Commodores too much for Mikes
John F. Brothers/HeraldStandard.com
Frazier’s Jamie Fell (3) makes the force out against Carmichaels’ Mike Blasinsky (19) and throws the ball to first to complete an inning-ending double play.
John F. Brothers/HeraldStandard.com
Carmichaels pitcher Brandon Lawless (7) is in his pitching motion during a game against Frazier at Perryopolis.
Carmichaels’ Nick Clarke (8) makes the out by just inches at first against Frazier’s Josh Barota (7). (Photo by John F. Brothers)
John F. Brothers/HeraldStandard.com
After being caught in a rundown Frazier’s Blake Herron (42) dives for second and makes it as Carmichaels shortstop Ty Cole (3) loses control while trying to tag Herron.
Frazier pitcher Adam Cook (6) fires the ball toward a Carmichaels' batter during their game at Perryopolis Athletic Field Friday.
PERRYOPOLIS — Friday’s season-opening baseball game between Carmichaels and Frazer had a bit of everything.
Frazier (1-0) scored all of its runs after two outs in four different innings of a 10-2 win over the visiting Mikes.
The game’s tone was set in the top half of the first inning when Commodore pitcher Adam Cook got out of a bases loaded threat with an inning-ending double play involving Tyler Rock, Jamie Fell, and Casey Henry.
Carmichaels pitcher Brandon Lawless got the first two outs against Frazier in the bottom of the inning. But Rock Vargo was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Fell’s single. Tyler Rock followed with a double to drive in Fell for a 2-0 lead.
Carmichaels (0-1) cut the lead in half on an unearned run in the third. Cook struck out the side, but Ty Cole reached base when the third strike went to the backstop and he moved to second on an errant throw. Nick Clarke followed with an RBI single.
Frazier answered with five runs in the bottom of the inning. Josh Barota singled and Lawless got a pair of strikeouts around an infield single by Fell. Cook’s bad hop single drove in Barota, and Blake Herron’s bloop single scored Fell.
Henry singled and Cook scored when the Mikes unsuccessfully tried to catch Herron in a rundown. Run-scoring singles by Jared Rebovich and Robert Gondura capped the inning with the Commodores leading 7-1.
Three Carmichaels errors opened the gates for two more runs in the fifth when Rebovich scored on a throwing error and Barota came home on a wild pitch for a 9-1 lead.
Clarke’s first pitch home run in the top of the sixth provided the only run that did not score after two outs.
Frazier’s final run scored in the bottom of the sixth when Rock crossed the plate on a two-out error by the Mikes.
Carmichaels coach Scott Van Sickle lamented some bad bounces that helped Frazier’s five-run rally in the third. “There’s nothing you can do about it. If it wasn’t for bad luck, we’d have had no luck. The infield was dangerous out there,” Van Sickle said. “Frazier is a good team with a lot of seniors.”
When asked about Clarke’s two-RBI day, VanSickle said, “Nick is our leader and one of the best hitters in single-A by far.”
Frazier coach Craig Kordich was pleased with his team’s hitting and pitching.
“I’m just happy to see the kids come out and hit well. If you put the ball in play good things happen,” Kordich said.
“(Pitchers Cook and Fell) were hitting spots when they needed to hit spots and throwing off-speed pitches when they needed to.”
Non Section Baseball
Carmichaels 001 001 0 – 2 5 4
Frazier 205 021 x – 10 16 2
WP- Adam Cook; LP- Brandon Lawless; 2B- Josh Mundell (Ca), Tyler Rock (F), Jamie Fell (F); HR- Nick Clarke (Ca); LOB- (Ca) 6, (F) 10; DP- Ca. 1, F 1; Records: Carmichaels (0-1), Frazier (1-0).