Mikes’ bats stay hot in 9-5 win over Waynesburg
Carmichaels' first baseman Justin Newman stretches to reach the ball before Waynesburg Central's Colton Lippencott can reach the base during Wednesday's game at Carmichaels.
Waynesburg Central's Colton Lippencott crosses the plate to end Carmichaels' shutout in the fourth inning in Wednesday's game at Carmichaels.
Carmichaels' Brandon Lawless (7) tags Waynesburg Central's Willie Ziefel as he rounds second base during Wednesday's game at Carmichaels.
Holly Tonini
Carmichael’s Ryan Zalar safely slides back into second before Waynesburg Central’s Willie Ziefel can apply the tag during Wednesday’s game at Carmichaels.
CARMICHAELS — After producing 16 runs on Tuesday, the Carmichaels’ bats continued their hot hitting to start the season by scoring the game’s first five runs, en route to a 9-5 victory over Waynesburg Central in non-section baseball action on Wednesday.
Coming into the game, both squads combined for only one game played and 10 games that were either postponed or cancelled due to the weather. This was Waynesburg’s first game of the year and the second for Carmichaels after posting a 16-7 win on Tuesday versus Beth-Center.
The Mikes’ offense took advantage of two errors, eight walks and several passed balls to move up on the base paths on a cold and breezy day.
In the bottom of the first, Josh Mundell led off for Carmichaels (2-0) by reaching second base after an errant throw to first that went out of play. Mundell advanced to third on a passed ball and scored off of a groundout to second by Michael Blasinsky.
The Mikes put up four runs in the second, courtesy of some timely two-out hitting. Brandon Lawless started the frame with a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball before Ty Cole singled him in.
With two outs in the inning, Ty Shoaf drew a walk in front of a two-run triple by Mundell. Ryan Zalar cracked a RBI single that scored Mundell.
“That second inning was big for us,” Carmichaels coach Scott VanSickle said. “You got to hit with two outs if you want to win baseball games. I got a nice group of leaders and we only lost one starter from last year. We have really put emphasis on making contact with the ball and putting the ball in play with these cold, weather conditions.”
The Raiders (0-1) trimmed the deficit with two runs in the fourth. Colton Lippencott eked out an infield single and scored off of an infield error. Brad Nichols made it 5-2 after a RBI single up the middle that scored John Coss.
“It was our first time outside all year and we made our fair share of mental mistakes,” Waynesburg Central coach Kevin Pincavitch said. “Give Carmichaels a lot of credit, they are a good ball club. I’m not really upset with our play. It took us awhile to adjust to the game, and once we got through our line-up we started to hit and see more pitches. We got a lot more baseball to play this season.”
Carmichaels responded with two runs of their own in the fourth after a run-producing double by Zalar, who later scored off of a Waynesburg infield error to make it 7-2.
In the top of the fifth, Waynesburg countered with three runs and chased starting pitcher Cory Fuller out of the game.
Fuller was pulled out of the game after allowing consecutive walks to start the inning. Lawless came in and struck out the first batter he faced, but Lippencott laced a two-run triple to make things interesting again.
Lippencott scored the Raiders’ fifth run of the day after a RBI groundout by Aaron Hill.
The Mikes added two insurance runs in the sixth, courtesy of a RBI single by Mundell and a RBI groundout by Blasinsky.
Fuller picked up the win for Carmichaels, going four innings with six strikeouts and four walks. Lawless recorded the three-inning save with seven strikeouts and a walk.
“Brandon came into pitch in the fifth and was able to limit the damage for us,” VanSickle said. “He throws strikes and is going to get a lot of strikeouts this year. He is a solid pitcher and is going to be big for us. With us making up so many games and having games on back-to-back days, we need every arm we can get on the mound.”
Lippencott was tagged with the loss for the Raiders, going four innings with six strikeouts and four walks. Ty Morris and Willie Ziefel pitched the remainder of the game.