Mikes advance to PIAA Class A title game
WASHINGTON – Carmichaels saw one of its stars fall in battle Monday, but with the game’s outcome still undecided, the Mikes saw another leader step to the forefront and shine brightest when needed most.
Chuck Gasti relieved an injured Joby Lapkowicz and allowed just one run over the final five innings of Carmichaels’ 6-2 win over Serra Catholic, in the PIAA Class A semifinals at Consol Energy Park. The victory sends the Mikes into their first state title game, where they will meet Camp Hill Friday at Blair County Ballpark, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Class AA affiliate, the Altoona Curve. Game time is slated for 4:30 p.m.
Ten years ago, Carmichaels’ softball team captured the school’s lone state title, when it defeated South Williamsport in the Class AA final. Gasti’s sister, Nikki, was a star right-hander on that team, and would eventually wind up as one of the WPIAL’s best all-time pitchers.
Now, it’s baby brother’s turn.
“Her medals are hanging from the ceiling fan in my room and I’ve spent a lot of time looking at them,” Chuck Gasti said. “It would be really nice to put another big, round gold medal up there.”
Carmichaels (23-1) had just five hits Monday, but took full advantage of five Serra errors to score six unearned runs off losing pitcher Brian Henze.
After spotting the Eagles a 1-0 lead, the Mikes pushed home four runs in the bottom of the first inning with the help of three Serra errors.
Lapkowicz reached base with two outs when his grounder to short was mishandled, and Marcus Robinson followed with a game-tying double. Serra first baseman Curtis Nickel then booted Ethan Virgili’s ground ball, with Robinson scoring the go-ahead run and Virgili winding up at second base.
Henze walked Zach Durbin and Billy Musgrove to load the bases, before Anthonie Farrar’s ground ball was misplayed by second baseman Ryan Caldwell.
Durbin and Musgrove scored on the play to give Carmichaels a 4-1 lead.
Gasti and Cody Andrews laced back-to-back singles to lead off the bottom of the second inning, before Lapkowicz’s grounder forced Andrews at second and left runners at the corners with one out.
With Robinson batting, Lapkowicz stole second and then tried to score along with Gasti on a passed ball. With Gasti barreling towards home plate, Eagles catcher Cam Olsen retrieved the ball after it bounced off the backstop and attempted to throw to Henze, who was covering the plate.
The throw was wide of home and appeared to hit Gasti before rolling about 10 feet up the third base line. Third baseman Mike Tedesco ran in, picked the ball up and tossed it back to Olsen, who was waiting for Lapkowicz.
The Mikes’ junior seemed to initially think about sliding, but then decided to stand up, at which point his right cleat became jammed in the dirt.
Lapkowicz was down on the field for several minutes before being helped off, and then he left the ballpark on crutches with his right ankle heavily taped.
He was taken to a MedExpress urgent care unit in Washington, where X-rays revealed a chipped bone in his right ankle.
Lapkowicz was reached later by phone Monday night.
“I’m really upset about what happened, but I’m just glad we won the game,” Lapkowicz said. “Whatever my role is, I’ll gladly play my part on Friday.”
Lapkowicz was slated to have more X-rays Monday night, and his status for the championship game is uncertain.
Gasti, meanwhile, allowed three straight two-out hits in the top of the third inning, but after Serra (23-3) scored its second run, the junior right-hander closed the door on the Eagles.
In picking up his second win over Serra this postseason, Gasti (9-0) finished with 11 strikeouts and didn’t allow a runner past first base beyond the third inning.
Gasti struck out the side twice, and he fanned at least two batters in every inning but one.
“Chuck has nasty stuff,” said Carmichaels coach Dave Bates. “You don’t hear that much about him because of the job Joby does.
“But does Chuck have good enough stuff to beat anybody in the state? I think so. And can we hold it together for seven more innings and win a state title? I think so.”
Leading 5-2, Carmichaels scored its final run in the bottom of the fifth inning with the help of two hits and an Eagles’ error. Robinson led off the frame with his second hit, and after Virgili reached base for the second time on an error, Durbin followed with an RBI-single.
“We’re a team that produces runs by running, and forcing other teams into errors,” said Serra coach Brian Dzurenda. “But when you get down by four runs, it takes you out of your game plan.
“This wasn’t about revenge. It was about us playing well and moving on, but we didn’t do that. All the credit has to go to Carmichaels.”
NOTES: Carmichaels has won 21 straight games since losing to Class AAA Belle Vernon in extra innings. … Camichaels and Gasti defeated Serra, 7-3, in the WPIAL semifinals. … The Mikes have won three WPIAL titles in the past six years.