Jul 4, 2002 By Justin Zackal For The 3 min read

POINT MARION – There is no strategy better than jacking the ball over the fence. Carmichaels proved this with back-to-back home runs in its 6-4 win over Masontown-Point Marion in American Legion baseball action Wednesday. Masontown tied the game at four in the fifth inning by executing a perfect suicide squeeze.

But those cunning plays were no match for the long ball. Colby Giles and Shayne Busti hit consecutive home runs over the center field wall in the seventh inning for Carmichaels’ go-ahead and insurance runs.

“Our guys executed and did the things we had to do to win,” said Masontown manager Shawn O’Neil. “But they had those two big hits.”

The homers came off Masontown starting pitcher Mike Budinsky, who allowed the six runs off seven hits.

“We didn’t hit the ball well today, but we got the two big hits when we needed them,” said Carmichaels manager Jerry Kowalczyk. “That brought them down, and lifted us to the win.”

“With the short fence, you are going to give up at least two homers,” O’Neil said. “They are good hitters; (Giles) hit a good pitch on the outside part of the plate.”

Masontown solved Carmichaels starting pitcher Jeff Lapkowicz in the fifth inning. Lapkowicz struck out eight in the first four innings, while allowing an unearned run in the second. After Scott Piper walked to lead off Masontown’s fifth, Adam Weakland hit an RBI triple to right field. Weakland later scored when Bob Epley laid a down a successful suicide squeeze bunt, and reached base on the play.

“I like to use it when you have the right people on base,” O’Neil said. “We got both benefits from it when (Epley) reached base.”

“They like to bunt,” Kowalczyk said. “Shawn does a good job with that.”

Masontown threatened in the final three innings, having runners in scoring position in each frame.

Carmichaels relief pitcher Matt Fanase escaped each inning, despite surrendering two walks and three hits.

Carmichaels nearly pulled off a 5-4-3 triple play in the eighth inning, while settling for two outs on Jerome Manchas’ grounder to third base. The ensuing batter, Ryan Jenkins, would have advanced Manchas. However, Jamie Kowalcyzk snared his bloop hit to shallow right field with a diving catch to end the inning.

“We stuck in there, and we proved to be the better team,” Jerry Kowalcyzk said. “Our kids are playing really tough right now.”

Busti, Jeff Lapkowicz and Fanase led Carmichaels with two-hit games, while Masontown’s Craig Hriblan led his team with a pair of singles.

Carmichaels improves to 13-5 on the season, and will travel to Colonial Monday for a doubleheader without the services of Jono Menhart, who is out for the season with a hip injury suffered prior this week’s games.

Masontown drops to 6-10 and will visit Hutchinson Field Friday for a 5 p.m. doubleheader with Uniontown.