Warrick, Brunson lead Mill Run to 15th win in 16 games
MILL RUN – If an observer wanted to be facetious, he could say that Mill Run “Bull-ed” its way to this win. John (Bull) Warrick hit a double, two singles and drove in four runs as Mill Run defeated Carmichaels 5-1 in Fayette County Baseball League action Friday.
Warrick took care of the hitting and Chris Brunson handled the pitching as Mill Run notched its 15th win in the last 16 games to tighten its hold on second place in the league’s East Division, trailing leader Bud Murphy’s by three in the loss column. And it has a big rematch at 1 p.m. today at the Breakneck Field.
On May 23, Mill Run lost to Carmichaels, 7-5, then ran off eight wins in a row before losing to Carmichaels, 4-3, and going on a 7-game run after that.
Manager Bugs Orndorff said, “Bull and Jeremy (Miller) were our big sticks today, and Chris had a great game on the mound. When we made an error that helped lead to their run in the first inning, I thought we were in trouble again. But then we came back and played a fine game after that. The only bad thing was our leaving too many runners on base (7) in scoring position.”
Brunson ceded a run in the first. Lee Fritz led off the game with a single and reached second when J. W. Kayla’s grounder was kicked. Vince Zapotosky bunted them ahead, and Charlie Humes singled Fritz across.
After that, Brunson threw three-hit shutout ball with only two runners advancing past first. Brunson had a run of 10 outs end when Humes got aboard on an error in the fourth, and Eric Holt singled him to second.
With two out in the fifth, Jeremiah Bandish drew Brunson’s only walk and went to second on Lee Fritz’ second single.
Catcher Chris Firestone said of Brunson’s effort, “His best pitch was his fastball. It was moving very well. He would throw the fastball, then go to a changeup, and back to the fastball, mixed in with an occasional curve. But he was around the plate all day and hit the spots I called for him to hit.”
Carmichaels manager Dickie Krause said, “We didn’t have any intensity today, and I’m not saying that to take anything away from Mill Run. Their pitcher threw a great game and Bull was their big hitter. But we were not our usual selves on the field. We had best work on that for we have a busy week ahead, with six games in seven days.”
Derek Fritz was equally tough on the mound for the Copperheads, allowing Mill Run just six hits. Warrick’s double was the only extra-base hit in the game. He struck out nine and allowed just one hit after the fourth.
For the game, other than one play, both outfields could have taken the day off. The Carmichaels pickets didn’t have a single putout, while Mill Run had one out the whole game, Holt lifting to Rich Orndorff in center to end the sixth inning.
Mill Run tied in its end of the first when Firestone walked, stole second, and came around on Jeremy Miller’s groundout and Warrick’s single. Firestone was on base four times by four different methods – walk, hit by a pitch, fielder’s choice and a single.
Firestone was nicked leading off the third, stole second and scored on Miller’s grounder and Warrick’s single. Three runs in the fourth wrapped it up. Dennis Show walked and beat the throw to second, trying for the force on Firestone’s grounder. Miller singled Show in, and Warrick doubled Firestone and Miller across.
Carmichaels is at Anthony Crane (Republic) Monday and at Perryopolis Tuesday. Mill Run is at Bud’s today and home to Connellsville on Tuesday.