Jun 26, 2009 3 min read

CARMICHEALS – Mario’s coach Lou Pasquale may have lost one of the best players in the Fayette County Baseball League, but his team doesn’t show signs of slowing as they defeated Blue Mountain 10-6. The Washington Wild Things signed Mario’s Shane Busti Tuesday morning, which left Pasquale a little bit unsure of the situation for his team. “It was no surprise that he got signed,” said Pasquale.

“He had a good workout with them, and I would have been more surprised had he not been signed.”

“After losing him we had to move some guys around and see where we would end up, but the guys responded well,” said Pasquale. “It was a see-saw type of game and we were able to come through when we needed to.”

After trailing 5-4 in the top of the fourth, Scott VanSickle hit a double to score Jeremy Thomas and Corey Sawka to give Mario’s a 6-5 lead, which they held the rest of the game.

Stephen Herman drove in VanSickle, while Herman’s pinch runner Zach Patterson scored on a Jeff Lapkowicz’ single to make the score 8-5 Mario’s.

Mario’s brought in Joby Lapkowicz to pitch in the bottom of the fourth, and he didn’t disappoint, giving up three hits and striking out five batters to maintain the lead.

“He did well for us tonight,” said Pasquale. “This was only his second game for us pitching because he had some high school playing going on, but he did well for us.”

Blue Mountain picked up a run against Lapkowicz in the bottom of the fifth with Jeff Thompson connecting for a double to send George Taylor home to make the score 8-6.

However, Mario’s put the game out of reach in the top of the seventh inning with Sawka connecting for a single to drive in Eric Fudala and Drew Denham to give Mario’s a 10-6 lead.

Blue Mountain coach Richard Krause said the early part of the game had been successful, but the inconsistency that has hurt his team this season showed up again.

“We hit better tonight,” said Krause. “Overall our batting was better. Up until the fourth inning we were ahead. But we started making silly mistakes that have plagued us all season. We’re just in a funk right now and can’t seem to get out.”

Blue Mountain led 3-1 after two innings, following a Chuck Gasti double that scored Dan Novak and Adam Lewter in the bottom of the second.

Mario’s grabbed its first lead in the top of the third with VanSickle scoring Sawka and Herman and Jeff Lapkowicz scoring on a Jared Lapkowicz double to make the score, 4-3 Mario’s.

Blue Mountain’s last lead was in the bottom of the third when Thompson connected for a triple that sent Taylor home and Mitch Monos singled to score Thompson for a 5-4 lead after three innings.

Ryan Group got the scoring started for Blue Mountain as he connected on a Todd Dunham pitch for a deep hit to left field running the bases for a inside the park home run.

Mario’s tied the game in the top of the second as an error by Cy Mozingo sent Fudala home.

Dunham allowed eight hits, one strikeout and one walk in three innings of work, while Blue Mountain starting pitcher Kevin Holdsworth gave up eight hits and three strikeouts and three walks.