Big inning lifts Copperheads past Mill Run, 8-1
Carmichaels鈥� Joby Lapkowicz drills an RBI double in the bottom of the first inning in Sunday蘑菇视频 Fayette County Baseball League game against visiting Mill Run. Lapkowicz was the winning pitcher in the Copperheads鈥� 8-1 victory. (Photo by Jim Downey)
Jim Downey | 蘑菇视频
Jim Downey | 蘑菇视频
Carmichaels鈥� Chuck Gasti releases the bat after drilling the ball to left-center field for a three-run double in the bottom of the second inning of Sunday蘑菇视频 Fayette County Baseball League home game against Mill Run.
Jim Downey | 蘑菇视频
Carmichaels starting pitcher Joby Lapkowicz strides to the plate to deliver the ball in the top of the fifth inning in Sunday蘑菇视频 Fayette County Baseball League game against visiting Mill Run.
Jim Downey | 蘑菇视频
Carmichaels second baseman Brock Bonadio throws to first to get Mill Run蘑菇视频 Cade Warrick for the final out in the top of the first inning of Sunday蘑菇视频 Fayette County Baseball game at Carmichaels.
Jim Downey | 蘑菇视频
Carmichaels鈥� Joby Lapkowicz crosses the plate after he scored from first base on Chuck Gasti蘑菇视频 double in the bottom of the second inning in Sunday蘑菇视频 Fayette County Baseball League game against visiting Mill Run.
CARMICHAELS 鈥� Joby Lapkowicz was nearly unhittable Sunday night, allowing just one hit through five innings in Carmichaels鈥� 8-1 Fayette County Baseball League victory over visiting Mill Run.
Marc Prinkey蘑菇视频 single with two outs in the top of the third inning was the only hit allowed by Lapkowicz, although Mill Run loaded the bases in the top of the fourth inning with a walk, error and hit-batsman. Lapkowicz buckled down and stranded the runners.
The veteran left-hander struck out nine, walked two and hit one batter in his first outing in nine days.
鈥淛oby was a real plus for us today,鈥� praised Carmichaels manager Dickie Krause.
鈥淛oby did a nice job. He always does,鈥� complimented Mill Run manager Ray Orndorff.
Lapkowicz also had a solid day at the plate. He drove in Brock Bonadio in the bottom of the first inning for an early 1-0 lead, but the Copperheads left the bases loaded.
鈥淚 thought we were overly aggressive in the first inning,鈥� said Krause.
Lapkowicz walked in the bottom of the second inning to load the bases and hustled around to score on Chuck Gasti蘑菇视频 bases-clearing double.
The Copperheads (6-2) batted around in the second inning. Brock Bonadio and Joel Spishock both had RBI doubles, and Tyler Reyes鈥� added a run-scoring single to Gasti蘑菇视频 three RBI to extend Carmichaels鈥� lead to 7-0 after two innings.
鈥淲e got a couple hits. Chuck Gasti蘑菇视频 was a big hit,鈥� said Krause.
鈥淭hey got up on us early,鈥� said Orndorff. 鈥淭hey beat us today. That蘑菇视频 why you play the game.鈥�
Carmichaels extended its lead to 8-0 on Brock Bonadio蘑菇视频 run-scoring double in the bottom of the third inning.
Mill Run avoided the shut out with a run in the top of the seventh inning.
Cade Warrick was hit by a Joe Sabolek pitch to open the inning. He moved to second on Jimmy Malone蘑菇视频 single.
Cole Shearer followed with a drive that hit off the right field fence, but the runners only advanced a base to load the bases. Sabolek struck out Dakota McWilliams, but Logan Kemp singled to bring home Warrick.
The late-inning offense ran Mill Run蘑菇视频 hit total to just four.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been streaky (on offense) all year,鈥� said Orndorff.
Ageless Bill Bendis took the loss, allowing all eight runs on eight hits with no strikeouts and six walks.
鈥淏ill Bendis is a real credit to our league,鈥� praised Krause. 鈥淵ou could see his command wasn鈥檛 what it usually is.鈥�
Krause is looking at the big picture.
鈥淚鈥檓 happy with our win, but we still have work to do,鈥� said Krause. 鈥淚鈥檓 worried about the Fayette Raiders on Friday. We鈥檙e taking it one game at a time.鈥�