Generals Wear the Crown Again, Beat Roslyn 3-2

The Fort Washington Golden Generals rallied from an opening round defeat to win four straight games, including a 10-6 win over the Blue Hawks on Sunday, to claim their third consecutive league crown with a 3-2 victory over Roslyn.

In the title game, Fort jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first on a two run RBI single from Max Vido, driving in Jared Zarwin and P.J. Arcieno. They held that lead until the Blue Hawks put up a two spot of their own in the fifth inning.

Right fielder Donnie Baehr, who singled to lead off the inning, scored on a sacrifice fly by Abington High School’s Chris Carr, who was then followed by Eric Tidwell tying the game as he raced home on a single by Scott Schwartz with two outs.

In the pivotal sixth inning, Generals' coach Gary Bonitaibus sent Springfield Montco’s Bob Abdris home on a single by Upper Dublin’s Dan Brown, but a tremendous throw from Baehr cut down Andris at the plate for the second out of the inning.

Two pitches later, John Miller took his coach off the hook by delivering a single to score Brown, giving Fort ace Jesse Kohler all the support he would need as Kohler retired the Blue Hawks with out a squawk in the seventh, commencing the celebration.

Player of the Game: Upper Dublin’s Jesse Kohler, who took the hill for the Generals in his share of important games this season, delivered the kind of performance that Fort needed and was sensational, walking two and allowing only four hits, fanning nine en route to the complete game win. 

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Inside the lines: “I am so proud of the way we responded after that loss to Horsham,” said Bonitatibus. “It would have been so easy for us to pack it in, but these kids just wouldn’t let that happen. This was just a great baseball game with another great team. We came in with the mindset to put the ball in play and force them to get us out.”   

Say what? “I don’t really get nervous to start games,” said Kohler. “I get more excited than anything. We were rolling pretty good when we came into the playoffs and may have been a little cocky. When we lost on the first day, we got back to our kind of baseball. We may be loud and annoying to other teams, but it works for us.”

Extra innings: “Just getting this far is a testament to our kids,” said Roslyn manager Jim Brett. “At their high school teams, things may not go exactly right or as planned, but when they step on the field wearing the Blue Hawks colors, they all mesh together and are something special to watch. It’s easy and fun to coach kids like that.”

Next on the schedule: The Golden Generals will travel to Bucktown, PA, home of the Norchester Bulldogs, to play in the District Regional tournament, with a berth in the Pennsylvania State tournament at stake.

Check back with Upper Dublin Patch for a feature on the amazing season of ups and downs of Fort Washington and a preview of the upcoming regional, along with a history of the Golden Generals from their inception in 1976.    

Those stories and many more photos are on their way.