Marios takes 2-0 lead in FCBL finals
CARMICHAELS – Top-seeded Mario’s continued its unbeaten run through the Fayette County Baseball League playoffs with a 7-5 win over Blue Mountain, the No. 2 seed, on Sunday at Carmichaels Area High School field. Despite getting out to a 2-0 lead in the championship series, Mario’s manager Lou Pasquale isn’t about to let his team get comfortable and complacent. “Every playoff win is big, however, I hope my team has convenient amnesia,” Pasquale said. “These guys stay up.”
During the victory, Mario’s showed the type of determination and perseverance that got them to the top spot in the FCBL. The No. 1 seed took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, thanks to a two-out, two-run single by designated hitter Jeff Lapkowicz that plated second baseman Chad Rice and third baseman Jason Greene.
The Copperheads managed to tie the game up in the bottom of the third when third baseman Gene Franks came up with a clutch two-out hit of his own. Franks drove a Marty Fagler pitch over right-center field that scored both himself and left fielder George Taylor, tying the game two.
Blue Mountain took their only lead of the game in the next inning.
After centerfielder J.W. Kayla slapped a one-out single, he moved up to third on a Dan Novak single. Kayla came around to score on a wild pitch and put his team up 3-2. With two outs, catcher Adam Lewton came up with a two-out RBI double and a 4-2 Blue Mountain lead.
The Copperheads looked poised for a big inning after they loaded the bases, but Fagler shook off back-to-back walks and came up with a huge strikeout of Franks to end the threat.
After neither team scored in their respective half of the fifth, Mario’s exploded for five runs in the top of the sixth that effectively sealed the deal.
Designated hitter Jeff Lapkowicz led off the frame with a one-base knock and his twin brother Jared, who played first base, followed by drawing a walk. After right fielder Jeremy Thomas hustled out a bunt single to load the bases, Blue Mountain starting pitcher Perry Cunningham buckled down and recorded a strikeout.
However, the youngest of the Lapkowicz brothers, Joby, tied the game with a two-run single that brought both his brothers home and chased Cunningham from the game.
“It’s awesome having them on this team,” Pasquale said about having all three Lapkowiczes on his roster. “Jared and Jeff have been with me for about five years and this is Joby’s second. They’re really good guys and it’s nice having them to put in the lineup.”
Mario’s retook the lead (5-4) when Thomas scored on a wild pitch, and with two outs on the board, Greene came through with a run-scoring single. Two batters later, Greene crossed home plate after catcher Stephan Hermann blasted a ground-rule double over the exceptionally deep left-field fence.
Carmichaels manager Richard Krause made his second pitching change of the inning following the two bagger, and brought in George Taylor to retire the side.
Trailing 7-4, the Copperheads tried to mount a comeback in the bottom of the sixth, with Taylor singling in Rick Smykla, making the score 7-5. Smykla was pinch running for Lewton, who was hit by a pitch.
However, Fagler stopped the comeback try in the sixth and faced just four batters in the seventh to pick up the complete game victory.
Despite some struggles in the third and fourth innings, Fagler kept things together while picking up the win. He gave up eight hits and walked six, while striking out six.
Cunningham suffered the loss for the Copperheads after working 5.1 innings in which he gave up six earned runs on seven hits and four walks. He added seven strikeouts.
“Perry gave us a great start on just three days rest and he gave us a chance to win,” Krause said. “We couldn’t get it done. We swung the bats pretty well, but we just couldn’t get that hit in a critical situation. It was a tough one to lose.”
As previously mentioned, the three Lapkowicz brothers were crucial to the Mario’s win. They combined to go five-for-eight with four RBI, three runs scored and three walks. Jeff and Joby each went two-for-three with a run scored and two RBI.
Greene added a two-for-four day with an RBI and two runs scored.
Taylor and Kayla picked two hits each for Blue Mountain.
Mario’s will try to take a commanding 3-0 advantage as the series shifts back to their home field in Republic today.