Apr 14, 2002 By Jim Kriek For The 4 min read

CARMICHAELS – It was a perfect day for baseball so why not have a near-perfect game to go with it? Two errors that allowed two runners to reach base were all that stood between Jarrod Lapkowicz and a perfect outing as Carmichaels collared Avella, 10-0, in Section 1-A baseball play on a warm Friday afternoon. Play ended in the Mikes’ fifth under the 10-run rule.

Lapkowicz threw only 48 pitches while facing 16 batters, one over par for the distance. With one down in the first, Justin Fusarelli was aboard on an error, then erased on the front end of a double play. Ron Brandenburg reached first on an error to start the second and stayed there as Lapkowicz retired 12 consecutive batters the rest of the way.

Two Mike outfielders could have stayed on the bench for the only business going their way all afternoon was Mike Hohn’s fly ball to Jono Menhart in center in the third. There were also six strikeouts, six outs at first, one popup and one force at second. Only one batter reached the full count, ironically the last one Lapkowicz faced. Nathan Marquis went 3-2 before fouling out to catcher Jeff Lapkowicz.

The game had barely ended when the question arose if this was the first no-hitter ever pitched by a Carmichael’s freshman. No records are available to say one way or the other.

Lapkowicz said he “threw one other no-hitter in Pony League play. The curve was my best pitch today. We set them up with the fastball then used the curve effectively, plus I had some real good defense back of me. I didn’t know I had a no-hitter going until the players told me coming off the field after the game.”

Not too many schools other than Carmichaels can ever say that they have had a twin brother battery with Jarrod throwing to Jeff.

Jeff added, “I feel comfortable with him catching; he keeps me relaxed. I may have shaken him off a couple of times, but other than that, I just threw what he called for.”

Coach Dave Bates said, “This was Jarrod’s second big outing for us. For a freshman, he has a lot of poise on the mound. He has good form, he’s consistent and he’s very coachable.”

The Mike coach was also “pleased with our baserunning. We ran the bases as well today as we have run all season. Everybody did something today to help get the win. I have been pleased with the development of this team overall so far. They want to learn, and they will work to learn.”

Avella (1-4, 1-3) coach Jim Morris said, “Two bad errors hurt us, giving them the chance to break away early, and they were so aggressive on the basepaths.”

The Mikes had nine hits off two pitchers, Menhart and Jamie Kowalczyk with a brace of singles and Bryan Wilson a double for the only extra-base hit of the game.

Carmichaels (5-1, 4-0) led 2-0 in the first. Menhart hit a leadoff single, stole second, moved to third on an out and scored as Shayne Busti was safe on an error. Busti stole second and scored on pitcher Lapkowicz’ s single.

Colby Giles walked to open the second, stole second, then was stealing third as Busti grounded out and kept on running around third to score on the out.

Then came the clinching 7-run fifth. Kowalczyk, Menhart, Giles and Busti singled. With one out, a fielder’s choice, Wilson’s double, an error and singles by Bowlen and Kowalczyk completed the scoring.

The Mikes will be on the road for three games this week, Tuesday at Mapletown and Friday at Jefferson-Morgan in section play, and Wednesday at Beth-Center for a twi-night doubleheader under the lights, starting with a JV game at 4 p.m.