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Carmichaels needs 8 innings to win Game 2

By Jim Downey, For The Greene County Messenger 4 min read
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Jim Downey | ĢƵ

Jim Downey | ĢƵ Carmichaels’ Chuck Gasti (1) congratulates teammate Joby Lapkowicz after he hit a solo home run in the top of the first inning in MondayĢƵ second game of the Fayette County Baseball League finals at Mill Run.

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Jim Downey | ĢƵ

Carmichaels’ Chuck Gasti hits a double in the top of the fourth inning in MondayĢƵ second game of the Fayette County Baseball League finals at Mill Run.

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Jim Downey | ĢƵ

Mill RunĢƵ Dakota McWilliams hits a double in the bottom of the second inning in MondayĢƵ second game of the Fayette County Baseball League finals against Carmichaels.

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Mill Run shortstop Tanner Orndorff throws out Carmichaels' Cam Barnhardt in the top of the third inning in Monday's second game of the Fayette County Baseball League finals in Mill Run.

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Jim Downey | ĢƵ

Carmichaels’ Tyler Reyes doubles home a run in the top of the fourth inning in MondayĢƵ second game of the Fayette County Baseball League finals in Mill Run.

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Jim Downey | ĢƵ

Carmichaels left fielder Joby Lapkowicz settles under a fly ball hit by Mill RunĢƵ Nolan Porterfield in the bottom of the second inning in MondayĢƵ second game of the Fayette County Baseball League finals at Mill Run.

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Jim Downey | ĢƵ

Carmichaels’ Hunter Robinson follows through on a pitch during MondayĢƵ second game of the Fayette County Baseball League finals at Mill Run.

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Jim Downey | ĢƵ

Carmichaels’ Chuck Gasti scored the Copperheads’ second run of the game in the top of the fourth inning as Mill Run catcher Kris Firestone and pitcher Trevor Farrell watch the play in MondayĢƵ second game of the Fayette County Baseball League finals in Mill Run.

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Carmichaels second baseman Chuck Gasti throws over shortstop Brant Bonadio to get Mill Run's Grant Witt out at first in the bottom of the second inning in Monday's second game of the Fayette County Baseball League finals at Mill Run.

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Mill Run's Trevor Farrell fires a pitch in the top of the second inning in Monday's second game of the Fayette County Baseball League finals against visiting Carmichaels.

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Mill Run's Trevor Farrell fires a pitch during Monday's second game of the Fayette County Baseball League finals against visiting Carmichaels.

MILL RUN — The sun was setting on the second game of the Fayette County Baseball League championship Monday night when Carmichaels scored an unearned run in the top of the eighth inning to secure a 5-4 victory at Mill Run.

That victory put the Copperheads up 2-0 in the best-of-five series, one win away from their 13th league title.

After being rained out at Wana B Park Tuesday night, Game 3 was rescheduled for Carmichaels Area High SchoolĢƵ field at 6 p.m. on Wednesday (See www.greenecountymessenger.com for results).

Carmichaels won Game 1, 4-0, at home on Sunday.

Joby Lapkowicz, who won in relief, opened the top of the eighth inning in waning daylight with a walk. He then hustled around the bases when Chuck GastiĢƵ sinking line drive to left field was mishandled for a three-base error.

Losing pitcher Trevor Farrell, who went the distance for the Millers, got the next two batters, but the Copperheads kept the inning alive when Tyler Godwin was nicked by a pitch. Farrell got Tyler Reyes swinging to end the inning.

“They played a heckuva ball game,” complimented Mill Run manager Ray Orndorff. “We didn’t get the results we wanted. It was just a quality ball game.”

Carmichaels manager Dickie Krause agreed.

“ThatĢƵ one of the best County League games I’ve been in,” said Krause. “I’m really proud of my guys.”

Lapkowicz and Gasti were a tough out for Farrell and the Millers. The Nos. 2 and 3 hitters scored four of Carmichaels’ five runs, combined for four hits and drove in two runs.

Lapkowicz spotted starter Hunter Robinson the early lead when he drilled a home run over the right field fence in the top of the first inning.

Carmichaels extended its lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning, and Gasti was involved again.

Gasti doubled with one out and scored on Luke CarterĢƵ single. Tyler Godwin singled Carter to third with two outs and the designated hitter scored on Tyler Reyes’ single.

Mill Run fought back in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs.

Tanner Orndorff opened the inning with a single along the right field line. Kris Firestone was safe on an infield error. Dakota McWilliams’ one-out single scored Orndorff.

Grant Witt kept the rally going with a walk, but Austin Petraglia struck out swinging for the second out. Luke Warrick came through with an RBI single against Carter, who came on in relief of Robinson.

Carmichaels responded in the top of the fifth inning, and Lapkowicz and Gasti were once again at the center of the rally.

Lapkowicz doubled after Farrell started the inning with a pair of swinging strikeouts. He came home on GastiĢƵ run-scoring single.

Mill Run came right back in the bottom of the inning.

Orndorff was safe on an infield error with one out. Firestone followed with a single. Nolan Porterfield lined out to first baseman Joel Spishock, but McWilliams came through again with a two-run triple to deep left-center field off Lapkowicz.

McWilliams was a tough out, going 3-for-4 with three RBI.

“We have to figure out a way to get McWilliams and Firestone out,” said Krause. “They are causing us a lot of problems.”

Farrell kept the game close by retiring the side in sixth and seventh innings. He allowed four earned runs on seven hits with one walk, one hit batter and 10 strikeouts.

“I knew (Trevor) was here to pitch,” said Ray Orndorff, who checked late in the game to see if Farrell wanted to come out. “He told me ‘I’m good to go.’ If you’re good, then we’re going with the flow.”

“Farrell is a really good pitcher. We were in there fighting,” said Krause.

Lapkowicz also kept Mill Run off the board after McWilliams’ triple. He retired the next nine batters, including striking out the side in the bottom of the seventh against Mill RunĢƵ 1-2-3 hitters.

“I knew we were going against a solid pitching staff,” said Ray Orndorff.

Witt was hit by a curve ball that didn’t break with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to snap LapkowiczĢƵ string, but he struck out Petraglia to preserve the win.

But, Krause wasn’t ready to fly the pennant just yet.

“If something goes south for us, Mill Run can put together three in a row,” cautioned Krause.

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