Kezmarsky singles GK Realty into semis
HOPWOOD – Steve Kezmarsky hit his second walk-off single within a week to give GK Realty a 3-2 win over Pasta Lorenzo Sunday, clinching the team’s first round series in the Fayette County Baseball League. Earlier in the week, Kezmarsky’s game-winning single clinched GK’s third-place playoff position with a one-run win over Mill Run.
GK starting pitcher Gio Schiano walked five batters in the first three innings, but escaped without giving up a run with a first inning double play, and a strikeout and pop out with the bases loaded in the second.
But in the third, a one-out walk to Brent Baker proved costly when Ken Musko followed with his team’s first hit, a two-run home run off the left field scoreboard.
GK brought Bobby Madison to pitch in relief, and he earned his second win of the series by limiting GK to two hits and three bases runners over 4 2/3 innings.
The hosts tied the score in the bottom of the inning against PL starter Eric Palmer when John Eicher walked, Blake Robinson singled, and Nate Fike doubled both runners home one out later.
Palmer escaped trouble in the fourth inning after Madison and Logan Williams each singled. After a bunt was turned into a force out, PL’s second double play of the game ended the inning.
Fike tripled with two outs in the fifth, but Scott Hruby came in to pitch for PL and got the first of three strikeouts to end the threat.
Pasta Lorenzo’s biggest chance to break the ice came with two outs in the sixth when Todd Chisler and Hruby singled, but Chisler was thrown out trying to advance to third base on Hruby’s hit to end the inning.
With one out in the GK seventh, Eicher beat out an infield hit, stole second, and moved to third when the throw to second went into the outfield. Blake Robinson was intentionally walked and stole second as well with no throw attempted.
Kezmarsky then slammed a drive down the left field line that fell for the game-winning single.
Manager Steve Kezmarsky said GK battled through adversity in the win. “We had one sore-armed pitcher, Cory Sawka, was out with a knee infection, and two or three of our hitters were at the beach.
“Bobby is a true veteran and competitor. I also want to credit Gio Schiano, who hadn’t pitched all year until he gave us five awesome innings a few days ago.”
Kezmarsky was hoping for a day off before his team begins the next playoff round against Blue Mountain Tuesday with a 5:45 p.m. start at Carmichaels High School.
Pasta Lorenzo manager Dan Kupets said, “We had our chances, but we just didn’t hit. We had the bases loaded with one out in the second inning and couldn’t cash in. You’ve got to do everything right when you’re in this situation. A ball gets away (in the seventh) and instead of second base, we gave them another base.”