Fike’s one-hitter keeps Hopwood alive in series against Mill Run
HOPWOOD – Nate Fike pitched a one-hitter and Hopwood squeezed out enough runs to pick up a 2-1 victory over Mill Run Thursday in the first round of the Fayette County Baseball League playoffs. The Power tied the best-of-3 series with Mill Run at 1-1 with Game 3 coming tonight at Mill Run with the first pitch scheduled for 5:45 p.m. Fike and Mill Run pitcher Bill Bendis battled each other until Hopwood (7-18) broke through in the sixth inning with one run on two hits.
Casey Kupets led off the inning with a single to left and Mike Klamerus reached on an error by the second baseman. Fike helped his own cause by beating out a sacrifice bunt to load the bases with no one out.
Bendis buckled down as Nick Apicella flew out to short and Devin Bowles struck out swinging. Mike Dvorchak hit the ball hard to the shortstop, but he could not get off a good throw and Kupets scored.
Fike didn’t have any trouble finishing the game as the lefty struck out the side in the seventh inning. Fike went seven innings, allowing one run on one hit. He struck out 14 and walked two.
“It’s kind of a shame you can’t see that intensity every game,” Hopwood manager Dan Kupets said. “Nate (Fike) had 14 strikeouts and we didn’t make any mistakes with guys on base.”
Bendis allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings of work. He struck out 10 and walked four.
“We had a couple of costly errors and they had timely hits,” Mill Run manager Ray Orndorff said. “Good pitching stops good hitting, and they had a little better pitcher tonight. Bill (Bendis) did a nice job as well.”
Mill Run (14-11-1) got on the board in the first inning when Bob Fulton reached second base on an error, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a passed ball.
Dvorchak led off the third with a walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Bendis walked Shane Molyneaux to give Hopwood runners at first and second with no one out.
Scott Hruby reached base on a fielder’s choice as Molyneaux was forced out at second. Dvorchak moved to third on the play and scored on Jim Cales’ sacrifice fly to right field, tying the game at 1-1. Bendis struck out Kupets to end the threat.
Rob Orndorff broke up Fike’s no-hitter in the fourth inning with a leadoff single. Dave Sumner reached second base on an error and Mill Run had runners on second and third with no one out. Fike struck out the side and the game remained tied at one.
Neither team had any significant scoring chances in the next two innings until The Power broke through in the sixth.
“We just have to regroup and get ready for tomorrow,” Ray Orndorff said. “I’m not sure the pitcher I will go with, but we will be ready to go. I don’t know if playing at home will help us, but it can’t hurt.”
Hopwood is looking forward to tonight’s game as it has suffered through some tough times the last three years.
“Three years prior, we didn’t have six wins,” Kupets said. “Tomorrow, we will have all our players here and we’ll be ready to go.” Mill Run?s Dave Sumner (14) makes the turn at second base while Hopwood second baseman Logan Williams waits for a throw that did not come during Thursday?s Fayette County Baseball League quarterfinal game played at Hutchinson. Hopwood tied the best-of-3 playoff series with a 2-1 win. John Brothers/Herald-Standard