Once Colonials rally, Smodic holds lead
RUFFSDALE – Albert Gallatin proved once again Monday the value of having a good fireman on the bench. The Colonials were trailing Southmoreland 3-1 in the second inning, the Scotties having the bases loaded and nobody out. Enter Alan Smodic, who retired the side, and went the rest of the way to pick up the decision when AG moved out in the third and went on to trip the host Scots, 9-3, in their non-section game.
Southmoreland led 3-1 after Brad Clingan walked to leadoff the second, Ryan Negri beat out a bunt and Mike Mardis walked to load them up. Chris Hawkins singled for one run, Tony Mains singled in two more and Eric Adams was hit by a pitch to load the bases again with nobody out.
Smodic got the call to relieve starter Josh Null. He retired Shane Datz on a flyball to center, and when Hawkins tried to score after the catch, he was cut down on a fine throw from Chris Buncic to catcher Brandon McMahan to complete the double play. A force play at second ended the inning.
From there, Smodic worked three-hit shutout ball over six innings, and didn’t walk a batter. He ceded a leadoff single to Hawkins in the fourth, a leadoff single to Jared Rendine in the fifth, and a one-out single to Datz in the seventh. Hawkins and Rendine got to third and Datz to second.
AG Coach Shawn Chory said, “That was a real fine relief effort by Smodic. He came in trailing 3-1 and that double play was a real big start for him. The out at the plate really gave us a big lift.
“Offensively, we hit our pitches today, we got ahead in the count, and we hit the ball hard. But defensively, we were a little shaky. We have to get more consistency there.”
The Colonials had nine hits, with Mike Kisko’s solo homer in the third the only extra-base hit in the game. Bob Epley had three hits, and Ryan Jenkins and Mike Budinsky two each. Hawkins, Mains and Rendine shared six of the seven Scotty hits.
Scot coach Brian Shipley noted, “Overall, our pitchers were throwing better than they have been as far as throwing strikes goes, but we have to play better defense behind them. We are not playing basic baseball, plus today we didn’t hit. We had only seven hits, and you won’t win too many games with only seven hits.
“We swung at bad pitches and let the good ones go by, we just were not consistent at the plate. Albert Gallatin put the ball in play and its pitchers threw strikes, and that’s the name of the game.”
Albert Gallatin (4-3) led 1-0 in the first after Chris Buncic walked, stole to third, and scored as Epley grounded out. After falling back 3-1 in the second, the Colonials took the lead for good in the third. Buncic walked and stole to third, Craig Hriblan walked and took second, and Epley singled them in, but was out trying for two bases. Kisko cleared the leftfield fence, to make it 4-3. Jerome Manchas was aboard on an error, Jenkins and Budinsky singled to load the bases, Mike Corob walked to force in a run and McMahan’s flyball made it 6-3.
Epley singled in the fourth and came around on two errors, and Epley and Jenkins singles, coupled with a walk and force play, and the Colonials added two in the sixth.
Albert Gallatin returns to Section 2-AAA action today, hosting Laurel Highlands.