California in the driver’s seat in Section 1-A after 4-1 win over Mikes
CARMICHAELS – After Monday’s 4-1 victory over Carmichaels, defending WPIAL champion California finds itself back in the driver’s seat in Section 1-A. But a long, winding road still awaits the Trojans, and coach Don Hartman knows the section title is far from locked up.
Left-hander Zack Jeney tossed a two-hitter, struck out nine and helped his own cause with an RBI-single as California improved to 6-1 in Section 1-A.
With the Trojans’ clinging to a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning, Matt Hartman all but sealed the victory, lofting a lazy fly ball into right field that wound up a two-run home run after it barely cleared the fence behind Carmichaels’ Pete Putila.
“When these two teams get together, it’s like Ohio State-Michigan,” Don Hartman said. “Today, we got a couple of timely hits when we needed them.”
The game marked the beginning of a brutal stretch of games for both teams in which they will play eight times in 10 days because of numerous rainouts the past two weeks.
Prior to Monday, the last time either team played was a week ago, when California held on for a 7-6 victory over Carmichaels.
The victory helps the Trojans stay atop the section, a spot they currently share with Bentworth, after the Bearcats improved to 7-2 with a win over West Greene Monday. Carmichaels is one game back, as is Jefferson-Morgan, which improved to 6-3 after sweeping Frazier in a doubleheader Monday.
The winner of the section has gone on to capture the WPIAL Class A title four times in the past six years, with California and Carmichaels each claiming it twice.
“When the dust settles, any number of teams in this section could be at the top,” Don Hartman said. “There are a lot of competitive teams in this section, and there is a lot of parody.”
On Monday, California took a 1-0 lead when Mike Galis reached on an error with one out in the top of the first inning and later scored on Jeney’s two-out double to right-centerfield.
The Trojans made it 2-0 when Travis VanOlst led off the top of the second inning with a double, and later scored with two outs on freshman Zach Edminston’s run-scoring single to left field.
The Mikes answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the second inning thanks to a two-out California error. Cody Andrews reached base when his grounder was thrown away, advanced to second on Aaron Thompson’s single, stole third base and scored on a Jeney wild pitch.
Ahead 2-1, California’s Ben Carson singled off Carmichaels right-hander Logan Phillips to lead off the top of the fifth inning. Carson was sacrificed to second by Galis and scored when Matt Hartman went deep on Phillips’ first pitch.
Phillips didn’t make many mistakes, scattering seven hits over seven innings while striking out four.
“You’re never going to go out and blow them (California) away when Jeney is on the mound,” said Mikes coach Dave Bates. “Today, Logan did his job. He shut people down and let his defense work for him. We feel if we play our best possible defense and score a couple of runs, we should win the game. But it’s tough to win when you only score once.”
After the game, Jeney talked to a scout from West Virginia University. He has received interest from WVU, along with Lewisburg Junior College in North Carolina.
“I’m just hoping to go to college and be successful,” Jeney said. “I’m trying to take it one step at a time. Every day you feel different (when you take the mound). Today, I felt relaxed. As a senior, I know I have to step up and get the job done.”
Neither team will have very much time to reflect on Monday’s game. Carmichaels faces Bentworth for back-to-back games today and Wednesday, while California takes on Jefferson-Morgan today and Geibel Catholic Wednesday.