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

One big inning of scoring and a good pitching effort by each winner proved to be the prime ingredients for a split, and the breaking of a field “jinx.” Connellsville and Carmichaels divided a Fayette American Legion Baseball doubleheader Monday at the Connellsville High School Field, with Connellsville winning the opener 4-2, and Carmichaels taking the nightcap, 10-4.

In the opener, Connellsville got three runs and all its hits in the first inning to back up the pitching effort of Travis Henry. In the nightcap, Matt Fanase worked a six-hitter and Carmichaels scored nine runs in the third inning, to start its win.

But along with the split, Carmichaels manager Jerry Kowalczyk was just as happy to have broken a “jinx” for his team, as he noted, “I honestly can’t remember the last time we beat Connellsville here. In fact, this is the first time we have beaten them in a long while. This win has to give our team confidence for future meetings.”

Fanase gave up only six singles to Connellsville, two by Shawn Durr. Carmichaels had 11 hits, led by Shayne Busti with two doubles, a single, and four RBIs.

Jayce Donley had a double and single, and Drew Denham, who also worked an inning of relief in each game, had two singles.

Kowalczyk said, “His slider was working very well, and he held them down, plus we came to life with the bats.”

Carmichaels put the game away with nine runs in the third. A walk to Denham, with Donley and Jamie Kowalczyk singles, loaded the bases. Denham was forced at home, then Colby Giles was purposely walked, Busti singled, Jeff Lapkowicz was nicked by a pitch, Fanase, Justin Corso, and Denham singled and Donley doubled.

Connellsville manager Kevin Henry noted, “One inning was all it took, and they got us into a situation we didn’t get out of.”

Connellsville got two in the fourth on Phil Gratchic and Durr singles, plus two errors, and two more in the fifth on a walk, Brandon Bryner’s single and an error.

Carmichaels added one in the fourth on Bryan Lorence’s single and Busti’s double, and closed scoring the sixth on an error and Busti’s second double.

In the first game, Giles was in trouble only in the first inning. Connellsville tagged him for all five of their hits and three runs, then held off a late Carmichaels’ threat to preserve the win.

Henry noted, “One inning and that was all we had. We didn’t play a full game of baseball in either one. We don’t come back very well, we don’t get the big hit when we need it, and we did not play fundamental baseball nor were we disciplined at the plate.”

Travis Henry allowed seven hits, including Jared Lapkowicz’s triple and Lorence’s two singles. Connellsville counted doubles by Tony Marciante and Brad Livingston.

Connellsville led 3-0 in the first. With one out, Chris Marsinko singled, Marciante and Livingston doubled, Travis Henry was aboard on a force play, and Jon Stutzman and Matt Rupp singled.

From that point on, Giles threw zeroes in hitting, but ceded a run in the third when Marciante was safe on an error, stole second, and came around on an out and wild pitch.

Jerry Kowalczyk said, “We told Giles to mix up his pitches, get away from the fastball and give them more sliders and slower stuff, and he held them down after that.”

Carmichaels escaped the collar in the sixth. With two out, Busti singled, Jared Lapkowicz tripled him in and Jeff Lapkowicz singled.

Carnmichaels loaded the bases with two out in the seventh, but a force play ended the game.

Connellsville will be at home Wednesday in another twinbill, with Perryopolis, at 4 p.m.