Bud’s grabs first place in County League
LECKRONE – It has been a long climb, but Bud Murphy’s has finally achieved the goal it has been trying for since the Fayette County Baseball League season started. When play opened a month ago, Bud’s lost the first two games to Carmichaels and Mario’s, something that the team had not done since they began playing in the County League. But at that point, Bud’s turned around and started the climb to the top.
Thursday, that goal was attained when Bob Saddler and Matt Basinger combined to p itch a four-hitter and Brian Sankovich slammed a game-clinching three-run homer as Bud’s defeated Mario’s, 6-2, at the Leckrone Field.
The win was the 10th in a row for Bud’s (10-2), reversing the losses sustained to start the season. The win also gave Bud’s sole possession of first place, ahead of Rostraver by one game in the loss column (10-3) and Mario’s (8-3).
Manager Tom Sankovich said, “We got Carmichaels earlier, and today we have reversed the second loss. But it was a struggle. Mario’s gave us a tough battle. They are always tough for us to play, but we like to play Mario’s. Louie (manager Pasquale) has a nice group of young, classy players and we enjoy playing them.
“A big factor for us today was the pitching of Bob and Matt. I thought about leaving Bob in the entire game, but Matt is going to be gone for a few days, and we wanted to get him some work before that. Also, our younger players came through for us, Tony Marciante having three hits and Bubba Fox doing a good job catching the last two innings.”
Fox came on when regular catcher Jeff Lander was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning, and he might be sidelined for a while.
Sankovich said, “Jeff got hit on the calf muscle, and he may be out for a while. He looks to be OK, but he will be out. We will probably move Greg (Beucher) to the number one catching spot, and Fox will also be catching when he isn’t playing Legion ball.”
Bud’s had 10 hits with Sankovich’s homer being the only one for extra bases. He also had a single to go with three by Marciante, and two by Beucher.
Bill Rouse was the top hitter for Mario’s with a home run, double and single. Scott Van Sickle singled for their only other hit.
Manager Pasquale said, “We didn’t hit, and you don’t win games, especially against Bud’s, when you have only four hits. You have to hit to win. Our defense was all right, but other than Bill, our offense was lacking. I thought our pitchers threw hard and overall they didn’t do bad despite the score.”
Bud’s went up 1-0 in the first on singles by Marciante, Sankovich and Lander, and Mario’s came right back to tie in its end of the first. Van Sickle was hit by a pitch leading off, stole second, continued to third on a wide throw down and came around to score when the throw to third was out of play.
Rouse led off the second with a high shot over the fence in left to give the home team its only lead, 2-1. Bud’s took the lead for good with two in the third, 3-2, on an error and singles by Beucher and Ryan Miscik, around on out.
Three runs in the sixth wrapped up the win, coming on a walk to Basinger, Marciante’s single and Sankovich’s drive over the fence in right.
After the second, Mario’s had only three runners get as far as second. Rouse singled in the fourth and moved ahead on an error, Van Sickle singled in the sixth and advanced on Jason Greene’s bunt and Rouse doubled to start the seventh.
Mario’s will try to get back on the winning trail again today in a home game with Perryopolis. Bud’s visits Redstone on Saturday for a 2 p.m. game at the Republic Field.