Jun 19, 2002 By Jim Kriek For The 4 min read

MASONTOWN – Ryan Shetterly might be ninth in the lineup and nine in position played (RF), but today he ranks number one in any category with his teammates. Shetterly’s two-run homer in the sixth inning broke up a strong pitchers’ battle between Eric Holt and Jim Kubina, and gave Carmichaels the final edge over Masontown, 4-3, in a County Baseball League nailbiter Tuesday.

Until the sixth, the two pitchers were locked in as good a mound battle as you would want to watch. Kubina went the distance and allowed just four hits, two by Lee Fritz, a double by Charlie Humes and Shetterly’s winning clout.

Holt worked six innings, ceding three runs and seven hits, three by Brad Baker and doubles by Craig Zvolenski and Chad Shaneyfelt. When Masontown kicked up some dust in the seventh, Scott Swinchock came on and put down the rally.

To show how effective the pitchers were, Carmichaels first baseman Vince Zapotosky had 13 of the 21 outs, and Masontown first baseman Joel Yednock had 10 for the Wolfpack. Of 42 outs in the game, over half (23) were to first base.

Masontown coach Craig Zvolenski said, “Jim moved the ball around very well today. He kept good velocity the whole game and made them hit ground balls. Both teams played fine defense, and other than that home run, Jim had a great game. I think that we proved today we can play with one of the best teams in the league, a well coached team, and just a hit or two more in the right place and we could have won.”

They went to the top of the sixth in a 2-2 tie, then the Copperheads struck. With one out, Wally Ditsworth was safe on an error and Shetterly belted one high into the trees in left.

While his Copperheads won, manager Dickie Krause said, “We didn’t play smart baseball, and we were fortunate to win. We made far too many mental mistakes, but we got good pitching from Eric and a good relief effort from Scott.

“We didn’t hit the ball all that well today, but we got enough to win. We haven’t been hitting the ball that well all year, but the pitching has been there for us. Kubina is a quality pitcher with a good curve, and we knew coming in that it would be a tight game.”

Carmichaels led 1-0 in the first on a walk to J.W. Kayla and a two-out double by Humes.

Both teams were in good position to break up the game in the third.

Fritz singled to lead off for Carmichaels, stole second and got into third when Kayla’s bouncer was thrown too late to get him sliding in. Kayla was caught trying to steal second, and then Swinchock walked and Humes was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Jeff Thompson’s comebacker to the mound got Fritz at home, and Zapotosky grounded to short to end the inning.

Masontown went ahead in its third, 2-1.

Shaneyfelt doubled leading off, went to third as Kubina grounded out, and scored on an errant pickoff try. With two out, Baker and Van Sickle singled, and Jim Cole walked to load the bases, before Yednock grounded to third.

Carmichaels tied in the fourth on a two out walk to Shetterly, a wild pitch and an error.

Masontown made one last move in the seventh. Shaneyfelt walked to lead off, Kubina singled him to second and Swinchock was waved in. Jason Francis hit a bouncer near the plate that Thompson threw to third to get Shaneyfelt, and when the throw to first was high, Kubina wound up at third.

Baker singled to score Kubina, moving Francis to second, and he went to third when a pickoff try was thrown low. But Swinchock got two fly balls to end the game.