Charleroi forces series-deciding game with 7-1 win
Ben Shields was unhittable and the home team scored four runs in the fourth inning as Charleroi staved off elimination Tuesday night with a 7-1 victory over visiting Belle Vernon in the Fayette County American Legion Baseball League semifinals.
The third and deciding game was to be played at Belle Vernon on Wednesday night. The winner faces Connellsville for the league championship.
Charleroi broke a scoreless tie with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Danny Verscharen drove in a run with a ground out and Jace Pager had an RBI single. The other two runs scored on an error.
Belle Vernon scored its lone run in the top of the fifth inning.
Charleroi added three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, two scoring on Shields’ double.
Shields allowed only a single to Austin Hoffman. He walked one and struck out 11 in the complete-game victory.
JB Crovak took the loss.