Apr 22, 2006 By Rob Burchianti 5 min read

Uniontown and Albert Gallatin both followed up solid starts with tough losing streaks this baseball season. The Red Raiders, though, seemed to have been rejuvenated by a pair of games against their nearest rivals.

Coach Rob Kezmarsky’s squad followed up a 10-0, six-inning, non-section win against Laurel Highlands on Thursday with a 7-5 Section 2-AAAA comeback victory over Albert Gallatin on Friday, both at Wharton Township Field.

Matt George and Nick Apicella had two RBIs apiece in a five-run sixth, and winning pitcher Ryan Robowski struck out 16 in firing a four-hitter as Uniontown improved to 4-6-1 overall and 1-5 in the section.

“Both games were played on our home field with a lot of emotion from both teams,” Kezmarsky said of the Red Raiders’ two-game winning streak that ended a five-game losing skid. “These kids play against each other in Pony League and other leagues, so they all know each other and it makes for a good atmosphere.

“It was an exciting win. It’s nice to see our kids have some success and feel good about themselves after so many tough losses.”

The string of losses for Albert Gallatin continued, though. Coach Jason Lohr’s Colonials have dropped nine in a row after a 2-0 start and are 0-6 in the section.

“We just don’t know how to win games right now. We find ways to lose,” Lohr said. “We’re learning, but good teams find a way to win close games, and we’re not a good team right now.

“Even so, I was proud of the way we played. Today was the first time in 11 games we didn’t make an error, our best defensive game by far this year. Kevin Uglik threw a really good game, and we battled back against a really good pitcher.”

Uniontown scored the game’s first run on Steve Kezmarsky’s RBI single in the third, and then rain halted play for about 10 minutes in the bottom of the fourth.

The Red Raiders tacked on another run when the game resumed, but Albert Gallatin surged in front with a five-run explosion in the fifth, highlighted by Gene Franks’ three-run triple, to go up 5-2.

The Colonials’ rally started when Colin Packroni walked, Mike Kubitza hit a bloop a single and Logan Howard was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Jonathan Angel then drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run, and Franks then socked his bases-clearing triple down the right-field line to make it 4-2.

“Franks is just a terrific baseball player,” Kezmarsky said. “You want to make other players beat you, but give him credit, when he got that chance with the bases loaded, he came through for them.”

Aaron Jerome capped the inning with a run-scoring single to put AG up 5-2.

The Colonials got another solid start from Uglik, who limited the Red Raiders to two runs in five innings. Uglik tired in the sixth though and eventually gave way to reliever Jerome during a five-run Uniontown outburst.

Cory Sawka began the rally with a walk and scored on Alan Witt’s triple. Ryan Kennedy battled his way to a walk and George followed with a game-tying, two-run single. One out later Robowski, who had two hits, drew a walk and Apicella broke the deadlock with a two-run double that set the final score.

Albert Gallatin had one runner on and two outs in the seventh with Franks on deck when Robowski recorded the final out to wrap up the win.

“I saw him in the on-deck circle there and I was so happy not to give him another chance,” Kezmarsky said of Franks, who had two of the Colonials’ four hits. “I’m really proud of our team. They showed a lot of toughness coming back like that. Matt had two hits and that one in the fifth was big. Ryan pitched really well and kept his composure after that one bad inning. And our defense played well.

“AG played a good game, too. Their kids did a good job in coming back and they made some big plays.”

Jerome was tagged with the loss.

Lohr tipped his cap to Robowski.

“Let’s face it, Robowski was almost untouchable today,” Lohr said. “He struck out at least two batters every inning, and he struck out the side twice. We had four hits and Gene had two of them. But we did put the ball in play and got hits in a timely situation that one inning, which is something we haven’t done much this year.

“This was the best game, as far as team concept goes, we’ve played. But Robowski had his stuff today.”

Albert Gallatin is scheduled to play Laurel Highlands in a non-section game at noon today at Hutchinson Field, although rain likely will wash that contest out. The Colonials’ next section game would at Penn-Trafford next Friday.

Uniontown travels to Yough for a non-section game at 4 p.m. Monday.

Kezmarsky would like to see a few more fans at the games.

“I think high school baseball is exciting,” he said. “I really wish more people would come out and watch these kids play.”