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Geibel Catholic comeback falls short

By Rob Burchianti 4 min read

PETERS TOWNSHIP – Chris Branchen helped Avonworth build a big lead early with his bat, then used his glove to make sure the Antelopes stayed ahead. Branchen went 3 for 4 with four RBIs, but his snag of Zack Leonard’s line drive to end the sixth inning ruined a valiant comeback by Geibel Catholic and propelled Avonworth to a 10-7 victory in their first round WPIAL Class A baseball playoff game at Peterswood Park on Monday.

The 10th-seeded Antelopes (9-5) watched their 8-2 lead gradually shrink to 8-7 in the bottom of the sixth. Geibel had runners on the corners with two outs when the left-hand hitting Leonard lined a shot that third baseman Branchen gloved from his shoe tops. Instead of a tie game and two runners on, the Gators’ inning was over, and Avonworth went on to score two runs with two outs in the top of the seventh to all but put the game away.

“That was the killer,” Geibel coach John Leonard said. “That kid made a hell of a catch. That was a shot.”

Avonworth coach Vince Palladini wasn’t surprised that it was Branchen who came up with the clutch play.”

“It was a great play, but he was great all day,” Palladini said. “Actually, he’s been great his whole senior year. He’s got to be our school’s athlete of the year. He was an all-state wrestler and an all-conference wide receiver.

“He’s pretty good at baseball, too.”

The Antelopes scored a run in the first inning when Branchen singled, stole second and eventually scored on an error.

Geibel starting pitcher Phil Gratchic got out of further trouble thanks to a great defensive play by first baseman Leonard. With one out and the bases loaded, Leonard ranged well in back of first base to gather in a foul pop, then threw home to catcher Jordan White in time to nail Mike Fatigante trying to tag up from third for an inning-ending double play.

The play seemed to inspire the seventh-seeded Gators (10-6) as the plated two run in the bottom of the inning to go up by one. Rob Ramsey singled, went to second on Dean Lewandowski’s sacrifice bunt, took third on Gratchic’s ground out and scored on Leonard’s single. Andy Stroh followed with a run-scoring double.

Avonworth grabbed the momentum right back, however, with a five-run second highlighted by Branchen’s two-run double. Steve Kohan and Mark Geubtner delivered run-scoring singles in the frame and Evan Barna produced a run with a fielder’s choice as the Antelopes sent 11 men to the plate in the inning.

Branchen smashed a two-run homer in the third to make it 8-2. Geibel made three errors in the inning and five in the game.

Gratchic got in a groove after that, though, and the Gator bats came alive.

Dan Chorba hit a solo home run in the fourth off Avonworth starting and winning pitcher Geubtner. In the fifth, Ramsey walked, Lewandowski singled and Gratchic blasted a three-run homer over to left to pull Geibel within two.

Palladini pulled Geubtner after he allowed a lead-off single to Matt Mascia. Kohan relieved and allowed a one-out RBI single to Ramsey, who took second on an outfield error, then third when Gratchic reached on a two-out error.

All that did was set the stage for Branchen to spoil Zack Leonard’s shot at being a hero.

“They didn’t give up,” Palladini said. “Their coach did a good job with them.”

“We played sloppy the first part of the game,” coach Leonard said. “We did get a couple of big hits from Chorba and Gratchic to put us right back in the game. I’m proud of the way they kept fighting until the end. I still thought we had a shot in the seventh, but they got two more runs and that made a big difference.”

After allowing Branchen’s homer in the third, Gratchic cruised into the ninth. He struck out 12, including six in a row at one point. Fatigante broke that string with a two-out double in the seventh, and Kohan and Hess followed with back-to-back RBI singles.

Kohan pitched a scoreless seventh to wrap up the game and earn the save.

Fatigante was 3 for 4 and Kohan was 2 for 3 with two RBIs for Avonworth.

Ramsey and Gratchic each had a pair of hits for the Gators. Dave Menendez contributed a double.

“We had a good year,” coach Leonard said. “We won our first section championship in 10 years and we have a lot of guys coming back.”

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