Haines hurls 189 pitches as Penns Grove tops Woodstown

Don Haines conceded that he didn't have his best command, but he kept battling and pitching and then pitching even more. The Penns Grove senior lefthander threw 189 pitches and earned a complete-game win in yesterday's 15-8 victory over host Woodstown in a Tri-County Diamond Division game.

Haines walked 10, struck out seven, and hit four batters, while allowing five hits.

"I'm a little tired but I feel good," said Haines, who has committed to attend Rowan University. "I wouldn't say it was my best control."

Penns Grove coach Jim Halter had a pitcher warming up in the sixth inning, but Haines told him he didn't want to leave the mound.

On a cold day, in only the second week of the regular season, that was a lot of pitches. Actually, it would be a lot of pitches if the game were played in August.

In the final inning, Haines still touched 86 m.p.h. on the radar gun behind the plate. Earlier in the game, he threw as hard as 89 and stayed around the mid-80s.

"I think all the conditioning I've done has paid off," he said.

Penns Grove's chief offensive threat was junior catcher Jack Morrow, who was 3 for 4 with two home runs, including a grand slam in the seventh inning to deep centerfield, and seven RBIs.

Penns Grove is 2-1 overall and 1-1 in the Diamond Division, while Woodstown fell to 1-2, 0-2.

Penns Grove 037 010 4 - 15 12 2

Woodstown 150 020 0 - 8 5 2

WP: Don Haines. LP: Nick DiPietropolo. 2B: W–Corey Markos, Seth Dorety, Ryan Austin. HR: P–Jack Morrow 2.