Uniontown Legion sweeps doubleheader from California
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Uniontown’s Drew DeBerry (6) attempts to steal second, but was tagged out by California’s Garret Woodburn (7) during the first game of Wednesday’s Fayette American Legion Baseball doubleheader at Hutchinson Park. Uniontown swept the doubleheader, winning the first game, 4-0, and taking the nightcap, 7-3.
Uniontown's Mike Bochnak (16) is caught off first, but safely dives back ahead of the throw to California first baseman Kyle Newman during the first game of Wednesday's Fayette American Legion Baseball doubleheader at Hutchinson Park.
Uniontown pitcher Tyler Mayers (15) fires a pitch at a California batter the first game of Wednesday's Fayette American Legion Baseball doubleheader at Hutchinson Park.
HOPWOOD — Tyler Mayers only had to pitch seven innings to lead Uniontown to a 4-0 Fayette American Legion Baseball League win over California on Wednesday. But he looked like he could have pitched the usual nine innings for a complete game.
Uniontown completed the sweep with a 7-3 win in the nightcap. Zack Uhazie earned the win.
Starting the first game of a doubleheader, Mayers held California to one hit while striking out seven batters, walking three and hitting a batter.
“That was the best he’s pitched all year,” said Uniontown coach Scott DeBerry. “He’s been in a lot on short relief. He had good command and hit his spots when he needed to.”
On the other side of the field, California coach Brian Previsky agreed that his pitcher, Josh Luko, deserved a better fate.
“Josh threw an excellent game,” Previsky said. “We had a couple errors fielding behind him that broke our backs.”
Uniontown led 1-0 after Drew DeBerry led off the bottom of the third inning with his second single and advanced to third on a wild pitch and stolen base. DeBerry scored on a two-out single by Giuseppe Schiano.
Uniontown scored three unearned runs in the fifth inning to build a 4-0 lead. DeBerry singled with one out, Joe Superick’s fly ball was dropped in the outfield, and DeBerry scored on an infield error on a ball hit by Zack Stashick.
Superick scored on Schiano’s ground out and courtesy runner Steve Salanick scored on a single by Tyler Dubovich to complete the game’s scoring.
C.J. Novak’s second inning single was the only hit off Mayers. But California had a golden opportunity in the sixth when lead-off batter Chris Swartz was hit by a pitch and Luko walked. After Gavin Anderson bunted the runners into scoring position, Mayers got a pop fly out before walking Jake Columbus to load the bases.
Mayers got Novak to fly out to right field to end the threat, and he set the visitors down in order in the seventh.
Previsky agreed that his team needed a big hit in the sixth inning.
“We get runners in scoring position and nobody hits after that,” he said. “Mayers pitched a pretty good game. I give him credit; he pitched well.”
Drew DeBerry had three hits after returning to the lineup recently after being out with an injury.
Scott DeBerry said, “It’s tough to be off for three weeks and come back to where you were before, but he’s definitely getting there.”
Uniontown is scheduled to host Colonial 3 on Friday in another doubleheader to begin at 6 p.m. at the Hutchinson Sportsmen’s diamond.