Copperheads advance to FCBL championship
Carmichaels second baseman Chuck Gasti applies the tag on Bill蘑菇视频 Bit Service蘑菇视频 Colby Simmons after Simmons attempted to advance on a passed ball in the top of the first inning of Thursday蘑菇视频 Fayette County Baseball League semifinal at Carmichaels High School. (Photo by Jim Downey)
Carmichaels' Chuck Gasti makes contact for a double in the bottom of the third inning during Thursday's Fayette County Baseball League semifinal against Bill's Bit Service at Carmichaels High School.
Bill's Bit Service's Darion Palmer is greeted by teammates Willie Palmer (31) and Alec McLay (50) after he belted a two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning in Thursday's Fayette County Baseball League semifinal at Carmichaels High School.
Carmichaels starting pitcher Joe Sabolak fires the ball in the top of the second inning during Thursday蘑菇视频 Fayette County Baseball League semifinal against Bill蘑菇视频 Bit Service at Carmichaels High School. (Photo by Jim Downey)
Bill's Bit Service starting pitcher Nick Groover prepares to release the ball in the bottom of the first inning during Thursday's Fayette County Baseball League semifinal at Carmichaels High School.
Bill's Bit Service Cory Lent (2) shows umpire Jerry Simon (not pictured) he held onto the ball after he tagged out Carmichaels' Brody Bonadio at second base in the bottom of the first inning in Thursday's Fayette County Baseball League semifinal at Carmichaels High School.
Carmichaels鈥� Joel Spishock and Bill蘑菇视频 Bit Service catcher Zach Uhazie watch the ball fly to the outfield in the first inning of Thursday蘑菇视频 Fayette County Baseball League semifinal at Carmichaels High School. Spishock doubled home to first two runs of the game for the Copperheads. (Photo by Jim Downey)
Carmichaels' Brody Bonadio bunts the ball in the bottom of the fourth inning during Thursday's Fayette County Baseball League semifinal against Bill's Bit Service at Carmichaels High School. Bonadio beat out the play for a single.
Carmichaels starting pitcher Joe Sabolak follows through in the top of the first inning of Thursday's Fayette County Baseball League semifinal against Bill's Bit Service at Carmichaels High School.
Jim Downey | 蘑菇视频
Bill蘑菇视频 Bit Service second baseman Cory Lent looks to turn a double play after recording the out on a Carmichaels鈥� Luke Robinson in the bottom of the fourth inning of Thursday蘑菇视频 Fayette County Baseball League semifinal at Carmichaels High School.
Jim Downey | 蘑菇视频
Carmichaels shortstop Brody Bonadio (8) watches as left fielder Tyler Reyes catches a fly ball hit by Bill蘑菇视频 Bit Service蘑菇视频 Colby Simmons for the final out in the top of the fifth inning of Thursday蘑菇视频 Fayette County Baseball League semifinal at Carmichaels High School.
Carmichaels shortstop Brody Bonadio prepares to throw the ball to first base to get Bill蘑菇视频 Bit Service蘑菇视频 Devin Braddock for the final out of the second inning in Thursday蘑菇视频 Fayette County Baseball League semifinal at Carmichaels High School. (Photo by Jim Downey)
CARMICHAELS 鈥� Carmichaels blew open a close game Thursday with seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as the Copperheads closed out their best-of-3 semifinal series against Bill蘑菇视频 Bit Service with a 12-2 win in five innings.
Carmichaels (18-3) now seeks their fourth county baseball title in a row against either Mill Run or Mitch蘑菇视频 Bail Bonds. Mill Run won the opening game of the series on Thursday after two rain postponements.
Bill蘑菇视频 Bit Service closes the season at 9-11.
Chuck Gasti spotted the defending champions the early lead with a two-run double in the bottom of the first inning.
Bill蘑菇视频 Bit Service starting pitcher Nick Groover pitched out of trouble in the third inning, leaving the bases loaded with a strikeout of Hunter Robinson.
Groover was not as fortunate in the bottom of the fourth inning, though. Carmichaels sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs to pull out to a 9-0 lead.
Groover walked Luke Robinson and John Przybylinski to open the inning. Brody Bonadio popped up his sacrifice bunt attempt, but neither Groover and nor first baseman Ian Edenfield were able to make a play on the ball as Bonadio hustled out the play for a single.
Joby Lapkowicz singled home a run and Gasti followed with a sharp double to center field to drive in two more. Gasti was the offensive star of the game, going 3-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored.
Groover managed to strike out Tyler Reyes looking, but an error on Joel Spishock蘑菇视频 ground ball kept the rally alive. Godwin and Hunter Robinson both walked with the bases loaded and Luke Robinson ripped a two-run single as Groover gave way to Willie Palmer.
Palmer managed to get the final two outs to kill the rally.
Groover, who is also the manager, was reluctant to take himself out of the game.
鈥淚 pitched on short rest. I felt I was the best option. It didn鈥檛 work out as planned,鈥� said Groover. 鈥淚t started on ball four to (Przybylinsk). It should鈥檝e been strike three. Then, it all started to unravel.鈥�
鈥淚 did not want to put someone else in that situation,鈥� Groover said of his decision to remain in the game. 鈥淚 dug a hole and didn鈥檛 want someone else to get out of it.鈥�
While the offense was putting up runs, Copperheads pitcher Joe Sabolak kept the visitors鈥� bats quiet.聽
He allowed two baserunners in the top of the first inning, but one was erased attempting to advance on a passed ball. Sabolak retired the side in both the second and third innings.
Sabolak walked Zach Uhazie and Ian Edenfield with two outs in the top of the fourth inning, but closed out the threat with a fly ball to center field.
He carried a no-hitter into the fifth inning, but that hope ended with Willie Palmer蘑菇视频 infield hit to the left side of the diamond.聽
Lapkowicz made a stellar diving catch for the first out of the inning. Then, Darion Palmer broke up the shutout bid with a two-run home run to left field.
Darion Palmer hit a three-run homer in the first game, breaking up Lapkowicz蘑菇视频 no-hit bid with two outs in the seventh inning.
The Carmichaels defense kept the visitors鈥� rally alive with three errors, two fielding and one throwing, for runners at second and third. Sabolak settled down and got the next two batters to fly out.
鈥淲e started with a kid on the mound, Joe Sabolak. He蘑菇视频 a rookie in this league. He was sharp in the first four innings. He was what we needed,鈥� praised Carmichaels manager Dickie Krause.
The Copperheads closed out the game, and the series, with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to invoke the mercy rule.
Lapkowicz was safe on an error to open the inning, Gasti was hit by a pitch and Reyes walked. Spishock walked home a run for his third RBI of the game.
Godwin struck out for the first out. Brant Bonadio, batting for Hunter Robinson, hit a ground ball. The defense attempted to turn a double play instead of cutting the lead runner at home. The throw to get Bonadio was off the mark, allowing Reyes to score the final run.
As can be the case with rosters in flux, Bill蘑菇视频 Bit Service was missing a couple key players.
鈥淲e鈥檙e missing our Nos. 3 and 4 batters (Shane Roebuck and Caleb Dempsey),鈥� said Groover. Roebuck belted the game-winning, three-run home run in Wednesday蘑菇视频 7-4 win.
Although the Copperheads stranded eight runners, Krause said his squad came through when it had opportunities to do so.
鈥淎fter yesterday, we were busted up. We didn鈥檛 hit at opportune times last night. That hurt us,鈥� said Krause. 鈥淭hat big inning (tonight) pulled us out.鈥�
Krause understands no matter who wins the other semifinal, the Copperheads will be facing a quality team.
鈥淢ill Run has the good Legion players (from Connellsville) and Mitch蘑菇视频 Bail Bonds has some good college kids,鈥� said Krause. 鈥淚t鈥檒l be a good series.鈥�