California tops Uniontown, 4-1
California's Tyler Delval allowed only 1 run, as he scattered five hits in Tuesday's Fayette County American Legion Baseball finals opener against Uniontown at the California High School ball field in Coal Center.
California's Mike Knox is safe at second before Uniontown's Max Beattle can catch the ball in game one of Legion championship action on Tuesday.
California's Tyler Sabatula makes the catch to tag Uniontown's Ed Duthwycz out at first.
?COAL CENTER 鈥� Tyler Delval started the season as a relief pitcher for the California American Legion team, but he came on strong as a starter as the season progressed, and tossed a five-hitter on Tuesday as California downed Uniontown 4-1 to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series to decide the Fayette County championship.
Delval鈥檚 two-run home run with Ty Bell on base in the eighth inning provided some breathing room in a tight pitchers鈥� dual with Uniontown鈥檚 Tyler Mayers.
The game was scoreless through the first four innings. Mayers retired the first seven California batters before giving up a third-inning single to Tyler Sabatula. Delval surrendered a leadoff double to Tyler Dubovich in the second and a two-out single to Max Beatty in the third.
Uniontown (17-5) scored an unearned run in the fifth when Mike Patricelli singled with one out, Mason Fordyce was safe on a throwing error that allowed Patricelli to reach third, and Max Beatty drove Patricelli in with a sacrifice fly.
California (18-3) took the lead for good with two runs in the sixth. Derek Anderson singled and Mike Knox beat out an infield hit with one out. Anderson scored on an error on a ball hit by Ty Bell, and Matt Sabatini singled to drive in Knox with the go-ahead run.
Uniontown got Patricelli to third base with two outs in the seventh and had Jake Riddell at third with two outs in the eighth, but Delval got a fly out to end each inning.
Bell then beat out an infield hit with two outs in the eighth and Delval followed with his home run over the left-center field fence for a 4-1 lead.
Ed Dutkewycz walked with one out in the Uniontown ninth, but Delval got a ground out and strikeout to end the game.
The series will be decided today at the Hutchinson 缅北禁地men鈥檚 Complex with a 4?p.m. game to be followed by a nightcap if necessary at approximately 6:30?p.m.
Uniontown coach Scott DeBerry said he has faith that his team will be ready for the challenge. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been here before,鈥� DeBerry said. 鈥淚 believe the guys will come back and play hard tomorrow. If we play our game and get a couple of breaks here and there, we鈥檒l be okay.鈥�
DeBerry lauded Mayers鈥� pitching effort. 鈥淭yler threw a great game to hold their team to four runs, and it could have been two runs.鈥�
DeBerry said he wasn鈥檛 certain who will be his starting pitcher for the crucial second game of the series.
California coach Chase Roman said he will start Sabatini, who is 5-0 on the mound this season.
A concern for California was the tender elbow of Roman鈥檚 brother Clay, who caught the backswing of a bat at his catcher鈥檚 position midway through the game.
鈥淚鈥檇 have taken (Clay) out immediately if he might not be able to go tomorrow,鈥� Chase Roman said. 鈥淗e batted two more times (after the injury) and was fine.鈥�
Chase Roman said Delval鈥檚 pitching was solid in late season games against Belle Vernon and Farmington. 鈥淗is home run gave us some insurance and assured he鈥檇 finish the game out.鈥�
He added, 鈥淚t felt good to get this one under our belt. If we come to play tomorrow as we did today, we鈥檒l be okay.鈥�