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Salisbury legion beats Coplay, 5-2

Entering their weekend game against Coplay, Salisbury had been able to overcome deficits in both of its victories in the early going of the legion season. Sunday's tilt against Coplay saw the Falcons once again rebound despite falling in an early hole.

After Coplay overcame a 2-0 deficit in the first inning to take a 5-2 lead through four innings, the Falcons responded moments later. Tristan Rissmiller's two-run hit capped a four-run fifth frame and put the Falcons back ahead for good, propelling Salisbury (3-5) to a 6-5 victory over Coplay (2-6) in six innings at Sam Balliet Stadium.

"It took a couple of innings, but they came back," head coach Chris Rapp said. "The pitcher they had in threw over 90 pithces, so they brought someone else in. He was a little wild; he walked a couple of guys and hit a batter. Tristan Rissmiller came up with a two-run double down the line which put us ahead after we got a couple of walks, and a passed ball or wild pitch or two."

The win ended a brief two-game losing streak for the Falcons against two of the leagues top teams in North Parkland (10-2 on Friday) and West Allentown (14-7 last Thursday).

Besides those two losses, however, the Falcons have been in every game and lost those of three contess by a combined six runs.

"Our three wins were games that were good games," Rapp said. "We came back in all three to win the game.

"Our other three losses (Emmaus, Southern Lehigh and West Allentown) were close games that we had the chance to win. The two games we really lost were Lower Macungie and North Parkland."

Chris Bishop, who has been Salisbury's top pitcher all season, once again delivered a performance when his team needed it most. He improved to 3-1 after Sunday's victory with anothe complete-game performance.

"He had allowed a couple of runs, and I was thinking about taking him out, but then he ended up finishing strong," Rapp said. "So far he's been my ace. He has started four games and completed all four. The only loss he had he gave up three runs, but two of them were unearned."

The Falcons have found much success from a variety of players, including ones that hadn't played varsity for Salisbury in the spring.

"In terms of leadership overall, Noah Adams, my catcher from last year returns," Rapp said. "He's been a really good leader, he is getting the kids' bats going and calling a great game. Jonathan Benitez is back, and he's hitting pretty well for me."

Mike Palmer, CJ Tocci and Nick Sikorathree starters for the Falcons in the springround out a group of nine Falcons that suited up on varsity and are now transitioning their game into the summer.

The upcoming week doesn't get any easier. The Falcons begin a stretch of three games in three days with Friday's contest against South Parkland. Salisbury then hosts Lower Mac on Saturday at 2 p.m. and travels to Parkland Middle School on Sunday to face North Parkland at 5:30 p.m. Results from Tuesday's game against Northern Valley were not available at time of press.

"It's going to be a tough weekend, Rapp said. "Combined I think they are 10-1, and Lower Mac's loss came to North Parkland."

PRESS PHOTO BY NANCY SCHOLZ Justin Besz hustles out from behind the plate to make a play against Coplay.