Jun 27, 2009 2 min read

FARMINGTON- Belle Vernon’s American Legion victory over Farmington on Friday had one of the most bizarre endings of the season. Belle Vernon led 4-0 in the top half of the third inning when leadoff batter Ethan Cieply hit a bouncing ball that struck Farmington pitcher Justin Gray on the cheekbone. While the ball caromed to first baseman Vince Klinkner for the out, Gray laid near the mound in obvious pain.

The game had started nearly 30 minutes late while Farmington scrambled to come up with nine players. With Gray unable to continue, the game was officially ended because the home team was unable to field a full lineup.

Both team managers admitted the sudden ending was one of the strangest they’d ever seen.

“The most important thing is that I hope the kid is okay,” said Belle Vernon manager Curt Shutterly. “I just wanted to get five innings in before the storm blew through.”

Torrential rains pounded the Wharton Township Field after the game was ended. The rainfall stopped after roughly 20 minutes, and it was difficult to determine what would have happened with field conditions if the game had continued.

Farmington Manager Lloyd Johnson said Gray had taken the ball flush on his cheekbone and his eye was swollen. Gray’s parents drove him to have for X-rays.

Belle Vernon (12-5) scored all its runs in the first inning, sending 10 batters to the plate and scoring four times on singles by Sam Bashioum and Bo Lustig, coupled with four walks, and a hit batsman. Gray avoided further damage by fielding a ground ball and throwing to catcher Donny Gray at home plate, and the relay to Klinkner at first base completed the double play.

Farmington (1-15) had two hits on a leadoff bunt single by Anthony Sparks, and Klinkner’s second inning double with two outs.

This is Farmington’s first American Legion season in a number of years, and Johnson said the team has battled through some tough times.

Shutterly sympathized with Johnson’s situation. “They’re young and are exactly where we were four or five years ago,” he said.

Both teams had remaining games scheduled in order to finish the regular season by Monday. Shutterly is hoping his team can be seeded as high as third or fourth in the upcoming playoffs.

“We’re getting healthy and I like the way we’re playing right now,” he said.