Waynesburg takes two from Carmichaels
CARMICHAELS – Like most teams in the Fayette American Legion Baseball League, both Waynesburg and Carmichaels face long stretches of doubleheaders in the hot summer sun. The teams squared off in an all Greene County twinbill on at Wana B Park in Carmichaels with the visiting Waynesburg squad coming away with a pair of victories. The visitors won a seven-inning contest by the final of 10-7, and followed with a five-inning 4-2 triumph.
Leading just 1-0 after two innings, Waynesburg exploded for five runs in the top of the third.
After first baseman Matt Fox led off with a walk, starting pitcher Josh Snyder followed with a single and both runners advanced on a throw from the outfield. Third baseman Keith Watson tagged a two-run single into left that plated both of his teammates to extend his team’s lead to 3-0.
After second baseman Levi Durbin reached on an error and stole second, catcher Steven McCaw slapped a two-run single that put Waynesburg ahead 5-0. Two batters later, center fielder Derek Coss scored on a two-base error in the outfield.
Carmichaels got back into the contest with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, and one more in the bottom of the fifth, which cut the lead to two (6-4).
However, the visitors outscored their hosts 4-3 in the sixth and seventh innings to grab the win. Snyder threw a complete game to get the win. He allowed six earned runs on 10 hits and five walks, while also racking up seven strikeouts.
Zach Wolfe started and took the loss for Carmichaels. He worked four innings and gave up six runs, four earned, on six hits and two walks, while hitting four more.
Durbin reached base four times and scored three runs in the opener.
Watson went 2-for-five with three RBI and three runs scored. McCaw also drove in three.
In a shortened game two, Carmichaels took an early 1-0 lead when shortstop Billy Musgrove walked and scored on an error during the at-bat of Anthony Farrar.
However, the lead didn’t last long as Fox and Snyder both reached base on one-out singles and eventually coming around to score, giving their team a 2-1 advantage.
Waynesburg eventually built a 4-1 lead after three innings of action, before the home team managed to put up a run in the top of the fifth.
McCaw got the win on the mound after throwing three innings of one-run ball. He struck out four, while walking just one and not allowing a hit. In fact, he combined with Snyder and Derek Coss to no-hit Carmichaels. Coss got the save after yielding a run in the fifth.
Fox picked up two hits in game two, while Snyder scored two runs.
Starting pitcher Nick Clarke gave up two runs in the bottom of the first and left with his team in a deficit that they were never able to escape.
While Waynesburg manager Steve Coss was very happy to pick up the two wins, he knows his team still has a long, hard struggle in front of them as they try to improve their playoff positioning.
“It was good to get a sweep today. It’s been a struggle to get players out here with vacations and work,” Coss said. “With the way trying to get pitching is around the league, everyone hurts.”
For Carmichaels head coach Eddie Minor, this year has been more about breaking in a new generation of Carmichaels legion players.
“We’re very young, but we’re going to let those guys out there play. It will pay off in the long run,” Minor said.