Bud’s claims County League title
Coach Tom Sankovich congratulates Bud Murphy's Andy Schleihauf after he hit a two-run homer against Belmont Inn Wednesday at Breakneck Field in Bullskin Township.
Belmont Inn third baseman Evan Arison tags Bud Murphy's Kaitan Smiley out during Wednesday's Fayette County Baseball League championship finale at Breakneck Field. Bud Murphy's won, 10-0.
Belmont Inn's Eric Fudala, left, scrambles back to first base, as Bud Murphy's Ben Herrington waits for the ball during Wednesday's FCBL championship finale at Breakneck Field.
Bud Murphy's Andy Schleihauf is congratulated by pitcher Todd Dunham after blasting a two-run homer Wednesday at Breakneck Field during the seventh game of the FCBL playoff series. Schleihauf's shot made the score 3-0. Bud's won, 10-0.
Bud Murphy's catcher Mike Hermann tags Belmont Inn's Steve Kezmarsky out at home plate during Wednesday's Fayette County Baseball League championship finale at Breakneck Field to preserve the shutout.
BULLSKIN TWP — Game sevens are usually full of drama and excitement, but game seven of the Fayette County League championship didn’t follow the script.
Andy Schleihauf hit a two-run homer as Bud Murphy’s scored eight runs in two innings to beat Belmont Inn, 10-0, and claim another championship Wednesday.
“It was a hard-fought, long series,” said Belmont Inn head coach Steve Kezmarsky. “In this series, whoever was hot won the game and tonight we weren’t hot.”
If the series seemed longer than seven games, it’s because it was longer. Two nearly complete games were in the books for the series, but Mother Nature washed them out.
Additionally, Belmont Inn had momentum by way of a 6-0 win in game six that tied the series again.
“We played great in game six, but we knew Bud Murphy’s would come back fighting in the seventh game,” added Kezmarsky. “There were two good teams on the field, but somebody has to lose. Bud Murphy’s is a tough, veteran team.”
Bud Murphy’s had struggled offensively, but broke out quickly in the deciding game.
“We were due for a big game,” said Bud Murphy’s head coach Lou Pasquale. “In the regular season and into the playoffs, we scored in double digits, but we couldn’t get the bats going until tonight.”
Co-MVP Scheilhauf padded the 1-0 lead in the third inning. With a runner on first, he blasted a fly ball over the left-center field fence to make the score 3-0. Another single made the score 4-0.
Belmont Inn threatened later in the fifth inning, with runners on first and second. However, the runner was picked off by winning pitcher and Co-MVP Todd Dunham. Belmont Inn would get no closer to scoring.
Dunham pitched six innings, allowing three hits while striking out six batters and walking three.
Ronnie Holp came on in relief to record the final three outs.
“Pitching made the difference in this series,” said Pasquale. “We were able to roll through six or seven guys out on the mound. They have three quality starting pitchers, but it can catch up to you in a seven game series.”
“We need pitching depth,” added Kezmarsky. “We’ve come a long way considering this is our second year in the league.”
As is the case for any season in any sport, only one team ends the season in celebration, while the others look forward to next year.
“We have a young team, so the core is there. We just need a few more arms on the mound,” said Kezmarsky.
“It was a good series. Commissioner Dan Kupets, who puts a lot of hours into this league, couldn’t have wished for a better series to go seven games. We appreciate the work he does, because without him, we wouldn’t have this league.”