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Uniontown Legion hands Belle Vernon first loss

By Paul Brittainfor Heraldstandard.Com 3 min read
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?HOPWOOD — Belle Vernon came to the Hutchinson SportsmenĢƵ Complex on Monday with a perfect 11-0 record. Seven innings later, the visitors left with their first loss to Uniontown, an 11-1 conquest courtesy of the four-hit pitching of Mason Fordyce, and a 17-hit Uniontown output at the plate.

“The key was that we got a couple of runs, then (Belle Vernon) made a couple of mistakes that helped out and we really took advantage of today,” said first year Uniontown coach Scott DeBerry.

“We’re finally starting to realize that we can’t just show up and go through the motions. You’ve got to work for it.”

Fordyce showed up with what DeBerry said was “a chip on his shoulder,” retiring the first nine Belle Vernon batters, and ending the abbreviated seven-inning game with 10 strikeouts. Uniontown (7-4) took a 1-0 lead n the first inning when Jake Riddell singled with one out, stole second, and scored on Ed DutkewyczĢƵ two-out single.

Belle Vernon (11-1) tied the score by stealing a run in the fourth when Dean Manown scored while Jesse Tatsch was being thrown out at second base. Manown had two of BVĢƵ four hits off Fordyce.

Uniontown exploded for seven runs in the sixth inning, scoring the first two runs without the ball leaving the infield. Tyler Dubovich and Bobby King had infield hits, Mike Patricelli was safe on an error as Dubovich scored, and King scored on Adam CraytonĢƵ bunt single for a 3-1 lead.

Tim Mayers and Fordyce followed with doubles, Riddell singled one out later, and Dubovich singled for the second time in the inning for an 8-1 lead.

With one out in the seventh, Patricelli doubled and scored on CraytonĢƵ double, and Mayers second double of the night drove in Crayton for a 10-1 lead. After Fordyce singled, Max Beatty was intentionally walked, but RiddellĢƵ sacrifice fly to short right field brought in Mayers to end the game on the 10-run mercy rule when the outfield throw was wide.

Mayers had three hits while Beatty, Riddell, Dubovich, King, Crayton, and Fordyce had two hits each.

Belle Vernon coach Bill Frankel said Fordyce “had our number today. (Uniontown) has a good team.”

Frankel said his team came out flat, partially from players being tired from a combination of consecutive Legion games and traveling league games. “ItĢƵ a long season. We’ll be back after them on Wednesday at our place. We have to get everybody rested and healthy.”

DeBerry said he knows Belle Vernon will use MondayĢƵ game as motivation for Wednesday nightĢƵ rematch and said, “It should be a very competitive game.”

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