Mikes edge Rochester, move into WPIAL semifinals
BRIGHTON TWP. – Carmichaels High School baseball coach Dave Bates may not be ready to man a telephone for Miss Cleo or even take a position as one of Dionne Warwick’s psychic friends. But Bates had a pretty good idea of what to expect when his team took on Rochester in the quarterfinal round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs. “I was expecting a one-run game,” Bates said. “Our game plan coming in was to be patient and wait for our opportunities to capitalize.”
Bates’ premonition came to fruition. Carmichaels took advantage of two key defensive plays – one in the first inning and one in the seventh – and added a timely hit to pull out a 2-1 win over Rochester on Wednesday at Bradys Run Park.
With the win, Carmichaels improved to 15-2 and advanced to the WPIAL semifinals to meet Neshannock. Rochester had its season come to a close at 11-5.
Carmichaels took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. Jamie Kowalczyk singled and winning pitcher Colby Giles reached on an error before Jarrod Lapkowicz ripped a two-out single to center field that scored two. Lapkowicz later added a triple to the fence in right-center that just missed leaving the park.
Rochester got its lone run in the top of the sixth when losing pitcher Bill Holzworth delivered a single to right-center that scored Jermaine Moye.
Holzworth tossed a complete game in defeat, giving up two runs on six hits with five walks and nine strikeouts.
Giles allowed one run on six hits with one walk and seven strikeouts while also going the distance.
“We had opportunities,” said Rochester coach Brian Verrico, “but we didn’t execute. We should have gotten four or five runs today. We’re better than that. But I give Carmichaels credit. They got the job done.”
It was a pair of heads up defensive plays that made the two-hour trip worthwhile for Carmichaels.
With one out in the first inning, Moye reached base on an error after his bunt was fielded by Giles and thrown wildly to first base. Moye then stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. After Jeff Peternal struck out, Bill Holzworth walked to put runners on first and third.
But after falling behind in the count, 2-0, to Josh Hoffman, Giles caught Moye with a pick-off throw at third and forced him into a rundown. Third baseman Andy Mazur threw to catcher Jeff Lapkowicz, who threw back to Mazur, who threw to Giles at home. Giles then chased Moye back up the third base line and dove for Moye as Moye dove for the bag.
When the dust settled, the umpire ruled that Giles got his glove on Moye for the out to end the inning.
“That hurt,” Verrico said. “He was 2-0 on the batter and we had runners on first and third. That was one of the turning points in the game.”
Bates said his team simply took advantage of Moye’s quickness and caught him leaning too far off the bag.
“Moye has a lot of speed,” Bates said. “Sometimes a strength can work against you.”
Carmichaels’ second key defensive play came in the top of the seventh with the Mikes clinging to a 2-1 lead. Rochester’s Josh Janectic singled to right-center and was replaced on the base path by pinch-runner Otto Peternal.
Jason Swartzlander then attempted to advance Peternal with a bunt back to the mound. Giles fielded the bunt, turned, and made an errant throw to second that appeared headed for the outfield. But Carmichaels shortstop Shane Busti made a fully extended catch, grabbing the ball in a prone position while keeping his foot on the bag to erase Peternal.
“If he doesn’t make that play, we’ve got a guy at second and we’ve got a chance,” Verrico said.
“If he doesn’t make that play, we might be traveling two hours home with a loss,” Bates said.
“We’ll grow from this,” Verrico said. “We had a wonderful season and we were riding high coming into the playoffs. The kids played their hearts out today.”