Belmont Inn takes 2-0 series lead
HOPWOOD — Nate Fike scored on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the sixth inning with the bases loaded to break open a tied game and give Belmont Inn a 5-4 victory against Blue Mountain in the FCBL semifinals on Sunday night.
Belmont Inn had a 2-0 series lead and Blue Mountain faces the first elimination game Monday night.
“We like where we are now,” said Belmont Inn manager Steve Kezmarsky. “We hope to finish it (Monday), but if we need to go five games, we will. Bud Murphy’s is sitting there now waiting for one of us, and it would be nice to be the team that gets to face them.”
With one out and Fike at third base and Eric Fudala at second, Copperheads pitcher Zack Jeney intentionally walked Nick Erminio to create a double-play situation.
However, while Fudala was tagged out by the shortstop at third on a Mike Pegg fielder’s choice, Fike reached home to give Belmont Inn the lead.
Copperheads manager Richard Krause felt walking Erminio was the right call.
“It was a situation where we had to,” said Krause. “Erminio is a great hitter, and while Pegg is great, too, it provided a lefty-on-lefty situation. In all honesty, it probably saved us a few more runs.”
Despite committing five errors which accounted for four unearned runs, the Copperheads had a chance to take the lead in the seventh with the bases loaded and two outs.
Belmont Inn pitcher Sam Buecher prevented the comeback by striking out Thompson. Buecher pitched a complete game as Kezmarsky had a shortage of relievers.
“Evan Arison would have come in for us in the last few innings, but he is stuck in an airport right now in North Carolina,” said Kezmarksy. “It was either he (Buecher) stayed in, or I was going in. I hadn’t pitched since I was 11 and didn’t plan on starting.”
Buecher allowed eight hits and recorded 10strikeouts and three walks with three earned runs.
Jeney falls to 3-1, as he allowed two hits, struck out eight and walked eight.
Trailing 4-1 after five innings, Blue Mountain rallied with three runs in the sixth.
Facing the possibility of elimination, Krause felt his team needed to step up.
“We played better today, but made horrible errors you can’t afford to make,” said Krause. “We know what is on the line. We’ll be ready to play and take this to five games.”