Uniontown takes 1-0 series lead over Colonial
By the Herald-Standard Uniontown took a 1-0 lead in the first round of the Fayette American Legion baseball playoffs Saturday with a 5-4 victory over visiting Colonial 3.
In the four meetings between these two squads this season, Uniontown has won by a 5-4 margin.
Uniontown picked up the winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning as Bob Madison singled and moved to second on a Tim Dye sacrifice bunt. Madison went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a Mike George sacrifice fly.
Winning pitcher Nick Midlik (4-2) kept up his end of the bargain with seven strikeouts.
Colonial’s Kevin Garbutt was the losing pitcher. He struck out four and allowed three walks.
“I thought both pitchers pitched a great game,” said Uniontown coach Ron Popovich. “It seems that every time we face Colonial, it’s a close game.”
Garbutt also had the lone extra base hit for Colonial with a double. Teammate Tony Battagalini singled twice.
Uniontown travels to Colonial today for the second game of the best-of-3 series at 5:30 p.m.
Fayette County League
Redd Dawgs 2, Carmichaels 1 – The Redd Dawgs rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning, breaking a 1-1 tie to slide past Carmichaels in Fayette County Baseball League action.
Justin Murphy led off the ninth with a single, but was forced out at second on a Pat Palkovic fly ball. Palkovic then stole second, and Ryan Russell’s single brought him home.
Carmichaels tied the game at 1-1 when Ron Nopwasky singled and moved to second on a Rich Smylka sacrifice fly. George Taylor singled to score Nopwasky.
Taylor pitched a complete game and fanned nine Redd Dawg batters, but fell the win went to Tim Latham with nine strikeouts and three walks.
Matt Trigona led the Redd Dawg offense with a double and a single while Russell and Murphy each singled twice. Brandon DePhillips also singled twice and drilled an RBI-single in the fourth.
The Redd Dawgs visit Waynesburg today at 2 p.m.