Jul 11, 2002 By Justin Zackal For The 3 min read

The bright lights did not expose Carmichaels’ home-plate burglary, as it sneaked five runs past Uniontown on just one hit in the second game of a doubleheader. Carmichaels stole the nightcap, 5-3, in American Legion baseball action at Hutchinson field Wednesday night, after Uniontown rolled to an 11-1 win in the first game.

The loss did not cost Uniontown, however, as it wrapped up a No. 2 seed in the playoffs with the win in the first game.

“It was a key win,” said Uniontown manager Ron Popovich. “We came out and did our job. Our defense just fell apart in the second game.”

Uniontown shut down Carmichaels, limiting it to three hits in the first game pitched by Brad Yohman, while Mike Allison, Ryan Gondek and Paul Briczinsky combined for the one-hitter in the second game.

“I don’t know what happened to our hitting,” said Carmichaels manager Jerry Kowalczyk. “Their pitchers just silenced us.”

“I told the kids that Carmichaels is one of the best hitting teams in the league,” Popovich said. “The first win was a big test. Brad Yohman pitched a nice ballgame.”

Yohman, who struck out one and walked one, gave up a solo home run by Carmichaels’ Andy Mazur in his complete-game win.

Matt Fanase suffered the loss for Carmichaels in the first game, as Dan Fuller hit a pair of doubles to finish with three RBIs.

“We came out flat,” Kowalczyk said.

“Mentally we didn’t seem like we were into it, and before you know it they had a big lead.”

Carmichaels continued its sluggish hitting in the second game, but four Uniontown errors, three walks and a hit batsmen yielded the five runs – all the same inning.

Jamie Kowalczyk led off the fourth inning on a Gondek bean. He then stole second and third base, and scored on a Jared Lapkowicz sacrifice fly.

Jeff Lapkowicz then broke the no-hitter with a base hit to right field to score Matt Fanase, who reached base on a walk.

After Justin Corso walked in the team’s next at-bat, Uniontown botched Mazur’s grounder to second. Jeff Lapkowicz scored from second base on the play, which would have ended the inning. Mazur eventually scored on another Uniontown error.

“You’ve got to make something happen,” Kowalczyk said. “They started throwing it away, and we took advantage. They gave us a lot of breaks.”

“We had some guys in there who weren’t usually in,” Popovich said. “We just booted the ball around.”

Uniontown took a 3-0 lead as Gondek recorded RBI-singles in the first and third innings. David Landman also knocked in a run when his single to center field scored Paul Metz in the third inning.

But the five-run fourth inning proved costly, as Carmichaels’ Jared Lapkowicz struck out four and did not allow a hit in three innings of relief for starting pitcher Justin Corso.

Gondek suffered the loss for Uniontown after relieving Allison, who pitched two inning of no-hit ball. Briczinsky hurled the final two innings, while striking out three.

Both managers agreed that the twinbill would benefit their teams as the playoffs begin Saturday.

“We always play to win,” Popovich said. “This was definitely a tune up.”

“We needed that,” Kowalczyk said. “The win gives my team momentum.”

Carmicheals (15-7) will either host or travel to Charleroi on Saturday, while Uniontown (15-6) will host a game on Saturday against a team that is yet to be determined.