The Lansford LGH Tax Preppers got off to a slow start in Schuylkill County Teener League play this season.

But suddenly the team has found the right gear.

That’s D - as in drive.

That D could also stand for Danny - as in Danny Wehr.

Wehr is a fireball pitcher, who came on late in the season for Panther Valley during the recently completed high school campaign.

Wehr’s pitching - combined with some improved play up and down the Lansford lineup - could help them make noise in the league as the summer heats up.

That was the case on Wednesday in a 10-0 mercy-rule victory over Williams Valley.

Wehr was nothing short of superb in his three-inning stint, and his teammates were cracking the whip at the plate too.

How effective was Wehr? He fanned seven of the first nine batters he faced and allowed just two base runners - one on a walk and the other on an error.

“We are just starting to find ourselves,” said Lansford manager Jonathan Byers. “When you put Danny (Wehr) on the mound, you know that he’s going to keep you in the ball game. He’s consistent with his fastball, and he’s only going to get better.”

It helped that the Lansford club got off to a sizzling start at the plate.

It scored two runs in the first, and then blew things open by sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring six more runs in the second.

Brad Bartlett ignited the big inning by reaching base on an error. One out later, Cameron Cooper’s bad-hop grounder put runners at the corners. Luke Strohl singled in a run before sweet-swinging lefty Gavin Strohl drove in a pair of runners with a gapper to right center. After Benny Baneravage walked, Pete Kruslicky and Wehr both drilled hits to cap the onslaught.

“We got kids that can hit and when we do it in bunches, it will produce runs,” Byers said.

Lansford made it 9-0 in the fourth when Logan Fisher singled, stole second and scored on a Vikings error. The Taxmen took advantage of four straight walks to end the game in the fifth.

Gabe Perilli came on to relieve for the Lansford in the fourth and looked solid in his two innings of work.

“Danny was strong and threw with confidence,” Byers said. “But we also like the way Perilli can throw. He looked pretty good for a kid that just finished eighth grade.”

PITCHING … Wehr was overpowering with a fastball that has hop on it and makes him tough to hit. Keep an eye on Perilli. The southpaw is only going to get better.

BANGING AWAY … The Taxmen slapped out eight hits. Perilli had two, including a double in his first trip to drive in two runners. Wehr singled and had a pair of RBIs. Cooper added two hits, while Bartlett, Kruslicky and Fisher all had one. Strohl and Baneravage each picked up an RBI. Williams Valley’s only hit came from Collin Berger.

Williams Valley 000 00 - 0 1 4

Lansford LGH Tax 260 11 - 10 9 1

Rautzahn, Fetterolf and Seiger; Wehr, Perilli and Baneravage. W - Wehr. L - Rautzahn.