Freshmen come through as California tops Geibel
CONNELLSVILLE TWP. – With April showers ending, local baseball teams are finally getting some decent weather to play in. However, most teams face the same problem. They have to play on consecutive days a couple of times a week, and the pitching staffs are stretched to the limit. That was the case Wednesday afternoon when California traveled to Geibel Catholic for a Section 1-A contest.
Don Hartman’s lineup was thinned because of injury and disciplinary measures, which forced him to start four freshmen. The rookies held together and sophomore left-hander Ben Carson gave the Trojans a solid complete game on the mound as California scored eight runs in the fifth inning to beat the Gators 13-9.
Hartman’s four freshmen, hitting in the six through nine slots, combined for six hits, four RBIs and scored five runs. Carson helped his cause, batting leadoff and collected three hits, scored three runs and drove in a run.
“Ben threw a fantastic game today for a sophomore,” Hartman said. “The freshmen really rose to the occasion. They got some hits and played some great defense. It’s good to come out of here with a win because the section is so tough.”
The Trojans (7-2, 13-2) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Carson singled and eventually came around to score on an error at third. Zack Jeney scored on freshman Dominic Roach’s fly ball to center, and Travis Van Olst scored the Trojans’ third run of the inning on an error at short.
The Gators (5-4, 6-7) charged back in the bottom of the inning to tie the game. Nolan Zavora led off with a double. Phil Mariani singled, and Brendan Costantino’s ground ball forced Mariani at second but allowed Zavora to score. Ryan Craft hit a two-out single to drive in Costantino. Craft led the Gator offense with four hits and four RBIs on the day.
Mick Betler was safe when his fly ball to left was dropped. Tyler Erdely singled to right driving in Craft.
California added two more in the second when Mike Galis and Jeney picked up a pair of RBI singles. Galis drove in freshman Zach Edminston, while Jeney’s hit scored Carson.
The Gators came back in the bottom of the inning with three more runs to take the lead. Mike Ciarochi led off the inning with a walk and stole second. Mariani drew a one-out walk. Costantino singled to drive in Ciarochi with Mariani moving to third. Tyler Charles’ ground ball to first scored Mariani before Craft unloaded a triple to drive in Costantino, giving the Gators a 6-5 lead.
Geibel added two more in the bottom of the fourth. Zavora singled to lead off and was sacrificed to second by Mariani. Costantino singled moving Zavora to third. Costantino moved to second, and both scored on a double by Craft, giving the Gators an 8-5 lead.
The Trojan freshmen led the comeback in the top of the fifth. Roach and freshman Wade Stinnett had back-to-back hits to lead off. With one out, Edminston tripled, driving in two runs to make the score 8-7. Carson doubled to drive in Edminston to tie the game, Galis beat out an infield hit, then Jeney walked to load the bases. Van Olst singled to right, driving in two to give the Trojans a 10-8 lead. An error on the play put runners at second and third, before Waugh Carter followed with a base hit to drive in Cal’s final two runs.
“When you score nine runs and don’t win, it’s tough. We didn’t get the job done today,” A disappointed Mark Riggin said of his Gators. “Every game we’ve lost we’ve had one bad inning that has cost us. Zavora came on and pitched well for us again today. We let some hits drop in front of us today. We have got to make the plays in the field that’s the bottom line.”
The Gators picked up one more run in the sixth. Mariani singled to lead off. With on e out, Charles was hit by a pitch, before Craft singled to load the bases and Betler’s ground ball to third drove in Mariani.
“It’s going to be a grind over the next few weeks because we’ll play almost every day the weather is nice,” Hartman said. “Our guys need to play some ball. We would play a game and get rained out for a week. I thing right now playing is the best thing for us.”
California will be in action today at home against Frazier, and Friday they host Mapletown.
The Gators hit the road today to finish a suspended game at Carmichaels and then travel to West Greene.