Jul 22, 2007 By The 3 min read

Uniontown took a 2-l lead in the Fayette American Legion finals Saturday, hammering visiting Charleroi, 10-2. Nathan Fike went the distance for Uniontown, as his teammates cranked out 12 hits to supply the firepower.

Fike posted nine strikeouts, walked two and allowed three hits and one earned run.

Uniontown manager Ron Popovich said, “It was a good team effort after yesterday’s loss.”

Game 4 of the series is set for 2 p.m. today at Charleroi.

Following a scoreless first inning, Uniontown got it going in the second as Carmen Congelio doubled, Jimmy Blosser got aboard on an error and Nick Erminio collected a base hit to knock in Congelio.

After Josh Myers was hit by a pitch, Fike brought Blosser home with a sacrifice fly.

“Nathan Fike not only pitched a good game, but the came up big with the bat,” Uniontown manager Ron Popovich said.

Uniontown added two more runs in the fourth inning as Erminio singled, Myers stole second and Fike singled for two more RBIs.

Another deuce in the fifth gave Uniontown a 6-0 lead as Eric Fudala led off with a base hit, Blosser walked and Myers singled to push two runners home.

Charleroi came alive in the sixth as Brandon Wyandt singled, Nate Helster got aboard on an error and Chris Chacko to third to knock in Wyandt, before Josh Farmer singled to bring the second run home.

In the bottom of the sixth, Uniontown added another run as Fike walked, moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Cory Sawka and scored on a base hit by Mike Pegg.

The winners plated another run in the seventh as Erminio and Myers walked, Matt George laid down a sacrifice bunt and Fike lofted a sacrifice fly to right for his fourth RBI of the afternoon.

Uniontown capped its scoring with a pair in the eighth as Fudala collected a base hit, pinch hitter Zach Dascenzo walked and Blosser hit into a fielder’s choice, which ended up with Dascenzo being thrown out at second, leaving runners on the corners. A wild pitch allowed Blosser to move to second, before Erminio doubled both runners home.

Popovich said, “I thought Nick Erminio really stepped up with his bat today.”

Erminio went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, Myers was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, Fike was 2-for-2 with four RBIs and Fudala went 3-for-5.

Matt Dishong was the losing pitcher. He went six innings, striking out four, allowing 10 hits, one walk and seven earned runs.