Frazier’s Souply pitches shutout against California
PERRYOPOLIS – Tuesday felt more like November than April, but in Western Pennsylvania, baseball teams take advantage of any dry day they get to play. Frazier hosted California in a Section 7-A contest and rode the four-hit pitching of Adam Souply to a 5-0 win over the Trojans.
“I can’t say enough about Souply,” Frazier coach Ray Smitley said. “He pitched one heck of a game. He got a little tired in the seventh, and tried to strike everybody out. I told him to settle down and pitch the way he had in the first six innings.”
California (2-6, 1-4) had several chances to break through against Souply, especially in the seventh when the Trojans loaded the bases with one out but could not come up with a key hit.
“We haven’t got timely hits all year,” California coach Don Hartman said. “We had guys on and can’t get a hit. That’s been the story of our season.”
California stranded a runner in the first. Shane Tonkavitch jumped on Souply’s first pitch of the game for a base hit to right before he was forced at second on a ground ball by Matt Morich. Souply came back to retire the next two batters to get out of the inning.
In the bottom of the first for Frazier (3-6,3-2), Steve (Buck) Erdley led off with a single then moved to second on a wild pitch. Andy Natale followed with a base hit. Souply struck out, and then Tom Begonia doubled to right to drive in both runners, giving the Commodores a 2-0 lead.
The threat of more Frazier runs ended on an alert play by the Trojans. John Paull flied to center for the second out. Begonia appeared to have tagged and moved to third on the play. California appealed claiming Begonia left the base early, and Freshman pitcher Andy Galis threw to second, and Begoinia was called out.
California threatened in the top of the third. With two out, Tonkavitch and Morich hit consecutive singles. Both advanced on a wild pitch to put runners at second and third. Souply struck out Parker Bongiorno to end the threat.
“The chips haven’t fallen for us this year,” Hartman said. “We are going to battle and keep coming after people, and play as best we can.”
Another California threat was snuffed out in the fourth. With one out, Don Higinbothem singled. Andy Galis attempted to bunt him over, but there was an error on the throw putting runners at first and third. The Trojans attempted a squeeze bunt, but the pitch was low, and Higinbothem breaking for the plate was caught in a 2-5-1 rundown and tagged out. Souply walked the batter, but got the next hitter to ground to second to get out of the inning.
“California has had some tough times this year but so have we, “Smitley said. ” I told the kids if they make the routine plays and do the fundamental things right, everything takes care of itself.”
The Commordores broke through with two more runs in the fifth. Erdley drew a walk to start the inning. Natale attempted a sacrifice bunt. There was a throwing error on the play, allowing Erdley to score and putting Natale on third. Souply followed with a ground ball to short, allowing Natale to score to increase the Frazier lead to 4-0.
Frazier added another run in the sixth. Jake Rabatin doubled for his second hit of the day to start the inning. Grant Gatalica followed with a sacrifice bunt. The Trojans attempted to get Rabatin at third, but the throw was late. Scott Knight followed with a base hit to left to drive in Rabatin.
“We got some key hits from people who have been struggling at the plate, like Rabatin and Knight,” Smitley said. “If they start making contact from here on out we’ll be a force to be reckoned with.”
California made one last push against Souply in the seventh. Andy Galis and Rob Galis drew walks to start the inning. Both advanced on a passed ball. Souply struck out the next batter then walked Mike Miske to load the bases and bring the top of order to the plate. Tonkavitch hit a line drive that was snared by second baseman Pat Black. Souply then got Morich to ground to short to end the game.
“This was a big win for us because it keeps us in the hunt for that second playoff spot, “Smitley said. “It’s going to be a dogfight in this section. I can see the second-place team having possibly three or four losses.”
Frazier will be on the road Thursday for a big showdown against section-leading Geibel.