First-place Copperheads roll to 14-2 win
CARMICHAELS 鈥� Carmichaels scored seven runs in the bottom of the first inning and didn鈥檛 look back for a 14-2 victory in five innings against visiting Sewickley Township in Fayette County Baseball League action on July 11.
The Copperheads had only one hit in the early rally, but benefitted from two errors, five walks and hit-batsman.
Forrest Havanis walked, Jimmy Sadler was hit by a pitch and Noah Mildren walked with one out.
Sewickley Township had an opportunity to escape the bases-loaded situation, but was unable to turn a double play on Gianni Cantini鈥檚 ground ball when the throw to first skipped in the dirt for an error, allowing Sadler to score.
Nick Pegg鈥檚 fly ball was mishandled for another run. Tyler Richmond walked to load the bases and Hunter Mamie was walked for an RBI.
The rally was kept alive with the only hit of the inning. Drake Long鈥檚 single to center field took a sideways bounce on the dry field for a bases-clearing double.
鈥淭his is what we needed to do. Get out fast. We didn鈥檛 have to expend anything,鈥� said Carmichaels manager Dickie Krause.鈥�
The visitors were poised for a big inning in the top of the first with the help of some sloppy defense.
James Showman opened the game with a single and Dom Koch walked. Vinny DeVone鈥檚 single was misplayed, allowing both Showman and Koch to score.
Milan Aujay鈥檚 grounder was mishandled for runners at first and second.
With both runners on the move, Zach Bender hit a soft liner to pitcher Ryan Opfar. The Carmichaels defense needed a moment to gather the situation, but Opfar threw to first for the second out and Nick Ricco tossed the ball to Sadler at second base to complete the triple play.
鈥淭hat was tough. It was an unfortunate happening. What鈥檚 the odds it鈥檚 right back to the pitcher? There鈥檚 no chance to change directions,鈥� said Sewickley Township manager Mike Aujay.
The Copperheads added to their lead with Mildren鈥檚 RBI double and Cantini鈥檚 single. The rally fizzled though, and Carmichaels left the bases loaded.
Carmichaels put the game away with five runs in the bottom of the third inning.
Sadler and Ricco both had two-run singles, and Cantini walked with the bases loaded.
Carmichaels broke the bats open a little bit with seven hits and several other hard-hit balls.
鈥淚鈥檝e always said the county league is a difficult league to hit in because you go one night and see really tough pitchers, and then you come in and see a younger kid. The velocity difference is substantial,鈥� said Krause.
Opfar settled in after the first inning. He allowed one runner on a walk and he struck out five. Long allowed one hit in relief in the fourth inning. He also contributed three hits.
Sewickley Township (2-15) only had nine players, so Mike Aujay didn鈥檛 have many options. Still, his squad fought gamely.
鈥淚 have a lot of respect for him. He鈥檚 come into this league and he鈥檚 been a class act.
Class guy,鈥� Krause said for Mike Aujay. 鈥淗e had a bunch of guys pull out at the last minute. I give all the kids who were here all the credit. They were playing out of position.
鈥淗e鈥檚 going to be really good for the league. Their kids showed a lot of heart. Very much credit to them.鈥�
Aujauy was proud of his squad鈥檚 effort and looks to build on the season鈥檚 progress the team had in its first season in the league.
鈥淲e鈥檝e had great progress as the season鈥檚 moved on. There鈥檚 potential here. The boy who started on the mound for us is 17 years old. He鈥檚 just going to be a senior next year,鈥� said Aujay. 鈥淭he boy who caught tonight I called up from Yough鈥檚 Legion team. He鈥檚 going to be a senior. 鈥淲e鈥檙e very young.鈥�
Aujuy continued the thought, adding, 鈥淚 have a core I want to build off of and we鈥檒l see where we go. I have some guys with college experience, but it鈥檚 just not quite enough.鈥�
Carmichaels remains atop the standings with a record of 11-2-1. The Copperheads have four games remaining, starting with Sunday鈥檚 game against Oakland (Md.). They also have two games against Pechin and one against M&R Transit.
鈥淲hoever we play, we get. I can鈥檛 control that,鈥� said Krause. 鈥淚 can control trying to make these guys better baseball players. That鈥檚 the key part.
鈥淚 need to get our pitching set up.Since we won in 2019, we have not gotten into a playoff run with a healthy pitching staff.鈥�
Sunday, July 14
Carmichaels 10, Oakland 0 鈥� Gianni Cantini and Drake Long combined on a one-hitter Sunday afternoon in Carmichaels鈥� 10-0 Fayette County Baseball League home victory in six innings over visiting Oakland (Md.)
Cantini started and pitched 4.1 innings for the win, allowing one hit with no walks and seven strikeouts. Long picked up the final two outs by strikeout.
The Copperheads remain in first place with a 12-2-1 record. Carmichaels holds a 1陆-game lead over M&R Transit with three games to play.
Oakland slipped into fourth place with a 11-7 record.
Nine different players had at one of Carmichaels鈥� 13 hits. Noah Burke led the attack by going 3-for-3 with a double and two singles, plus two RBI. AJ Vanata doubled and drove in three runs. Jimmy Sadler had a triple and drove in two runs. Noah Mildren and Gavin Pratt both finished with two hits.
The Oaks鈥� lone hit was Cole Parker鈥檚 double in the top of the second inning.