Pitching, defense and timely hitting win baseball games.

Turns out Lehighton excelled at all three on Monday in its 5-0 Schuylkill League victory over Jim Thorpe.

Start with Carter Birnbaum on the mound.

The sophomore hurler tossed a three-hitter to shut out the Olympians. He walked only one and struck out three, pitching to contact with a final pitch count in the 60s.

Then, add the great defense.

The Tribe players were solid supporters behind Birnbaum, who induced several fly balls for outs - including a catch by center fielder Ian Rarick who ran down a monster drive hit to the base of the outfield fence by James Lordi in the bottom of the second inning. In the sixth, Lordi again tore the cover off the ball with a line drive that was speared by first baseman Austin Greene.

Now, factor in the timely hitting.

Lehighton broke a scoreless tie in the top of the third. Birnbaum helped his own cause with a two-out, two-run single. In the fourth, the Tribe plated two more runs on an infield single by Rarick and a bases-loaded, two-out walk to Greene.

First-year Lehighton head coach JC Dietz has his team at 5-1 in the early season by excelling at all three facets of the game.

“We preach having a good approach at the plate,” said Dietz. “We want to work long counts, and be patient. Add the two-out clutch base hits, and I thought we had some fantastic at bats today.”

In the sixth, the Maroon and White scored their fifth and final run on a two-out single by Talen Sensinger,

Thorpe mentor Joe Marykwas said his team had some tough luck in losing its third game compared with two victories.

“I thought we hit the ball pretty well at times, but we put too many balls in the air. A lot of our players have little or no varsity experience, and we’re going through some growing pains, too. Give credit to their pitcher. He pitched a great game.”

Birnbaum was all smiles after his stellar performance on the mound with his five-pitch repertoire.

“I threw a lot of first-pitch strikes, and stayed ahead in counts,” said Birnbaum. “I had command of my four seamer, two seamer, curve, split finger and slider. My defense played great behind me, too. It was a good team effort.”

The three hits by Thorpe were all left on base. Lordi doubled in the first. Chip Baldassano singled to center in the third, stole second, and advanced to third on a throwing error before he was left stranded at third. In the fourth, Richie Strack singled, but was also left stranded 90 feet away from home.

Dietz praised his players for their overall performance.

“It starts with Carter on the mound,” said Dietz. “He was outstanding. Brady O’Donnell and Ian Rarick made some game-changer catches. High school baseball is won by good pitching and defense, and we certainly had that today.”

KEEPING IT CLOSE ... The Olympians’ defense kept them within striking range. They retired two Tribe base runners on rundowns, and Thorpe catcher Drew Wimmer threw out two runners on attempted steals.

THREE UP-THREE DOWN ... How good was Birnbaum’s effort? He retired the Olympians in order in the second, fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.

NEXT UP ... On Wednesday, Lehighton hosts Blue Mountain, while Jim Thorpe is home against North Schuylkill.

Lehighton 002 201 0 - 5 7 1

Jim Thorpe 000 000 0 - 0 3 0

Birnbaum and Yeakel; Romanchik, Edwards (4), Henkels (7) and Wimmer. W - Birnbaum. L - Romanchik.