Apr 24, 2017 By Bill Hughes, For The Greene County Messenger 3 min read

BENTLEYVILLE — Mother Nature did not cooperate with Carmichaels and Bentworth Monday afternoon in their Section 1-AA contest, but it doesn’t mean that the portion of the game that was played was irrelevant.

The teams made it through three innings with Carmichaels ahead 2-1. The remainder will be made up today at Bentworth, weather permitting.

“The weather forecast did not predict this and we thought we would be able to come down and play,” said Carmichaels coach Dickie Krause. “We pushed a bit and have to hit a little better.”

One key advantage for Bentworth, according to Krause, is that Bentworth coach Dion Jansante took out starting pitcher Justin Kisner before he got to the 50-pitch limit and Riley Nickeson, who pitched the third, could throw today.

“Nickeson can probably go tomorrow,” said Krause. “That is going to give them an advantage.”

Jansante said before the game that he told Kisner and Nickeson that they would each see time on the mound.

“We play Wednesday and Thursday this week because our prom is Friday,” Jansante said. “I wanted to keep both under 50 pitches and both can go tomorrow, whereas their pitcher (Matthew Barrish) is done because he had 52.”

After a scoreless first inning, Carmichaels scored two unearned runs in the second.

With two outs, Liam Shea grounded to third base, but Ryan Wise’s throw shorthopped Derek Richards at first and got past him.

Shea made it to second base and after a single by Chad Rose advanced him to third, Shea scored on a bunt single by Hunter Phillips.

Rose scored moments later on a wild pitch.

Jansante commented on his team giving up two more unearned runs after giving up five in Bentworth’s 5-1 loss to Beth-Center Friday.

“That has been out M.O. this season and can’t seem to get that third out,” he said. “I don’t know if these guys are putting too much pressure on themselves or are thinking too hard, but we just have to make plays and when we do, we are a good ball team.”

Bentworth cut the lead in half in the third as Wise bunted in Josh Hughes, who singled earlier in the inning as the Bearcats bunted three straight batters.

Jansante talked about the importance of getting on the board in the third.

“We were able to get some guys on and do some things,” he said. “We work on bunting every day and it got us a run.”

However, the Bearcats left the bases loaded, like they did in the first inning, and they stranded seven runners over the first three innings.

The conclusion of today’s game will begin at 4 p.m.

Both teams return to section play Wednesday as Carmichaels hosts Beth-Center, while Bentworth is at Fort Cherry.