McManus helps Mario’s slam Waynesburg in County League action
LECKRONE – A 5-for-5 performance earlier in the week for Chris McManus was just the beginning of an offensive outburst. In fact, Mario’s coach Lou Pasquale has been waiting for his offense to breakout all season long, but it was McManus again, who provided the power as Mario’s busted open a tight game in the sixth inning to defeat Waynesburg 10-3 in Fayette County Baseball League action on Friday.
With a two-run lead in the sixth inning, McManus stepped to the plate with the bases loaded against Waynesburg reliever Brian Johnson.
He wasted no time in delivering a grand slam over the left field wall, providing Mario’s starter Todd Dunham with enough insurance runs to finish the game off.
“I’ve been begging for our offense to come around all year,” Pasquale said. “That’s two great games for Chris now and his grand slam today really just put the nail in the coffin for us.”
Mario’s took all the momentum off the start as Dunham struck out the side in the top of the first before his offense scored three runs to back him up.
Scott VanSickle led off with a walk and Jason Greene followed by reaching on an error. Jeff Lapkowicz and McManus hit back-to-back RBI singles for a 2-0 lead, while Billy Rouse drove in the third run with a sacrifice fly.
“Obviously getting a three spot in the first inning was huge,” Pasquale said. “It allowed us to relax just a little bit, but we knew that they were a good hitting team and they’d come back.”
Dunham made quick work of Waynesburg through the first three innings, allowing only three singles, but the Mud Puppies got to him in the fourth to tie the game at three apiece.
Dom Winters singled in Adam Dukate and Matt Imrich for Waynesburg’s first two runs and Chris Antonini delivered the game-tying hit with a double that plated Winters.
The tie game, however, didn’t last much longer when Mario’s put up six runs, highlighted by McManus’ grand slam to take a sizeable lead.
Dunham helped his own cause with a lead-off double and the bases loaded behind him after VanSickle was hit by a pitch and Greene reached on a bunt single that chased Waynesburg starter Luke Beccila out of the game.
“We had been hitting around .250 as a team and that’s just not too good for us, but we’ve still been able to keep winning,” Pasquale said. “It’ll come around. I think we can hit with any team in the league when we’re all together.”
Johnson, Beccila’s relief, allowed four straight base runners to score the six runs before recording three fly outs to end the inning.
Dunham preserved the lead for Mario’s in the seventh to notch the win. He struck out four and allowed three runs on eight hits over seven innings off work. Beccila took the loss on the hill for the Mud Puppies.
“He’s come back around,” Pasquale said of Dunham’s game. “Todd is getting back in a groove after struggling a little bit, but he’s been able to have a little more rest in between starts, so I think that’s really been the key.”
Mario’s will return to action Sunday as they play host to the Brownsville Bucs. Game time is set for 2 p.m.