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600th win: Falcons down Colonials, reach baseball milestone

By Jim Kriek For The 4 min read

MASONTOWN – On a day that was perfect for baseball, Connellsville pushed the sport aside for a moment to write a new page in the school’s already long and illustrious baseball history. The Falcons scored in all but one inning on the way to a 15-5 win over host Albert Gallatin to end the first round of Section 2-AAA play. But the win was even more significant in that it was not only their ninth of the season; it was also the 600th since the school started playing baseball in 1971.

As he reflected on the win, coach Bob Renzi said, “600 wins and only 172 losses in 31 seasons. That averages out to about 20 wins a year and six losses. It’s an amazing record. We don’t play as many games as we used to, but it’s still a lot of baseball in a real good program. And we have had good feeder programs along the way.”

Then he stopped for a moment and laughingly recalled, “I have been coaching baseball 29 years, half my life. I was at Geibel nine years, and I have been with Connellsville 20, eight as an assistant and 12 as head coach. And I had a lot of fun working with Tom Sankovich.

“This record says a lot about the type of player that we get. For example, seven of our players this year are sons of men who played for us. There has been a lot of tradition and family history over the years on the way to 600.”

As for the win itself, Renzi said, “We wanted to finish the first round 5-0, which would put us two-up on everybody else. This field here isn’t an easy place for us to play for AG battles us right to the wire. They never quit, even when we got out 7-1, they came right back with three.”

Anthony Smith worked the historic win for the Falcons, allowing six hits, not walking a batter and striking out six.

Of the Colonial hits, Chris Buncic had a homer and single, Josh Franks a home run and Bob Epley a double.

Renzi said, “Anthony has had three good outings in his last three starts. He has been close to the plate consistently, and he mixes his pitches well.”

Connellsville (9-1, 5-0) had 16 hits off four pitchers, led by Andy Beucher with a 3-run homer, two doubles and four RBI; Brandon Bryner a double, single and three RBI; Brad Livingston a brace of doubles; Chris Marsinko a double and single; and Smith who helped start his win with a RBI double.

AG coach Shawn Chory noted, “I think this was a good game despite the final score. We were down 7-1 and made a comeback. Connellsville’s defense was outstanding; they took away several potential hits from us. It shows why they are 5-0 in the section. I congratulate Connellsville for reaching 600 wins. It’s a tribute to an excellent program.”

Connellsville led 3-0 in the first on a force play, Smith’s double and an error.

Albert Gallatin (6-5, 2-3) came back with one as Buncic singled, stole second and moved around on an errant pickoff try and an out.

The Falcons went up 7-1 in the second. Livingston had a leadoff double and Justin Marsinko bunted safely. Tony Marciante walked to load them up, Chris Marsinko doubled for two and Bryner singled in two more.

Franks led off the Colonial third with a drive over the fence in left, Adam Weakland singled and Buncic homered to left.

Connellsville added one in the fourth on Chris. Marsinko’s single and Beucher’s double, and in the fifth, Luckey was hit by a pitch and Livingston doubled him in.

Three more runs crossed in the sixth on doubles by Beucher and Bryner, a walk, a fielder’s choice and Joe Kooser’s two-run single to make it 12-2.

Albert Gallatin completed its scoring in the home sixth on Epley’s double and Jerome Manchas’ single.

Connellsville closed with three runs in the seventh on a walk to Chris Marsinko, Josh Mancini’s single and Beucher’s shot over the fence in left.

Chory said he would be missing two players the rest of the season, noting that “Mike Kisko, who had been our cleanup hitter, broke his hand at Ringgold, and Chad Filmeck broke his ankle in a game last Friday. Both are done for the year.

“Then today, Ken Cerny popped his knee in batting practice and is out indefinitely. I wish all three a speedy recovery.”

The Colonials will be at home Saturday with Uniontown in section play at noon to be followed by a JV game.

Connellsville hosts Bethel Park Thursday, and then starts second-round play Saturday at Hempfield (12).

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