Hermann lifts Bud’s to 3-2 series lead
Belmont Inn second baseman Steve Kezmarsky makes the force out against Bud Murphy's Andy Schleihauf during Game 5 of the Fayette County Baseball League finals Friday at Breakneck Field.
Mike Pegg (32) is congratulated by teammates after scoring for Belmont Inn on an RBI single by Steve Kezmarsky during Game 5 of the Fayette County Baseball League finals.
Bud Murphy's shortstop Jared Early waits for the throw as Belmont Inn's Mike Pegg slides safe into second Friday during Game 5 of the Fayette County Baseball League finals.
BULLSKIN TWP. — Bud Murphy’s and Belmont Inn went eight innings for the fourth time in five playoff games on Friday before Mike Hermann’s bases-loaded single gave Bud’s a 2-1 win and a 3-2 lead in the Fayette County Baseball League best-of-seven championship series.
The game featured another tight pitchers’ duel as Todd Dunham went the distance for Bud’s and Sam Beucher pitched the entire game for Belmont Inn.
Belmont Inn (19-15) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Mike Pegg led off with a walk and advanced to second on a ground out. With two outs, Steve Kezmarsky singled to drive in Pegg.
But that would be the visitors’ last hit of the game as Dunham retired 19 straight batters over 6.1 innings.
Beucher was strong through the early innings, surrendering a first-inning single to Jason Greene before retiring nine of the next 10 batters, including five strikeouts.
Bud Murphy’s (22-10) tied the score in the sixth when Jared Early singled with one out. Early and Greene were both safe on an infield grounder in which Belmont Inn players disagreed with the safe call at second base.
Andy Schleihauf followed with a single and Early beat the outfield throw to the plate to tie the score.
In the Bud Murphy’s eighth, Schleihauf led off with his third single and Ben Herrington followed with a single. Both runners advanced when a third strike pitch to Geremy Hoover went to the backstop.
After Belmont intentionally walked Dave Gonos to load the bases, Hermann hit a sharp ground ball that got past a diving Evan Arison at third base for the game winning hit as Schleihauf scored.
Together the teams have scored only 15 runs in the five games, with six of the runs having been scored in the four combined eighth innings.
“This is the first time I’ve seen eight innings in four of five (playoff) games,” said Bud’s manager Lou Pasquale. “We need a defibrillator.”
Pasquale said, “I’m comfortable putting anyone in the lineup. I know people wanted me to bunt after Andy got on, and we tried it with Geremy. Andy was heads up on the bases (on the passed ball), and Mike put the ball in play. He’s hit the ball hard and finally got one in the hole.”
While a win in Sunday’s 5:45 p.m. game at Hopwood would clinch the championship for Bud’s, Pasquale said his team has to have “convenient amnesia. We have to win one game, never mind the 3-2 lead.”
Belmont Inn manager Steve Kezmarsky pointed to three ground balls up the middle that Dunham gloved or knocked down for another fielder.
“Those were three singles that Dunham knocked down,” Kezmarsky said.
On the second base call that led to Bud’s tying run in the sixth, Kezmarsky said, “He was out, but that’s a judgment call. I’m 100 feet away and (the umpire’s) right there.
“(Bud Murphy’s) is a veteran ball team with a veteran pitcher. Our kids are disheartened. As an adult you have to be an adult. As kids you have to learn to become an adult. We’ll play to the end.”
NOTES: Bud Murphy’s is seeking another FCBL crown after losing in seven games to Blue Mountain last year. Bud’s last championship was in 2007 after beating Blaney Farms in five games.
Belmont Inn is in its second year of existence after playing as GK Realty last season.