Copperheads close regular season with 6-1 win
Jim Downey | 蘑菇视频
Carmichaels shortstop Brody Bonadio flips the ball to first base after recording the out at second on Mill Run蘑菇视频 Tanner Orndorff in the bottom of the fourth inning of Wednesday蘑菇视频 Fayette County Baseball League game in Mill Run.
Mill Run third baseman Cole Shearer whips the ball to first base to throw out Carmichaels' Nick Ricco in the top of the second inning during Wednesday's Fayette County Baseball League game in Mill Run.
Carmichaels' Tyler Reyes bounces off the ground after he stumbled over Drake Long's bat as he slid head first into the plate in the top of the fourth inning in Wednesday's Fayette County Baseball League game in Mill Run.
Carmichaels' Brody Bonadio is congratulated by teammate Chuck Gasti (5) as Mill Run catcher Logan Kemp watches the play in the field during the top of the fourth inning in Wednesday's Fayette County Baseball League game in Mill Run.
Carmichaels shortstop Brody Bonadio fires the ball to first base throw out Mill Run's Logan Kemp in the bottom of the second inning of Wednesday's Fayette County Baseball League game in Mill Run.
Mill Run starting pitcher Kyle Koontz snaps his elbow back before releasing the ball in the top of the first inning in Wednesday's Fayette County Baseball League game against Carmichaels.
Mill Run second baseman Josh Burns (50) gets out of the way as shortstop Tanner Orndorff steps on second base to record the out on Carmichaels' Brant Bonadio to end the top of the fourth inning in Wednesday's Fayette County Baseball League game in Mill Run.
MILL RUN 鈥� The playoffs were already set when Carmichaels traveled to Mill Run Wednesday night for their Fayette County Baseball League regular season finale.
Both managers, Carmichaels鈥� Dickie Krause and Mill Run蘑菇视频 Ray Orndorff, were looking to gain momentum heading into the start of the playoffs this weekend, and the Copperheads managed to gain a little with a 6-1 win over the Millers.
Carmichaels finished tied with Masontown atop the standings with a 9-3 record, but the top seed went to Masontown based on its 2-1 series advantage over the Copperheads. Carmichaels will host Mitch蘑菇视频 Bail Bonds Sunday at 5 p.m.
Mill Run (4-8) finished fourth and was scheduled to host the Fayette Raiders in the play-in game on Friday at 6 p.m. But, the game might be pushed up to Thursday due to weather concerns. The winner of the play-in game travels to Masontown on Sunday at a time to be determined.
鈥淲e were going to play this like this game mattered,鈥� said Krause. 鈥淲e have to get better. We had to play it to the hilt.鈥�
The pitchers controlled the first three innings with the Copperheads鈥� Nate Torbich allowing just one runner on an error in the third inning and Mill Run youngster Kole Koontz allowing singles to Brody Bonadio to start the game and John Przybylinski in the third inning. Bonadio was erased on an inning-ending double play.
鈥淚 thought Kole threw a nice game,鈥� praised Ray Orndorff. 鈥淜ole gave us what we needed tonight.鈥�
Carmichaels finally got to Koontz in the fourth inning.
Brody Bonadio was safe on an infield error to start the rally. Joby Lapkowicz ripped a line drive to center field to score Bonadio. Chuck Gasti蘑菇视频 single moved Lapkowicz to third.
Spishock蘑菇视频 sacrifice fly brought Lapkowicz home. Tyler Reyes singled and Nick Ricco walked to load the bases.
Drake Long ripped a single to right field to score Gasti and Reyes for a 4-0 lead. Brant Bonadio蘑菇视频 single scored Ricco.
鈥淲e hit well enough,鈥� said Krause. 鈥淲e haven鈥檛 been good up until last night (Tuesday against Mitch蘑菇视频 Bail Bonds). We鈥檝e been very inconsistent.鈥�
Mill Run responded in the bottom of the fourth inning for its lone run.
Tanner Orndorff singled to start the inning, but was thrown out at second base on Josh Burns鈥� grounder to first base. Burns moved to second on a passed ball and scored on Cole Shearer蘑菇视频 single.
鈥淥f course, our bats have been silent all year,鈥� lamented Ray Orndorff. 鈥淗opefully, we would pick it up offensively and build some momentum, but it didn鈥檛 happen.鈥�
Koontz stranded runners on the corners in the top of the fifth inning before giving way to Shearer. Ricco greeted Shearer with a home run over the left field fence. Shearer settled down and retired the final six batters.
Torbich stranded runners at second and third in the fifth inning after Brady Duricko doubled with two outs, and left Shearer at third in the sixth inning after he tripled with two outs.
Torbich gave way to Hunter Robinson with one out in the top of the seventh inning and Jimmy Malone on first base after he singled. Malone advanced to second on a wild pitch, but Robinson struck out the next two batters to close out the game.