love the turf fields.”