Jul 19, 2006 By Alan Smodic For The 4 min read

CHARLEROI – After seven more innings in Game 3 of the Fayette American Legion Championship series, top-seeded Uniontown and Charleroi were tied again. This time, however, Charleroi made sure it wasn’t going to stay down in the series any longer and used a little trickery on the base paths and some clutch hitting to pull out a 7-6 Fayette Legion playoff victory Tuesday.

In the eighth inning, Charleroi tied the game once again, at six, by successfully pulling off a double steal with two outs.

With two outs in the ninth, lightning struck for the Charleroi offense as the host team got a single and two walks loaded the bases.

Catcher Pete LaBrasca then delivered a game-winning single to right-center field off J.C. Myers to win the game.

“Pete has been really hot with the bat as of late,” Charleroi coach Luke Mollis said afterwards. “So there was no better person than him to be up there at that point and he really came through for us.”

Game 4 of the series is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. today at Uniontown’s home field in Hopwood. The series is even at one win apiece, with one tie and a tiebreaker in favor of Uniontown.

“You know, we made some plays that certainly didn’t help us at all,” Uniontown coach Ron Popovich said. “And I blame myself too for not talking with the guys in certain situations.”

Through the first three innings, the two teams put up a total of eight runs as the game was tied at four.

Charleroi struck in the bottom of the first inning when Chris Chacko hit a sacrifice fly to center field that scored Brendan Constantino.

Uniontown responded with two runs in the second on a RBI single by Nick Erminio and an error.

Charleroi tied it again with another run in the second before Uniontown’s offense struck again. Nate Fike homered and Jim Blosser had an RBI single as Uniontown took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the third.

Again, though, the lead didn’t last long. Zack Neil added a home run of his own, and Chacko later scored on an RBI groundout to tie things up again.

“It was a real back-and-forth game,” Mollis said. “And most of the time we were always playing by one-run down, so I give credit to the guys for sticking in there through all nine innings.”

Popovich echoed the same thoughts on his Uniontown squad.

“We knew coming to Charleroi to play would be tough,” he said, “So to hang with a team as good as this on its own home field says a lot about our kids. We’ll head back to our place and see what we can do.”

Down one in the eighth with runners on first and third, Charleroi sent its runner on first to second to draw a throw. When Myers tossed the ball to second base, the runner from third took off for home and made it safely to tie the game at eight.

“I blame myself for that,” Popovich said. “I should have talked to the guys and let them know that they may try that. But it was good play on Luke’s part and it worked just how he wanted it.”

In the ninth inning, Myers retired the first two batters before allowing a single to starting pitcher Kris Marchewka. Neil Pascarella drew a walk behind him to put two runners on.

After a wild pitch opened up a base, Uniontown intentionally walked Kyle Fisher-Law to load the bases for LaBrasca. LaBrasca, however, made Uniontown pay and sent Charleroi home victorious with an RBI single.

Myers took the loss in relief for Uniontown, pitching the final two and two-thirds innings and allowing two runs.

Marchewka went the distance for Charleroi to pick up the win. He allowed the six runs on 13 hits, while striking out three and walking two. Only two of his runs, however, came after the third inning.

“He pitched a great game,” Mollis said of Marchewka. “I don’t think he’s really 100 percent because he’s been spot starting for me here and there since the playoffs began, so he hasn’t had his full normal rest.

“But he put it together today and stayed tough despite throwing into the 100-mark of pitches.”

Matt Dishong will look to keep Charleroi moving along as he takes the mound tonight in Hopwood.

The starting pitcher for Uniontown, though, is still uncertain and could be Fike, Myers or Bryan Bird.