Mikes come up shot in Section 1-AA battle to California, 10-2
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Carmichaels’ Al Cree scores a run for the Mikes on a single hit by teammate Cody Brown during their Section 1-AA match-up with California Monday at Carmichaels High School.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Carmichaels’ Hunter Phillips (1) dives safely for first then steals second when the ball gets away from California first baseman Enzo Mariscotti during their Section 1-AA game Monday at Carmichaels High School.
CARMICHAELS — Carmichaels and California were in a tight Section 1-AA baseball game on Monday at Carmichaels High School when Trojans third baseman Alex Adams made the play of the game.
The Mikes (2-1, 4-1) were batting in the bottom of the fourth with the bases loaded and two outs when Carmichaels’ Collin Reynolds smacked a ball down the third-base line. Adams made the diving stop and raced to the bag to force out the Mikes’ Matthew Barrish to preserve a 4-2 Trojans’ advantage.
California picked up two runs in the next inning and four more in the sixth for a 10-2 victory between the top two teams in the section.
“That was the play of the game, because they had the bases loaded and it was a 4-2 game,” California coach Nick Damico said. “They tie the game if he doesn’t make that play, and with high school kids, a game can change if it’s 4-4.”
The Mikes entered the bottom of the fourth with a 4-1 deficit and after a groundout to start the inning, Chad Ruse singled and Hunter Phillips reached base after he was hit-by-pitch on a 3-2 count.
California starting pitcher Brandon Powell was taken out of the game in favor of Jake Swartz after Phillips reached first base.
Ruse moved to second on a steal, and third on a wild pitch before scoring on a double steal to cut the deficit to 4-2.
With two outs, Barrish was hit by a pitch and Damico had Carmichaels first baseman Joel Spishock intentionally walked to load the bases, but Adams’ play got the Trojans out of the inning without any further damage.
“If that ball gets down the line, it is a tie ball game,” Carmichaels coach Dickie Krause said. “We were gritty today, and we came back after giving up three in the first inning.”
Powell picked up the victory on the mound for California after allowing two runs on four hits in 3 and 1/3 innings of work. He had three strikeouts and walked three.
”Brandon (Powell) did his job,” Damico said. “He didn’t have his best stuff today, but he was able to filter them as best as he could. You could tell he was getting tired and we have a lot of confidence in Jacob Swartz coming out of the pen. Our staff is pretty deep.”
The Trojans added their two runs in the fifth on two hits when Nathaniel Luketich led off with a single to left field, moved to second on a stolen base, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on Tyler Jacobs’ sacrifice fly to left field.
Enzo Mariscotti doubled and scored when Richard Stimmell was caught in a run-down for a 6-2 advantage heading into the bottom of the fifth.
California was aggressive on the base paths in stealing eight bases. Powell and Johnny DeFranco had two steals, and Luketich swiped a bag.
”We are really aggressive on the bases,” Damico said. “I think when we stole a few bases early, their lefty was focused more on our runners than our hitters and fell behind in the count, which was advantageous for us, so the running had a dual effect today.”
Krause knew that the Trojans would run, and their success on the bases came down to execution.
”We were prepared for them running,” Krause said. “We just didn’t execute today.”
California added four runs in the sixth on three hits when Luketich’s two-run double scored Brendan Sheehan, who had singled, and DeFranco, who walked, for an 8-2 advantage. Jacobs’ two-run double plated Powell and courtesy runner Bobby Harris for a 10-2 lead. Jacobs had five RBIs in going 2-for-3.
Luketich relieved Swartz in the sixth inning and pitched two scoreless innings. He had three strikeouts and hit one batter.
”Nathaniel (Luketich) has been doing a good job for us pitching and he has been hitting,” Damico said.
The Trojans struck for three runs in the first on one hit when DeFranco, Powell and Luketich walked to load the bases. Jacobs’ two-run single with one out gave the visitors a 2-0 lead.
Stimmell’s sacrifice fly to right field scored Luketich for a 3-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the first.
”I was looking at Carmichaels’ first five games and they scored in the first inning in every game, so we knew we had to score early to combat off them because they did score a run in the first off us,” Damico said. “Putting up three in the first inning was huge for us. We drew a lot of walks but the No. 1 priority in this program is on-base percentage. The goal is to get on base.”
Barrish took the loss on the mound for the Mikes after allowing six runs on four hits in 4 2/3 innings of work. He had five strikeouts but walked five. Carmichaels walked nine batters.
“You are not going to beat anybody walking nine batters, especially walking nine batters against them,” Krause said.
The Mikes scored added one run in the bottom of the firstinning on two hits when Barrish walked, Spishock doubled and courtesy runner Al Cree scored on Cody Brown’s single for a 3-1 California lead. Chad Ruse scored the Mikes’ other run on a double steal.
The Trojans got the run back in the second when Powell walked, stole second and scored on Luketich’s RBI single for a 4-1 advantage.
California hosts Beth-Center (1-2, 1-4 on Wednesday in a Section 1-AA battle, while Carmichaels looks to get back on track in section action when it travels to Perryopolis to play Frazier (2-1, 2-3).