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Charleroi 10-runs California in Fayette Legion playoff opener

By Alan Smodic For The 3 min read

CHARLEROI – Charleroi starting pitcher Kris Marchewka did all he needed to do on offense in the third inning of Friday night’s Fayette American Legion playoff game, but he didn’t stop there. Marchewka, batting clean up, also drove home Charleroi’s first run in the third inning with a sacrifice fly to center.

With the lead in hand, Marchewka held California scoreless, limiting it to three hits in the game, while striking out eight and walking two.

Back on offense, Marchewka finished off the game in the seventh with a two-run single for a 10-0, 10-run, seven-inning rule victory in Game 1 of the first-round playoff series.

Game 2 is scheduled for noon today at California.

“He’s been doing this all year for us,” Charleroi manager Luke Mollis said. “He’s got good stuff and he locates it well. He throws a fastball, curveball and a real good slider, but the fact he spots it well makes it good.

“He’s been hitting the ball all year too. I don’t even know exactly how many home runs he’s got.”

Marchewka didn’t need the long ball for a productive day at the plate against California. He finished 2-for-3 with two singles. A sacrifice fly in the third, a groundout in the sixth and a single in the seventh tallied four RBIs for Marchewka.

On the mound, Marchewka didn’t allow a hit until the third inning, and he struck out four batters in a row between the third and fourth innings.

“We didn’t hit today,” California manager Mark Hollowood said. “Marchewka had good stuff today and worked well. We’ll come back and have to get the bats going. That’s all there is to it.”

Leadoff hitter Neil Pascarella scored the first Charleroi run in the third and finished the game with three runs scored on two hits. Sam Manna and Brendan Costantino both chipped in with two runs apiece.

The Charleroi offense scored at least one run in each inning from the third on. In the fifth, Manna and Nate Helster crossed the plate for a four-run Charleroi lead.

Up four in the sixth, Charleroi pounded out four runs on three hits to break the game open.

Pascarella led off with a walk and moved up on Manna’s single. A sacrifice bunt by Helster put runners on second and third for Marchewka’s eventual RBI groundout to the shortstop.

Kyle Fisher singled after Marchewka and Costantino reached on an error. The two later scored for an eight-run lead on Pete LaBrasca’s double to left-center field.

“In the first inning, I don’t like to bunt as much and just let the kids get a look at the pitcher and what he’s throwing,” Mollis said. “But when we started to bunt later in the game, that’s when things finally started to get moving.

“We moved runners up, put the ball in play and made the defense work.”

To clinch the win, Marchewka brought home the final two runs in the seventh with a bases-loaded single off reliever Andy Galis.

California starter Zack Anderson suffered the loss. He worked the first four innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out one and walking three in the losing effort.

Jason Britton and Joe Wecoski led the California offense as the only players to reach base more than once. Britton singled and reached on an error, while Wecoski singled and drew two walks.

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