Vargo drives in winning run as Commodores edge Scotties
Joel Brewton/HeraldStandard.com
Frazier’s Tyler Rock hits a deep shot against Southmoreland at Perryopolis Field on Friday.
Frazier's Tyler Rock (1) hits the ball deep against Southmoreland at Perryopolis community field on Friday.
Southmoreland's Brandon Galley (10) is greeted at home plate by his teammates after he scores the first run against Frazier at Perryopolis community field.
PERRYOPOLIS — Rock Vargo’s one-out single drove in Chaise Bertocci with the winning run as Frazier edged Southmoreland, 10-9, in a wild game on Friday.
The lead swung back and forth several times before Frazier scored twice in the bottom of the seventh for the win.
Southmoreland (2-5, 4-8) took a 1-0 lead on pitcher Brandon Galley’s two-out home run to left field in the first.
Frazier (4-3, 7-5) took a 2-1 lead in the second when Tyler Rock singled, stole second and scored on Jamie Fell’s triple. Fell scored on a sacrifice fly out by Casey Henry.
The Scotties reclaimed the lead at 3-2 in the fourth when Brian Schaeffer’s two-out single drove in Brennan Bunner and Ben Hoadwonic.
The Commodores answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning. Henry doubled and scored on Blake Herron’s single, Jared Rebovich was safe on a bunt single, and Herron scored on a wild pitch. Rebovich and Josh Barota scored on Vargo’s single, and Vargo scored on Rock’s double for a 7-3 lead.
Southmoreland tied the game with four unearned runs in the fifth as Frazier committed three errors in the inning. Baird and Schaeffer had RBI singles, while Mitch Ridenour scored when an outfield fly was dropped, and Baird scored on a double play ground out.
The Scotties took the lead in the sixth when Ridenour homered to straightaway centerfield with Galley on base. Trailing 9-7, the Commodores escaped further damage when they turned an inning ending double play with the bass loaded.
Frazier got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Barota scored on a sacrifice fly by Rock to cut the lead to 9-8.
In the bottom of the seventh, Herron singled and Bertocci walked. One out later, Barota singled to drive in Herron to tie the game and Vargo delivered the game-winning hit that drove in Bertocci.
Rock was the winning pitcher in relief of Fell, while Galley took the loss for the Scotties.
Frazier coach Craig Kordich praised his team for battling back after the error-filled fifth inning. “They could have shut down, but got back in the groove. Any time you let a team back in the game and come back to win it’s a good show. They shaved years off my life.”
Kordich added, “I give credit to Southmoreland. They put the ball in play and were ready to play.”
Southmoreland coach Brian Galley said, “It was a back and forth game. Both teams attacked the ball and it was a good game. I give Frazier credit. They came out on top. It’s never over in baseball. Anybody can beat anybody at any time.”