Baldwin knocks off Uniontown
PETERS TWP. – Most coaches have a hard time finding positives signs in a 10-1 loss, but Mark Edenfield had no problem seeing the bright side to Uniontown’s final game of the 2002 baseball season. Yes, the Red Raiders suffered a nine-run loss to Baldwin in their preliminary round WPIAL Class AAA playoff game at Peterswood Park Friday afternoon, but, like Sylvester Stallone’s character in “Rocky,” Uniontown refused to be knocked out and gallantly went the distance.
“We didn’t let it happen, and that made me feel great,” Edenfield said about his team hanging in the game. “I’m pleased with our effort. I’m pleased with our season.”
The Red Raiders reached the playoffs for the third time in five years under Edenfield by finishing tied for second place in Section 2-AAA. Uniontown had previously suffered through a 14-year postseason drought.
They came up short on this day, however, as Mike Finocchi pitched a four-hitter and the Highlanders combined to score nine runs in the third and fourth innings in overcoming a 1-0 deficit to advance into the first round. Baldwin will play second-seeded Blackhawk at Burgettstown on Monday.
Designated hitter Brian Chrisman drove in three runs with a pair of singles, and shortstop Brett Paranzino made up for a pair of errors by going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base for Baldwin.
Uniontown (10-10) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when first baseman Gary King reached base with two outs on Paranzino’s first error and came home on DH Billy Greg’s ringing double to left-center.
Losing pitcher Matt Greene retired the first seven batters before the Highlanders scored four runs with two outs in the fourth to take the lead for good.
“I was a little concerned,” said Baldwin coach Dan Caponi, who has guided the Highlanders into
the postseason in three of his four years. “Their pitcher was throwing all off-speed stuff and he had us off-balance a little bit.
“But good-hitting teams find a way to adjust.”
The Highlanders caught a few breaks in their third-inning rally as Uniontown dropped a potential inning-ending, double-play line drive and also botched a rundown play. Matt Bova’s double drove in the tying run and Paranzino singled in Bova with what proved to be the winning run to make it 2-1. Chrisman later added a run-scoring single and Ben Bluemle also scored on the play when he escaped a rundown to put the Highlanders up 4-1.
“I thought we had a good shot to win during the first few innings, and I still felt good about our
chances after they punched across their first two runs,” Edenfield said. “Greene did a good job of baffling them the first time threw the order. They’re a good team, though. They hit the ball well and their pitcher did a nice job.”
A key moment in the game came in the top of the fourth when Howie King reached on a one-out error for Uniontown and moved to second on Nate Lewis’ single to right.With two on and one out, Gary King then hit a grounder to Paranzino, who forced Lewis at second. Second baseman Bluemle faked a throw to first, realizing he couldn’t get Gary King, but then nailed Howie King at third after he rounded the bag a bit too far.
It was one of three double plays recorded by the Highlanders. “We made a few mental mistakes in key situations,” Edenfield said.
Baldwin exploded for five more runs in the bottom of the inning, knocking Greene out of the game in the process, to take command. Wallace and Paranzino had RBI singles in the inning, and Chrisman added a two-run single.
The Highlanders might have had more had it not been for a leaping catch of Finocchi’s long drive by right fielder Lewis.
Finocchi (2-1), although not dominating, kept Uniontown off the scoreboard the rest of the way, allowing only singles by Ricky Wilson in the fifth and Jared Early in the sixth over the last three innings. He struck out six and walked none.
“Uniontown’s not a bad team,” Caponi said. “They put the ball in play and they field well. They just lack that one dominating pitcher.”
Greene gave up six runs, five of which were earned, on six hits in three-plus innings. Greene, Neil Kelly and Early all pitched in the fourth. Early finished up the game, allowing one run in 2 2-3 innings of work.
Baldwin threatened to end the game in the fifth when Ryan O’Barto reached on a bunt single, stole second and scored on Ryan Hoglund’s single to make it 10-1. Wallace bunted Hoglund to third, but he held there when Dave McDonough flied out to left fielder Klye Clay, who made a strong throw home. Shortstop Brandon Mallick kept Uniontown in the game by fielding Bova’s slow grounder and gunning him out at first on a close play to end the inning.
Baldwin went back to work in the sixth when a single by Paranzino, a double by Bluemle and an intentional walk loaded the bases with none out.
Again, the Red Raiders refused to fold.
Center fielder Jason Hamborsky caught Chrisman’s fly ball and nailed Paranzino at the plate for a double play with catcher Howie King making a quick tag after handling the one-hop throw. Wilson ended the inning with an acrobatic catch of Matt Evanek’s foul pop.
“We were very enthusiastic when the season started and it stayed that way all the way through,” said Edenfield, who made a nice play of his own on Early’s bouncing foul ball in the sixth inning. “We had some injuries to some of our top pitchers, Wilson and Latsnic, and that hurt us a bit. But, overall, we’ve had a good season and we have a lot of players coming back.”