Lapkowicz brothers key Carmichaels’ Legion win
MAPLETOWN – Both teams expected a close game, both were sparked by the long ball, and both stuck with their underused relief pitchers, but it was Carmichaels that gutted out an 8-7 American Legion Baseball League win over visiting Masontown-Point-Marion Wednesday at Mapletown High School. The Lapkowicz brothers – first baseman Jared and catcher Jeff – ignited and capped off the Carmichaels’ offensive attack with key hits. Jared Lapkowicz hit a two-run, game-tying homer in the third inning, while Jeff Lapkowicz knocked in the go-ahead and eventual game-winning runs in the seventh with a two-run single.
Jeff Lapkowicz plated his brother Jared from second and Jamie Kowalczyk from third with a one-out blooper to left field. Jared reached base on a walk and stole second, while Kowalczyk singled up the middle with no outs.
“That was a key hit,” said Carmichaels manager Jerry Kowalczyk of Jeff’s game-winner. “We needed a lift from somebody. We squeaked it out and found a way to win.”
Carmichaels (13-3) now gains momentum in the Fayette County American Legion race by defeating Masontown (11-7), which recently handed first-place Connellsville its first loss.
“It was a big game for us, we just came up on the short end,” said Masontown manager Sean O’Neil. “We needed to get that win, and if we did people would consider us to be one of the better teams.”
“They got hot,” Kowalczyk said, “so we knew it was going to be a close game. Masontown has a nice team and they can hit.”
Four Masontown players posted two-hit games, including leadoff hitter Chris Buncic, whose RBI double highlighted a three-run second inning, giving his team a 4-1 lead. Buncic later belted a solo home run in the eighth inning, cutting the game to a one-run deficit before Carmichaels reliever Justin Corso escaped with the win.
Corso struck out three and walked in seven innings of work. He gave up four of Masontown’s 11 hits, including a two-run home run by No. 9-hitter Ken Cerny, scoring Mike Budinski in the fifth inning.
“We stuck with him and he seemed to get stronger as the game went on,” Kowalczyk said of Corso, who recently returned to that team from vacation. “I was warming up Jared (Lapkowicz) and he wanted to stay in there.”
Colby Giles started the game and pitched two innings, giving up four runs on seven hits. His counterpart, Masontown starter Scott Piper, lasted as many innings before Brian O’Neil came in to suffer the loss in relief.
O’Neil, who hasn’t pitched more than an inning coming into a game, pitched six innings, striking out three and walking one. He pitched three scoreless innings, despite giving up eight runs on eight hits.
“O’Neil did a nice job of holding us off,” Kowalczyk said. “We were off five days and our bats were a little still.”
Giles, Corso and John Pochron led Carmichaels with two hits apiece, while Buncic, Craig Hriblan, Alan Smodic and Sean McCahill all registered two hits for Masontown. McCahill led his team with two RBIs, as he slapped a pair of singles in his first two at bats, scoring Hriblan in the first inning and again in the second.
Both teams play California next. Carmichaels is at home at 2 p.m. Saturday, while Masontown will be on the road for a doubleheader at 3 p.m. Sunday.