May 1, 2003 By Jim Kriek For The 4 min read

CONNELLSVILLE – Winning moves in baseball have been given many names over the years for whatever style might be employed to clinch that win, but has anybody ever heard of “Durante Baseball?” Like that famous comedian used to say “everybody wants to get into the act,” and that was the key as Connellsville scored 10 runs in its last two at bats to defeat visiting Albert Gallatin, 14-4, Thursday and clinch the Section 2-AAA championship.

This was the 10th time the Bob Renzi-coached Falcons have won the section title, the last four in a row, and the 20th time in their long winning baseball history that Connellsville High has crowned a section baseball champion.

But for a time, it looked like a baseball free-for-all might be developing. Connellsville scored four runs in the first, and the Colonials tied in the third before CAHS clinched with four in the third and six in the fourth.

Play was stopped under the 10-run rule after Albert Gallatin batted in the fifth.

The win left Connellsville 10-8-1 overall, including a title-clinching 6-2 in the section.

Going into the game, Albert Gallatin (8-8, 4-4) was tied with Laurel Highlands, and it was a case of either both of them winning, or both losing, to force a tie with Connellsville for first place. Laurel Highlands won over Uniontown, to clinch second.

An elated Renzi said, “This wraps it up for us, but it didn’t come easy. After we lost to Uniontown we knew we had to win the rest of our section games if we wanted to finish first and make the playoffs.

“We had 12 to 14 players who gave us a lot during the year. It might have been small, large, whatever, but they all contributed something to make us winners. Everybody had a hand in our success.

“Right now, at times, our team looks like they might not be consistent, but they are playing their best ball, and with Andy Beucher, Brent Wilson and Travis Henry on the mound, we have an effective staff.

“Beucher gave us a fine pitching effort. He’s a good athlete, a very smart pitcher, and he moved the ball around well. Even when they got four runs in the third to tie the game, it didn’t bother Andy. He was pitching well, he knew what he had to do, and he went about doing it.”

Colonial coach Dan Palm said, “I think that when we came back to tie in the third, Connellsville realized that all they had to do was make the plays. When you get behind, it can sometimes be very hard to come back and get the lead. But Connellsville was hitting everything that came up to the plate, hitting to the fence, off the fence, over the fence, and when you can rope the ball like they were doing, it’s hard to catch them.

“Beucher threw very well, and he contained us after the third. However, our players got a taste of the section race this year and maybe this will be a spur for them next year.”

Everybody got into the hitting act for the Falcons with all but one starter having at least one hit. Beucher helped his win along with a single, double and three runs batted in. Tony Marciante had a double, two singles and three RBIs, David Show a double, single and three RBIs, Chris Pepe a two-run homer, Travis Henry a double and Ryan Firestone a double and single.

Beucher allowed only four hits, including Alan Smodic’s double.

Connellsville led 4-0 in the first. Marciante, Corey Fox and Beucher singled for two, and Pepe homered over the left field fence.

Albert Gallatin tied it in the third. Sean McCahill and Scotty Piper were safe on errors to start the inning, Smodic walked to load them up and Josh Null singled for two.

The tag was missed on a fielder’s choice to load the bases again, and B.J. Strimel singled in two.

The Falcons took the lead back for good in the third, 8-4. With one out, Firestone and Jason Goodwin singled, Henry doubled in one, Show lined the first pitch over third for a double and two more runs and Marciante singled.

Six runs in the fourth wrapped it up. Pepe walked to lead off, and with one out, Firestone and Goodwin were hit by pitches to load the bases, Henry walked to force in one, Show singled for two, Marciante doubled in two more, Fox scored one with a fly ball to left and Beucher doubled in the last run.

The Falcons close their regular season next Tuesday at Shaler, while AG will be play Mount Pleasant, possibly at Falconi Field in Washington.