California routs Carmichaels, 18-6
?CALIFORNIA — California rallied from a 5-0 deficit in the first inning to defeat Carmichaels, 18-6, in Fayette American Legion play.
The game was called after six innings due to the 12-run mercy rule on Monday afternoon.
Trailing 5-0 after the top of the first inning, California rallied with two runs in the bottom of the inning, and eight in the bottom of the third to take a 10-5 lead.
Adding seven runs in the fourth, California secured the win with Adam Bell scoring on a Tyler Delvar groundout to invoke the 12-run, 5-inning mercy rule in the bottom of the sixth.
In addition to rallying to win, California coach Chase Roman credited his team for making their hits count as he said that they recorded a season low with 10.
“To start of the game like this is something we haven’t dealt with all season,” said Roman. “We had a low in hits too, but the guys made up for it. I think they realize this was a big deficit to overcome, and if they give their all we can overcome these types of situations.”
Having not recorded a hit until the third inning, California exploded for seven hits and batted through the lineup as seven of the team’s starters scored runs to take a 10-5 lead.
Carmichaels (3-3) got a run back in the fourth as Tommy Shoaf singled to drive in Anthonie Farrar.
However, California added seven runs in the bottom of the fourth.
With runners at second and first with two outs and a 17-6 lead, California looked poised to invoke the 12-run, 5-inning mercy rule, but Tyler Bowman, the third pitcher California faced at that point in the game, struck out Seth Hvizda to end the inning.
Though only recording two hits in the fourth, California benefitted from three errors by Carmichaels, who committed six in the game, including two in the third.
Carmichaels coach Rick Grim felt the errors, and their affects in the third and fourth inning took a toll.
“It hurt our momentum,” said Grim. “You commit one error, and then you commit a second and it snowballs. It’s hard to regain momentum when that happens.”
Jordan Dicks gave Carmichaels a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when California starting pitcher Tommy Sparrow walked Brandon Kozich with bases loaded.
The next batter, Nick Clarke, connected on a Sparrow pitch for a 3-run triple.
Jon Krall singled to drive in Clarke and put Carmichaels ahead 5-0.
Sparrow improved to 2-1 as he surrendered six hits, walked two batters and struck out three in four innings of work.
Krall falls to 1-1 and gave up six hits, walked two batters and struck out two.
Clarke replaced Krall in the third inning.