Franks comes through in the clutch
Carmichaels takes 2-0 lead in County League playoffs CARMICHAELS – If there’s one thing Carmichaels manager Dickie Krause knows about his team, it’s that they never give up and battle to the last inning.
So Wednesday’s game two against Mario’s in the championship series of the Fayette County Baseball League was nothing new for the veteran manager.
His Copperheads played from behind nearly every inning before scoring three runs in the sixth inning to take a one-run lead. Mario’s, however, scored again in the seventh, tying the game at six.
With one out in the bottom of the seventh, first baseman Gene Franks delivered a game-winning double to center field that scored pinch runner Darnell Harris for a 7-6 victory and a 2-0 series lead.
Game 3 is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. today at Mario’s home field in Republic.
“Wow,” Krause said afterwards, searching for words to describe the game. “These guys are resilient. We have been all year. We fight it out and keep playing until the game is over.”
Franks’ hit was his second double of the game. He finished 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI and scored a run in the second inning.
“That’s clutch right there,” Krause said of Franks. “For a young kid to be up in that position and hit the ball like he did, it’s really big.”
Ron Nopwasky started the game for Carmichaels and pitched 4 1-3 innings before being relieved. He struck out three and walked five, while picking up the no decision.
Mario’s took an early lead in the first inning, scoring two runs on back-to-back doubles by Chris McManus and Jeff Lapkowicz. McManus’ hit carried all the way to the fence in left field before bouncing over for a ground-rule double.
Josh Pratt gave Carmichaels a two-run lead in the bottom of the second inning with a single that scored Franks and shortstop Joe Leonard.
The teams exchanged runs in the third inning, and Mario’s added two more in the fourth for a 5-3 advantage.
Down two in the sixth, the Carmichaels offense finally found its rhythm against Mario’s starter Marty Fagler.
Franks led off with a double and was followed by Zack Sully’s infield single. A failed bunt attempt kept runners on first and second with one out before double by Chris Buncic brought home both runners to tie the game.
After a strikeout to Rick Smykla, second baseman Brad Baker came through with an RBI single on the right side for a one-run lead.
“You know, once a pitcher goes that long in a game and throws that many pitches, you start to get a little more confident and have better at bats,” Krause said. “It was our order’s third time seeing Marty and they just started getting the bat on the ball better.”
Shayne Busti drew a bases-loaded walk in the seventh off of Leonard, who came on in relief of Sully, for Mario’s run. With the bases still loaded, Leonard struck out Billy Rouse to give the Copperheads a chance.
Jim Kubina relieved Fagler in the seventh, but only recorded one out before walking Jeff Thompson, putting a runner on first for Franks. Harris pinch ran for Thompson and scored when Franks’ hit sailed over the center fielder’s head for a double.
Kubina suffered the loss, as Fagler took the no decision, while striking out seven and walking three.
Despite taking the first two games of the series, Krause has been around the league long enough to know there’s still plenty of baseball left to be played.
“All we’ve done for ourselves is put us into a better position,” Krause said of the 2-0 lead over the No. 1-seeded Mario’s. “This is a marathon and not a sprint. We’re still going to take one game at a time.”