By RYAN ARENA

Sports Editor

St. Charles based Townsend Homes hoped to build off a close loss to Jesuit based Retif Oil and Fuel last week when it arrived at Comet Field on Friday. Awaiting Townsend was Holy Cross based Ponstein’s, its second consecutive Catholic League based opponent to begin the summer season.

Much like a week ago, a slow start did Townsend Homes in. Ponstein’s scored three runs in the first inning and five runs in the first three innings on its way to an 8-3 victory.

Ponstein’s (9-1) led off the game with a home run and never looked back.

&#8220That really set the tone early,” Townsend Homes Coach Paul Waguespack said.

Trailing 5-0 in the third, Townsend (0-2) had yet to collect a hit off Ponstein’s starter Kyle Matherne (2-0) until Matt Murphy singled in the bottom of the inning. Corey Reed doubled him in to put St. Charles on the board for the first time, making it 5-1.

&#8220(Reed) is probably swinging the bat with the most confidence of anyone on the team,” Waguespack said. &#8220He’s been impressive so far.”

Townsend went down in order in the fourth and fifth innings. Ponstein’s capitalized by scoring three in the top of the fifth, extending its lead to 8-1.

But in the bottom of the sixth, Townsend Homes made a move to get back into the game. Matt Bonnecarre led off the inning with a walk. Shortly after, Jonathan Cancienne blasted a home run, cutting the margin to five, 8-3.

With two outs, Nick Reine and Brandon Becker each collected base hits, and Ponstein’s made a pitching substitution, bringing in Matty Ott in relief. He struck out Adam Ratliff to end the threat.

With Townsend Homes having one final chance to come back in the seventh, Murphy and Reed each drew walks to put two on with no outs. But Ott got out of the jam, getting D.J. Wesley to pop up and striking out Marc Picciola and Cancienne to end the rally.

Waguespack said that he knew going in that Ponstein’s would be another tough challenge from the Catholic League, but that despite the 0-2 start he sees much to be optimistic about.

&#8220(Ponstein’s) is a veteran team that’s already played nine games, so they’re into the flow already. I am disappointed that we didn’t take better advantage of the chances that we had. It’s still early, though, and after the next couple of games I should have a better idea of where we’re at.”

Waguespack went into the game with the intention of splitting up the pitching duties. Donovan Duffy started his second game of the summer and went two innings, allowing two hits and four runs. Reed went three innings, allowing five hits and four runs, two earned. Reine and Steven Duhe each pitched a perfect inning.

&#8220They went out and threw strikes against a good team,” Waguespack said. &#8220We’ll be losing our two top pitchers going into next ear, so we’re going pitcher-by-committee this summer to get these guys ready.

Townsend Homes struggled with its bats, mustering four hits on the day. Cancienne went 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Reine went 1-2. Reed went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Murphy went 1-2.

&#8220It’s still early,” Waguespack said. &#8220Two games out of a 15 game schedule. I’m in no way discouraged. We’ll be okay.”