Wilhelm pitches Connellsville Legion past Carmichaels
CARMICHAELS – Connellsville starting pitcher Colton Wilhelm hadn’t pitched in over a year and a half. He was busy playing a number of other positions for his team. After his performance Saturday at Wana B Park against Carmichaels, Wilhelm proved he didn’t miss a beat.
Wilhelm pitched an eight-inning, complete game, striking out one and walking three for a Fayette American Legion 10-run-rule victory over Carmichaels, 12-2.
“It’s hard to believe that’s the first time he’s been out there all season,” Connellsville coach John Przybylinski said. “Kind of makes me wish we would have had his throwing a lot more.
“Our rotation goes seven deep, though, and Colton is definitely one of them now.”
Of course, pitching with a lead didn’t hurt Wilhelm’s efforts on the mound at all.
The Connellsville offense scored 12 runs on 14 hits, including a two-run homer by David Sumner in the eighth inning that secured the 10-run lead.
The bottom of the order provided the most damage in the Connellsville lineup. Connellsville’s seven through nine hitters – Andrew Kaper, Sumner and Bobby Fulton – scored seven runs and drove in four.
“This team has so many weapons,” Przybylinski said. “We’re so versatile all the way through our lineup. No matter where we put our guys, they are always coming through.”
Connellsville sent 10 batters to the plate in the third inning off of two Carmichaels pitchers.
With one out, Josh Coffman and Josh Ridenour hit back-to-back singles and scored later in the inning – Coffman on an error and Ridenour on Sumner’s RBI single through a hole on the left side.
Fulton brought home another run with a sacrifice fly to center field and Andy Spargur drove home the fourth run of the inning with a single of his own. Spargur scored later on another Carmichaels error.
Wilhelm allowed only four Carmichaels hits through the first six innings, limiting the Carmichaels offense to only two base runners that reached third base.
“That’s it,” Przybylinski said. “He threw strikes and let his defense do some work for him and they did. We played error-free baseball, which is always key. Everyone came to play today, it seemed.”
Brandon Rumbaugh knocked in both of Carmichaels’ runs in the seventh inning, hitting a soft single to center field with the bases loaded. After Sumner’s home run in the eighth gave Connellsville its 10-run advantage, however, Wilhelm retired the side in order to seal the victory.
Starter Errett Mahle took home the loss for Carmichaels, pitching the first 2.2 innings. He allowed seven runs on eight hits, while striking out one and walking two. Logan Phillips led the offense with two singles.
With 14 hits, a new pitcher and no errors, Przybylinski believes his team is ready to go for the playoffs. And a game like this to get going is just what they needed.
“After the doubleheader Friday, we were a little low,” he said of his team. “We played a lot of games in a row and it’s always nice to bust out like this.
“We played how we can, and how we should.”