Henderson Falls to CB West in Districts

The Henderson High School baseball team saw its season come to a sudden close Monday afternoon, dropping a 3-2 decision to Central Bucks West in the District I Tournament opening game amid wet conditions in Doylestown.

CB West’s Marty Martin got outstanding outfield defense and held the Warriors bats in check for much of the game to register the victory and push his team into a Wednesday contest against Interboro.  Headed to Marist College on a baseball scholarship next year, Martin also had an RBI double and made an early 3-0 lead stand up through the final tension-filled innings.

“We didn’t put enough pressure on them offensively,” said Henderson coach Luke McNichol, closing his 25th year at the helm.  “Their outfielders ran the ball down and we didn’t field the ball cleanly.  It’s part of baseball.”

Despite the threatening weather, both teams had strong fan support and the excitement reached a peak in the top of the seventh, when Jason McCormick led off with a single.  Cooper Redding then smacked a bomb to right – arguably a home run at most fields with fences – but sophomore Brennan Snyder made an over the shoulder catch for the impact play of the game.  McCormick stole second but Martin induced two pop-ups to bring the Warriors season to an end.

“Henderson might’ve had a couple of home runs on another field,” offered CB West coach Jim Ertel, whose team improved to 13-5.  That record enabled CB West to capture the eighth seed and secure the home game against ninth-seeded Henderson.  “We were more comfortable at home, but the field didn’t decide the game,” Ertel added.  “Crummy conditions, but it was a terrific game.  Henderson plays the right way. Two teams going hard.  Marty came through for us.”

Henderson errors played a role in the early CB West runs as Chas McCormick pitched effectively throughout.  The Warriors tightened things up in the fifth, when Redding doubled in Jason McCormick and then came around on a single by Mike Nugent. The seventh inning drama ensued and the 2012 campaign ended at 14-8 and a game or two too soon, especially since Henderson won 11 of 14 games to close the regular season

“It is finality for the seniors.  They won’t be able to play for Henderson again,” continued McNichol in reference to Redding, Nugent, Ryan Lucas, Greg McLaughlin, Zack Jones, Nick Dillman and P.J. Costello.  Those seniors were part of the program that produced Henderson’s Pennsylvania AAAA State Championship team of 2010. 

“I told the players, when you make it to the Districts, you’ve achieved something that others weren’t able to do,” McNichol concluded.  “That’s a successful year.”

Abby Cosgrove of the Henderson Warrior school newspaper staff contributed to this story.