Uniontown wraps up Fayette Legion championship
Gio Schiano’s three-run double in the third inning staked Uniontown a 9-0 lead and the defending Fayette American Legion champions never looked back in a 15-3 seven-inning win over California Tuesday night. With the win, Uniontown claimed its seventh consecutive Fayette Legion championship and the top seed in the upcoming double-elimination tournament.
“It’s been a good run, actually this is probably my last year as manager,” said Uniontown skipper Ron Popovich. “There’s been a lot of great players come through. We’ve had a lot of great teams.”
Dave Gaisbauer paced Uniontown’s offense with three of the team’s eight hits. Uniontown (14-6) scored three in the first and six in the third before California (11-9) came back with two in the bottom of the third. Uniontown locked up the win with five runs in the top of the fifth inning.
Uniontown needed the win after losing, 8-5, to Belle Vernon in the completion of a suspended game.
“We knew after losing the first game that we had to win the second one,” Popovich said. “You never know what might happen, though, so very inning we were trying to score.”
Belle Vernon 8, Uniontown 5 – Errors proved costly for Uniontown in the completion of this suspended game against Belle Vernon.
The teams had to play the last three innings of a game Belle Vernon had led, 3-2. Uniontown responded with three runs in the top of the seventh to take a 5-3 lead, but committed all three of its errors in a five-run Belle Vernon uprising in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Tuesday’s outcomes locked Belle Vernon (14-6) into second place.
County League
Pasta Lorenzo 4, Mitch’s Bail Bonds 1 – JoJo Maldonado had two RBI, including the game-winner with a sixth-inning single that scored Ken Musko to pace the Pasta Lorenzo offense.
Brandon Munshower pitched a strong complete game, giving up one run on six hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.
Losing pitcher Pat Gannon also was strong, allowing only two earned runs with 10 strikeouts and three walks. Todd Chisler had two singles for Pasta Lorenzo (4-9-1).
Mitch’s Bail Bonds (9-9) got four of their six hits from Isiah Bell and Ryan Encapara, who each doubled and singled.