Apr 27, 2003 By Jim Kriek For The 4 min read

The final scorebook summary shows Connellsville 4, Laurel Highlands 1, but it could also well have read “Tony Marciante and Travis Henry 4, Laurel Highlands 1.” Marciante did a rerun of his Thursday first time at bat homer, singled and drove in all four runs, while Henry worked four innings of outstanding relief pitching as Connellsville scored its fifth Section 2-AAA win Saturday at Mustang Field.

Now the stage is set for Thursday’s premier section clash when the Falcons (5-2) host front-running Albert Gallatin (4-1).

Connellsville coach Bob Renzi said, “We had a real big win today, but we have an even bigger test coming up against AG on Thursday in our final section game. It’s another ‘must win’ game for us if we expect to make the playoffs.”

Brent Wilson and Henry combined on the pitching effort, Wilson working the first three innings, and Henry coming on in the fourth with two runners on and nobody out. He shut the Mustangs down the rest of the way, allowing only one hit over four innings, Justin Luckey’s leadoff single in the seventh.

That was also the only ball hit out of the infield by the Mustangs over those four innings. Henry also struck out six, walked two, and shut down three LH threats with two runners on base.

Renzi said, “Brent gave us three good innings, then Travis came on and shut them down. I told our players before the game that this was one they had to win for if we lost LH would be one up on us, and even if we tied at the end of the section schedule, they would still go to the playoffs for they would have the tiebreaker over us with this win.”

Henry said, “It really didn’t bother me coming in with runners on base. I just tried to throw strikes, and if they hit it, our defense was there in back of me. Everybody did what they had to do and we got a big win.”

Together, the Falcon duo allowed four hits, two by Luckey, Frank Faust’s double and Andre Rolaf’s single.

Connellsville had six hits off Paul Briczinski, who gave the Mustangs another quality effort on the mound. Marciante had two and Ryan Firestone a double and single.

Renzi said, “Marciante had the key hits for us. We had other chances to score, but we had a lot of strikeouts and we put the ball in the air too much. Briczinski gave them a fine pitching effort.”

Mustang coach Tom Landman called Briczinski’s work “an outstanding effort. Any time you can hold Connellsville to six hits and four runs, that is something. A big key for them was Henry’s relief pitching. He threw strikes, and even when we got runners on base, he shut us down. You won’t win too many games scoring just one run, and we left too many runners in scoring position.”

Landman also cited Marciante’s offense, noting “he hit that first pitch homer, then in the fourth we had two strikes on him and two out when he got that big single.”

Connellsville never trailed. Marciante, who had homered on the first pitch of the game Thursday against Ringgold, did a rerun, lining Briczinski’s first pitch high over the left-center fence.

Laurel Highlands came right back to tie in its end of the first. Luckey led off with a single and went to second on Brennen Dayton’s single. Briczinski and Greg Palladino walked to load the bases, Faust lifted a fly to short and Rolaf singled to score Luckey.

Briczinski tried to score from second, but he was cut down at the plate on a long throw from Justin Marsinko in center to catcher Corey Fox.

The Falcons went back on top in the second with Firestone’s leadoff single, a walk to Zack Blackstone, David Show’s bases-loading single and Marciante’s fly ball to center.

Two insurance runs crossed in the fourth. Firestone hit a leadoff double, Blackstone was nicked by a pitch, Show bunted them ahead and Marciante singled them across.

From that point, Briczinski shut the Falcons down with just one hit, Jason Goodwin singled to start the sixth. A walk and an error with two outs loaded the bases, and then Andy Beucher drove a high shot to center that Luckey hauled in near the fence to end the inning.

Renzi said, “We have just one section game left, but it’s a big one on Thursday at home with first-place Albert Gallatin, another big win we have to get if we expect to reach the playoffs.”

Landman said, “Now we need to win both of our remaining section games to keep our playoff chances alive. They are tough games with Albert Gallatin and Uniontown.”

The road ahead isn’t smooth for either of Saturday’s playoff hopefuls.