Uniontown Legion tops Charleroi
How’s this for a winning formula – half as much turned into twice as many. Uniontown had only half as many hits (6-13), but it used them in crucial spots to get twice as many runs and defeat Charleroi, 7-3, in American Legion Baseball League play Wednesday at the Hutchinson Field.
Uniontown manager Ron Popovich said of the win, “There are three things about winning baseball – defense, pitching, and key hits – and we had all three going today. Mike Allison pitched a fine game for us against a very good hitting team, holding them to six hits, while our defense had a great game behind him. And the key hit was Santino Sloboda’s double in the fourth that wrapped up a six-run inning.”
Popovich added, “Mike kept the ball down low, with his curve working very well, keeping them off balance by mixing up his pitches and making them hit grounders. He’s getting better each time out. He just pitches and lets the defense take care of the ball.”
The defense did that Wednesday. First baseman Paul Briczinski had 14 putouts, more than half of the game’s total (27), and the outfield had only two outs, both to Justin Luckey in right. Everything else was strikeout or infield out with the defense pulling four double plays.
Charleroi threatened in the ninth with two out on singles by Eugene Lonces and Brody Nichols and a walk to Gino DeRosa that loaded the bases. Popovich called time and went to the mound to talk to his pitcher.
“I told him he was pitching an excellent game and to forget about the runners on base, just concentrate on getting the final out and we can go home.” Popovich added.
Frank McLaughlin singled for one run, and turned for second on the throw to the plate but was cut down to end the game.
At the same time, Charleroi pitcher Keith Carson was also working a fine game. He held Uniontown to just six hits, but coupled two with two errors and a hit batter to get six in the fourth.
Manager Tom Hartman said, “That one big inning did it. Keith pitched a fine game for us, but we just couldn’t get him any runs. He had thrown some relief this year, but this was his first complete game, and his fastball and curve were working well for him. We had the hits today, but the defense stopped us.”
Charleroi (7-5) was led at bat by Nichols with a double and three singles, and McLaughlin, Trevor Consavage and Lonces had two singles apiece.
Sloboda and Dave Landman had doubles for Uniontown (11-4).
Uniontown led 1-0 in the second when Briczinski was hit by a pitch and moved around on a passed ball and an error.
Charleroi tied the game in its third when Lonces singled, Nichols doubled him to third, and he scored on McLaughlin’s groundout.
Charleroi led 2-1 in the fourth. Dave Wachinski was safe on a two-base error, leading off. He went to third on Jason Cypher’s single and scored when Charlie Fritsch’s grounder was thrown home too late for the tag.
Uniontown went ahead for good with six runs in the fourth. Ryan Gondek was hit by a pitch, leading off. Briczinski walked, and they worked the double steal. Aaron Lowden singled for one run and took second on the throw home. The runners held as Dan Fuller grounded out, and then Eric Darr was purposely walked to load the bases. Brad Yohman’s fly ball scored Briczinski with Lowden going to third and scoring when Landman was aboard on an error. Luckey was also safe on an error to load the bases, and Sloboda unloaded them with a two-base rap up the left-center alley.
Uniontown will be at California on Friday.