Virgili home run lifts Mikes past Falcons
REPUBLIC – Ethan Virgili’s two-run home run in the top of the fifth inning lifted Carmichaels to a 2-1 win over Brownsville in non-section baseball action Tuesday at Brownsville’s Redstone Field. “It was a great shot for him,” Carmichaels coach Dave Bates said of Virgili’s game-winning blast. “He’s only a sophomore and we moved him up in the batting order a little quicker than we would have liked to do. But he’s been hitting pretty consistently and he produced for us today.”
Virgili’s blast came half an inning after Brownsville broke up a 0-0 ball game with its only run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Matt Szuch opened the inning with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Mike Michalsky’s double to right-center.
“Those are the kind of wins that are hard to come by this early in the season,” Bates said. “Good, close 2-1 games are tough to win anytime, but especially early in the season when teams are still just maybe starting to come together.”
With that thought in mind, Bates was particularly happy with how his team responded to some key situations in the game.
“The pivotal point in the game, to me, was in the third inning, when Brownsville loaded the bases with one out,” Bates said. “We were able to get out of that jam (with a strike out and a ground ball) and those situations are where a team like ours grows up.”
Likewise, Brownsville coach Skooter Roebuck was disappointed that his team was unable to get key hits in key situations.
“I said in all of the preview articles that I was worried about our offense,” Roebuck said. “Not it is coming true. But we’re not hitting the ball right now, especially not in key situations. I’m not sure if it’s nerves or what, but we are getting better. We played better today than we did over the weekend.”
The Falcons (0-4) committed four errors, but three came in the first two innings and none of their miscues led to Carmichaels’ runs.
“We didn’t do much to hurt ourselves,” Roebuck said. “Anytime you have a chance to win a ball game in the seventh inning, you’re doing something right.”
The Falcons loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh on a walk, fielder’s choice, another walk and a hit batter, but the Mikes (2-0) got a fource out at home and a ground ball out to third base to end the threat and the game.
Marcus Robinson scattered six hits in four innings to earn the win. Bobby Virgili pitched the last three for a save. “I think I found a relief pitcher,” Bates said of Virgili.
Szuch was the bard-luck loser for Brownsville. He worked six strong innings, but the last of only five hits was Ethan Virgili’s home run.
Both teams are on the road Thursday, Carmichaels visiting Waynesburg Central and Brownsville traveling to Jefferson-Morgan.