Colonial unleashes 17-hit attack on California
CALIFORNIA – For much of the season, the Colonial 3 offense hasn’t shown potential like it has in recent years. “We’ve been getting beat up in some games,” coach Nick Petrus said. “We just haven’t been hitting at all.”
Friday at California, however, the offense decided to wake up.
Behind a 17-hit barrage, including three by catcher Danny Guthrie, the Colonial 3 offense plated 18 runs en route to an 11-run, 18-7, victory over California in a Fayette American Legion match-up.
Colonial’s biggest innings came in the first and eighth when it ran five and eight runs across the plate, respectively. However, Guthrie’s two-run blast over the left-field fence in the bottom of the second highlighted the hit parade.
“It was nice to get up like we did,” Petrus said. “It was even better to get the insurance runs later in the game. We kept letting them back in the game and I knew we needed a few more runs.”
Colonial starter Nick Molchan worked a complete game for the win, allowing seven runs on eight hits. He struck out eight and walked eight in the effort.
Molchan struck out seven through his first seven innings while only giving up three runs. California rallied for three runs in the eighth and another in the ninth, but Molchan struck out Mike McCoy looking to end the game.
“He pitched a great game out there,” Petrus said. “Sometimes it’s tough to work a game like that, but he did the job.”
Molchan helped put himself on top before he ever toed the rubber.
With one down in the top of the first, Molchan singled and stole second two pitches later.
Mike Rhoads followed the stolen base with an RBI single that scored Molchan for a 1-0 lead.
The next six batters all reached base as four as them rounded completely for a five-run advantage.
Colonial waited until two were down in the eighth inning before it scored.
Tony Battaglini’s two-out single led to a string of five consecutive hits and eventually eight runs in the inning.
The singles by Battaglini and David Novotney assured Colonial that all nine starters had at least one hit in the game.
Guthrie finished with four hits and scored four runs to lead Colonial in both categories.
Molchan, Rhoads and Joe Kulikoski each delivered at least two hits apiece as well to help the cause.
Todd Chizler suffered the loss for California, working the first three innings and allowing seven runs on four hits.
He walked two and struck out one.
Jason Britton and Nate White led the California offense, with three and two hits, respectively.
Britton singled twice, doubled, drove in a run and scored a run, while White came off the bench in the fifth inning to double and score.
In the three-run eighth, White drove home all three runs with a triple to right center.
Despite the 18-run performance, Petrus knows his Colonial team must stay hot for a run at the Legion playoffs, which begin in a week. He knows his kids have it in them.
“We got to keep it going now,” Petrus said. “I know we can.”