Apr 25, 2002 By Jim Kriek For The 4 min read

HEMPFIELD TOWNSHIP – Connellsville re-learned the hard way Wednesday a lesson that coach Bob Renzi has been preaching to them all season. You never have enough runs.

Connellsville was leading 14-6 going into the bottom of the seventh. Then host Hempfield came to life, scored six runs and had the bases loaded with two out before the fire was finally put out and Connellsville had clinched a 14-12 win in a free-swinging Section 2-AAA affair.

Renzi said afterward, “You never have enough runs. I don’t care what the score is. As long as the other team has outs remaining, you can never have enough runs. If they had managed one more hit in the seventh, they would either have gained a tie or they would have come back and beaten us.”

Connellsville (12-1, 7-0) appeared safe with three runs in the top of the seventh. Brad Livingston opened with a single, and Eric Luckey bunted him ahead. Tony Marciante’s grounder was thrown high at second trying for the force, and the Falcons had the bases loaded. Chris Marsinko’s grounder was thrown home for the force, Anthony Smith’s fly ball was dropped with Luckey scoring, and Andy Beucher doubled in two more.

Then Hempfield made its closing move. Warren Cibattoni and Nate Hopkins singled. Dave Campbell’s fly ball was dropped to load the bases, and Tony Tempo singled for two. That was all for starter Smith, and Matt Rupp came on in relief.

Mike Yencha walked to load them up, Jerry Dopkowski singled, and after a force at second, Steve Zemba singled. Following an error Cibattoni was up for the second time and singled again. Hopkins, who had already homered twice, popped to third, and Campbell, with a 2-2 count, fouled off four pitches before missing strike three to end the game.

With the win, Connellsville is assured of no worse than a tie for the section title, standing 7-0 with three games left, and all the other teams trailing the Falcons have at least three losses.

Connellsville (12-1) is slated to play Laurel Highlands at 4:30 p.m. today at the Hutchinson Field, where a win would clinch the title outright.

Renzi noted, “We stood at the plate and took too many good strikes, but we did have some key hits. Luckey’s double was a gamer, plus he had a good bunt in the seventh and made some good defensive plays in the infield. We came back twice to get the lead, and that was a big plus for us.

“In that last inning, I was thinking that if we can hold them off and win, it will again remind that you can never score enough runs, but a loss could also cause us to lose everything we have worked for so far.”

Hempfield coach Rick Kozain said, “We made one other comeback earlier this year, getting eight runs in the seventh. But the big thing was that they got the key hits and we didn’t. Our pitcher was doing well, but they just caught up to him.”

Each team had 17 hits. Connellsville was led by Chris Marsinko with a homer, double and single; Beucher two doubles, a single and four RBIs; Marciante a double and single; Luckey a double and two singles; and Corey Fox and Smith a pair of singles.

Every player for Hempfield had at least one hit. Hopkins had two homers and a single, Dopkowski a homer and single, Campbell a double and single and Zemba, Mike Hoak and Cibattoni each had two singles.

The Falcons led 3-0 in the first on singles by Marsinko and Smith, Beucher’s double and Brandon Bryner’s squeeze bunt.

Hempfield (4-7, 2-4) came right back with a walk, Hoak’s single and Hopkins’ high drive over the fence in left.

Yencha’s single and Dopkowski’s homer made it 5-3 in the second. CAHS tied in the third with Marsinko’s double and singles by Smith and Bryner, around an error. But the Spartans took the lead back, 6-5, in their third with Hopkins’ second shot to left.

Connellsville took an 11-6 lead in the fifth as Bryner and Jon Stutzman walked, Fox singled, Luckey and Marciante doubled and Marsinko drove one over the left-center fence to set the stage for the seventh inning fireworks.