Fayette County Baseball League opens season
The Fayette County Baseball League was set to begin play Tuesday night, although Carmichaels will embark on its 40th season a little bit later because of the WPIAL baseball playoffs.
The Copperheads, the 2023 runner-up, were scheduled to play in Mill Run, but, with the Mikes still alive in the Class A playoffs, the game was postponed to a later date.
Carmichaels was scheduled to play Avella on Wednesday afternoon at Ross Memorial Park with the winner advancing to the PIAA tournament.
The remaining game on opening night featured a new team facing the defending champions at Hutchinson Field. M&R Transit, the two-time defending champion, played Pechin in its inaugural game at Hutchinson Field.
M&R Transit defeated Carmichaels, 3-1, in the championship series last year with M&R Transit winning twice on the road.
The league now boasts seven teams with the addition of Sewickley Twp. (Herminie) and Pechin, and Bud Murphy dropping from the league this season.
Oakland (Md.) and WBAC (formerly Mitch’s Bail Bonds) round out the league roster of teams.
“This is the biggest the league has been in awhile,” said league president Ryan Encapera. “We’re hoping for a good summer.
“We want guys in college to have a local place to play.”
Oakland traveled to Redstone on Wednesday to play WBAC (formally Mitch’s Bail Bonds), now managed by Trevor Stewart.
The league had a full schedule Thursday with Oakland on the road at Mill Run, M&R Transit hosting WBAC, and Sewickley Township at home against Pechin.
Games are scheduled for Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, pending any postponements because of weather.
“The schedule is packed pretty tight. The regular season is over on July 16,” explained Encapera. “The top four teams play a best-of-3 series in the semifinals and the championship is a best-of-5 series.”
The following were recognized with FCBL 2023 league awards last season: M&R Transit, Mike Susa FCBL playoff champion; Carmichaels, Bob Nichols playoff runner-up; M&R Transit, Tom Sankovich regular season champion (11-4); Santino Marra (M&R Transit), Tom Croftcheck playoff MVP Award; Santino Marra (M&R Transit), Joe Kurnot Top Pitcher Award; Hunter Cottrell (Oakland), .500 (14-for-28); Chad Petrush (M&R Transit), John “Preacher” Collingwood RBI Leader Award (15 RBI); Nate Zimcosky (M&R Transit)/Noah Mildren (Carmichaels), Alex “Pickhandle” Merkosky HR Leader (2); and Santino Marra (M&R Transit), Brian Sankovich Regular Season MVP Award.
The top five batting averages were: Hunter Cottrell (Oakland), .500 (14-28); Santino Marra (M&R Transit), .457 (21-46); Nate Zimcosky (M&R Transit), .429 (15-35); Alex Beiler (Oakland), .417 (15-36); and Chad Petrush (M&R Transit), .400 (16-40)/Noah Mildren (Carmichaels), .400 (14-35).
The ERA leaders were: Forrest Havanis (Carmichaels), .60 (2-0, 25 strikeouts); Garrett Myers (M&R Transit), 1.12 ERA (3-0, 15 strikeouts); Joe Sabolek (Carmichaels), 1.29 (2-1, 19 strikeouts); Santino Marra (M&R Transit), 2.95 (3-0, 13 strikeouts); and Justin Brestensky (M&R Transit), 3.06 (0-1, 47 strikeouts).
Mill Run ironman Bill Bendis had a 5.66 ERA and a 2-3 record in a league-high 35 innings pitched. He struck out 27.