Nov 19, 2005 By Jim Kriek For The 3 min read

During any baseball discussions, if you are asked one reason for Bud Murphy’s and Mario’s reaching the playoffs the past season, just answer top pitching. Dale Eutsey of Bud’s and Todd Dunham of Mario’s were the top pitchers for their team, and the league, during the season and into the playoffs, as the Fayette County Baseball League concluded another successful season.

They tied for the Honorable Mention Pitching Award that goes annually to the organization’s outstanding pitchers.

They also tied for honors in wins, each posting a 7-1 record with Dunham also leading two of the other three statistical categories for pitchers. That earned him the league’s top pitching award, for which he will receive the Joe Kurnot Trophy presented annually to the league’s leading pitcher.

Final statistics for league pitchers were compiled by Commissioner Dan Kupets from reports of games forwarded to him by league managers.

Dunham’s record also included a league-high of 56 innings pitched and a league-leading 70 strikeouts, to go with a 1.93 earned run average.

Eutsey was number four in innings pitched (51), while striking out 39 and posting a 2.10 earned run average for Bud Murphy’s.

For those pitchers posting at least four victories, Ryan Miscik of Bud Murphy’s had the best earned run average – 0.81 per game – less than one run every seven innings, while making a perfect 4-0 run on the mound. When he wasn’t pitching, Miscik played the outfield for the Cokers.

Nick Damico of Bud Murphy’s was second in strikeouts with 59, third in innings pitched (51), and third in earned run average, 1.51 per game.

Peters and teammate Brian Binder tied for runner-up honors on the mound with six wins each.

Top pitchers in the league, listed in order of victories on the mound, innings pitched, strikeouts, walks, and earned run average, were:

Dunham, 7-1, 56, 70, 1.93

Eutsey, 7-1, 50, 39, 2.10.

Peters, 6-0, 38, 38, 1.28.

Binder, 6-1, 40.2, 54, 2.78.

Jeff Schrader, Carmichaels, 5-1, 43.1, 51, 2.76.

Miscik, 4-0, 26, 19, 0.81.

Damico, 4-3, 51, 59, 1.51.

Jason Halfhill, Mill Run, 4-3, 34.2, 28, 4.85.

Leaders in innings pitched were:

Dunham 56, Craig Conforti, Redd Dawgs, 52.1; Damico 51, Eutsey 50, Justin Corso, Wanna Be Heroes, 50; Schrader 43.1, Andy Mazur, WBH, 42; Binder 40.2, Bill Bendis, Mill Run, 39; and Peters, 38.

Strikeout leaders included:

Dunham 70, Damico 59, Conforti 57, Binder 54, Schrader 51, Bob Saddler, Redd Dawgs, 41; Eutsey 39, Peters 38, Chris Lynn, Mill Run, 31, and Corso, 31.

One statistic baseball enthusiasts like to discuss is the ratio of a pitcher’s strikeouts to the number of batters they walk. Final stats for the FCBL are listed as a team total, with Carmichaels the staff strikeout leader (204) and Bud Murphy’s pitchers the stingiest in giving up walks (64).

Bud’s took overall team difference honors with 198 strikeouts and a league low of 64 walks, for a plus of 134. Carmichaels was second with league high 204 strikeouts and second in least walks ceded (81), for a difference of 123.

The balance of the league figures, based on strikeouts, walks, and difference between them, included:

Redd Dawgs, 191, 88, 103.

Mario’s, 175, 95, 80.

Mill Run, 140, 86, 54.

Hopwood Fitness Center, 136, 102, 34.

Wanna B Heroes, 136, 139, -3.

Players and teams will be recognized by the league for their achievements at a date to be announced.