Something had to give between a pair of rivals on Tuesday evening.

Not only are West Penn and Hope’s Collision geographically close to one and other, they also entered their Schuylkill Teener League Junior Division contest with identical records of 1-9, and were looking to build momentum for the rest of the season.

West Penn created some separation in the standings with a 7-1 win over Hope’s, thanks in large part to a gritty pitching effort from Wyatt Steigerwalt.

The right-hander got into trouble when he walked the first three batters he faced in the top of the first. Steigerwalt lost his command - but not his poise - as the first two batters didn’t see a strike, and the third hitter got a free pass on just five pitches.

With the cleanup hitter up next, Steigerwalt flipped a switch and came to life. He made an about face, striking out the next three batters – and his confidence level was higher than the elevation at the Dutch Hill field.

“He finally found himself, and hung in there like a true trooper,” West Penn coach Jamie Kane said about the turnaround. “That was a big lift for him the way he came out of that inning, and then we had some timely hits. So that (combination) gives you chance.”

His teammates were putting a charge into a three-run first inning thanks to RBI singles by Luke Kane and Denny Krell, coupled with an error in the field to revive their spirts.

Steigerwalt continued his strikeouts - he fanned the first two batters in the second, added two more in the third and would collect eight in the game. Steigerwalt didn’t allow a hit in four innings of work as he settled in nicely.

RUN SUPPORT

... The Mustangs added a four-run fifth, which featured a Kane RBI double, and singles off the bats of Lucas Kamant – who came in to relieve Steigerwalt on the bump – and Chase Rogers’ RBI hit in the rally.

ON THE BOARD

... Hope’s Collision did crack the scoring column using a walk and a two-out error in the seventh. The Fender Benders registered three hits in the game - singles by Ben Houser, Cooper Ansbach and Noah Mateyak.

Hope’s Collision 000 000 1 – 1 3 1

West Penn 300 040 – 7 6 2

Mateyak, N. Steigerwalt (5), Harmeny (6) and Ansbach; W. Steigerwalt, Kamant (5) and Kane. W – W. Steigerwalt L – Mateyak.