By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

After Jonathan Cancienne singled to lead off the sixth inning of Townsend Homes’ matchup with the Reserve Cubs, there would be no hestitation on the part of either he or Townsend Coach Paul Waguespack.

Cancienne would be off and running.

Cancienne stole second base. Then he stole third, and scored when the throw to third missed its target. Cancienne trotted home, the run breaking a 2-2 tie. It proved the difference in the St. Charles-based Townsend Homes’ 3-2 victory over the East St. John-based Reserve Cubs at Comet Field.

&#8220It’s what you dream of,” said Cancienne. &#8220Being on first in a tie game and going on to score that winning run.”

Said Waguespack: &#8220We knew we were running him there. It was big. That’s the way we play, we advance the runners, hit balls on the ground. It’s what we preach here.”

Both teams received fine pitching performances, as each team only mustered four hits all day.

Donovan Duffy started for Townsend Homes (1-2) and went two innings, allowing one hit and one run. Brandon Becker (1-0) came on in relief and went the final five innings, seemingly getting stronger as the game went on. He allowed three hits and one run, striking out four Cubs.

&#8220I just wanted to keep throwing strikes and hit my spots,” Becker said. &#8220My fast ball was hitting my spots, which helped.”

***** went 4-1/3 innings for Reserve (0-2), striking out four and allowing three hits and two earned runs.

He did real well out there,” Reserve Coach Ryan Sims said.

**** (0-1) came on in relief and went 1-2/3 innings, allowing one hit and one run, none earned.

Reserve got on the board first in the second inning when *****’s RBI single made it 1-0.

Townsend answered when Corey Reed’s sacrifice fly scored Adam Ratliff in the third to make it 1-1.

The Cubs struck again in the fifth, as *****’s single scored ***** and made it 2-1.

But in the fifth, Reserve pitchers lost their command of the strike zone. After a single by Ratliff, D.J. Wesley and Reed each drew walks to load the bases. ***** came on in relief and hit Bonnecarre, scoring Ratliff and tying the game at two.

&#8220They’re a quality team,” East St. John Coach Ryan Sims said. &#8220We’re still young, there are still a lot of spots where we need to throw strikes and aren’t. But that’s what summer is for. Learn from your mistakes now, and don’t make them in the school year.”

Waguespack expects his offense to take off in the coming games.

&#8220Our bats are still dormant,” Waguespack said. &#8220We’re hitting too many balls in the air. We need to start hitting them on the ground. It’s our third game, so rust is no longer an excuse.”