Connellsville advances to Legion finals
How many times in the past have you heard that old chestnut about a win being a “total team effort?” Well, no other phrase could better describe the 17-7 semifinal-round win Connellsville scored over Charleroi Monday to clinch its Fayette American Legion Baseball League playoff series.
Connellsville and Carmichaels will now meet in a best-of-5 series to determine the league’s playoff championship and who will represent the league in the regional playoff series starting next week at Charleroi.
Game One will be played today at Connellsville, starting at 5:30 p.m., and Game Two will be Wednesday at Carmichaels (5:30). After a break Thursday, play resumes at Connellsville Friday, at Carmichaels Sunday, and at Connellsville next Monday if needed.
Despite losing Monday, Charleroi is also in the regionals since they are the host team and an automatic entry.
Connellsville’s win Monday was highlighted by the entire team having a hand (and a bat) in the proceedings. Every player in the lineup scored at least one run, and every player had at least one hit in the 19 collected off two pitchers.
Tony Marciante triggered the offense, driving in seven runs with two home runs and two singles. Zack Leonard had a homer and two singles, Brad Livingston a double and triple, Bubba Fox a double, single and three RBIs, Justin Marsinko a double and single and Chris Marsinko and Brandon Bryner two singles each.
Connellsville manager Sherwood Hughes said, “After losing on Sunday, they knew coming in today they had to win or the season was over. They proved they can rebound after a loss, and the six-run start we got away to made that just a little bit easier. I just hope we can keep this going against a real good Carmichaels pitching staff.”
Tom Cesario pitched for Connellsville (26-2) until Charleroi kicked up some dust in the seventh, and Phil Gratchic came on in relief to put down the uprising.
Hughes added, “Tom didn’t have his really best stuff today but he worked his pitches effectively around the plate. I told you that Charleroi was a scrappy team and they stayed right in there to the end today. Offensively, Tony gave us a real good start and the other picked it up with him.”
Charleroi manager Tom Hartman added, “They sure hit the ball hard and well today. Matt (Nelson) had their number yesterday but they had everybody’s number today. We were just outgunned. Cesario moved his fastball around well on us, and if we could have got out of those first two innings, who knows what might have happened.”
Hartman felt overall that “nobody expected us to get this far, and I’m happy with what this team accomplished.”
Charleroi had a dozen hits, led by Jason Grant with a double and two singles. Dan Thomas had a double, and Gene Lancas and Joe Capelli two singles each.
Connellsville drew three-of-a-kind in the first three innings.
They led 3-0 in the first on Chris Marsinko’s leadoff single, Marciante’s first homer, high over the fence in left, Leonard’s two-out single and Livingston’s triple to right.
It was 6-0 in the second on Wes Hughes’ leadoff single, a walk to Justin Marsinko and Marciante’s two-out homer over the left-center fence.
Charleroi scored three in the third, also striking with two out, on Charlie Fritch’s single, a walk to Capelli and Lancas and Frank McLaughlin singles.
Connellsville came right back with three to lead 9-3. Livingston and Gratchic were hit by pitches, Justin Marsinko singled, and with two down, Fox and Marciante singled.
Five in the fourth upped the lead to 14-3. Leonard led off with a shot over the fence in right, and Rob Ramsey came on in relief for the visitors.
Livingston walked, Gratchic singled, J. Marsinko doubled, and with two down, Fox doubled and Marciante singled.
Charleroi added two in the fifth when Capelli was hit by a pitch, Lancas singled, and with two out, Jody Wilkerson walked and Grant singled.
Connellsville got one of those back in its end of the inning on a walk to Leonard and Livingston’s double.
Charleroi got one in the sixth when Nelson was hit by a pitch, Fritch was alive on an error and Capelli singled.
Its final run crossed in the seventh on Grant and Thomas doubles.
Nelson and Ramsey singled to load the bases, and Gratchic came on to get two strikeouts.
Connellsville wrapped it up in its seventh.
Bryner and Leonard singled, and when the ball was booted in the outfield, runners were at second and third.
Livingston was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Bryner scored on Gratchic’s fly ball, with Leonard moving to third and Livingston to second.
Hughes was purposely walked to re-load the bases, and after Justin Marsinko lifted to short right, Chris Marsinko singled to left, sending in Leonard with the clinching run.