Gasti cruises as Mikes whip Serra Catholic
GREENSBURG – If you got there late, even a little bit late, you missed a lot. Yet you still got to see a good amount of very good baseball. Carmichaels struck early and pitcher Chuck Gasti did the rest in the Mikes’ 7-3 win over Serra Catholic in a WPIAL Class A baseball semifinal at Seton Hill University.
Gasti was phenomenal on the mound, as he pitched a complete game to improve his personal pitching record to 6-0 on the season by helping the Mikes climb to 18-1. He was equally impressive with a bat in his hand, but he had some help in that department.
Gasti opened the game with a double and came around when Cody Andrews tattooed a pitch for a two-run homer and a 2-0 Carmichaels lead before the Eagles had recorded an out.
“The momentum got set in the first inning,” Carmichaels coach Dave Bates said. “Cody hit that one a long way and it carried us the rest of the way.”
Of course, it didn’t hurt that the Mikes plated three more runs on three hits and an error in the second inning to stretch their lead to 5-1 through two innings.
“That gave us total momentum for the game,” Gasti said.
“This was the best game Chuck has ever pitched, without a doubt,” Bates said. “He was in control throughout. We knew two or three runs might not be enough against a good team like Serra. We got more and Chuck just cruised.”
Of course, the win puts the Mikes back in the WPIAL title game. It will be their first appearance since winning the title in 2005 at the end of a two-for-three run. Carmichaels also qualified for PIAA play with the win. The Mikes take on Rochester, a 12-2 winner over Union in the other semifinal.
“It’s a feeling I never get tired of,” Bates said of reaching the title game. “There’s only one thing better and that’s winning the title.”
Meanwhile, Serra Catholic coach Brian Dzurenda was busy consoling his players after they absorbed their second loss in 22 games.
“When you win 20 and you only lose one; we’re not used to being in this situation,” Dzurenda said. “I thought we would win. Losing doesn’t cross your mind when you win that many games.
“But it was more them than us. Carmichaels played well. They were the better team today and they deserve to play for the championship.”
The Eagles were going for their third WPIAL championship this school year, having won the football and basketball titles.
“We knew the pressure was on them,” Bates said, noting that he liked the fact Serra was seeded one spot above his No. 2 Mikes.
“We feel a three is just as good as a two. I’d much rather be the underdog.”
“We were very aware of that,” Gasti said. “We didn’t want them to keep going. It was very motivating for us.”
Andrews finished with three RBI on two hits, while Lapkowicz drove in two, including a solo home run leading off the seventh. Carmichaels’ defense also was a factor, as it turned in two double plays, including a sweet 3-6-3.
“That was a beautiful double play Zach Durbin turned,” Bates said. Durbin initiated it by fielding a ground ball and ended it by hustling back to the base for the return throw from shortstop Marcus Robinson.
The Class A championship game likely will be played Tuesday, but it won’t be official until the WPIAL announces it. The game will be played at Consol Energy Park in Washington.