Falcons take advantage of Colonial errors in 5-3 win
CONNELLSVILLE — The Connellsville Falcons were able to make the routine plays and took advantage of several miscues by the visiting Albert Gallatin Colonials to earn a 5-3 win in section 2-AAAA.
The Falcons (2-4, 6-6) got good production from the bottom part of their lineup which produced three of their five runs. Number eight hitter J.R. Blocker had two hits and scored twice and teammate Jacob Wiltrout picked up a run out of the number nine slot.
The Colonials (0-4, 2-6) got a strong pitching performance from Nate Torbich who held the Falcons to five hits and got a couple of defensive gems behind him but a total of six errors offset any momentum.
AG turned away the Falcons in the bottom of the first. With a man on Connellsville’s Austin Puskar was safe on an error at third when the throw went into right field. Chris Phillips backing up the play made a strong throw to the plate to cut down Evan Onusko trying to score.
The Falcons regrouped and struck for three runs in the bottom of the second. Blocker singled and stole second and then swiped third. Wiltrout drew a walk and Brock Bonadio singled driving in Blocker. Onusko followed with a single to load the bases. Wiltrout scored on a wild pitch. “We were able to take advantage of some their miscues today,” the Falcons Rob Orndorff said.
The Colonials got back into the ballgame with two runs in the fourth. Phillips stroked a one-out double that was followed by a single from R.T. Barber. Torbich’s grounder back to the mound allowed Phillips to score. Cody Riggin singled to drive in Barber.
The Colonials eliminated a Connellsville threat in the bottom of the fourth turning a 4-6-3 double play. They used that momentum to tie the game in the fifth. Caleb Dempsey drew a walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double from Paul Dunham.
“Failure to make the routine play today hurt us,” AG’s Shawn Chory said. “The kids are giving me 100 percent. We can’t give a team like Connellsville extra outs. That’s what hurt us.”
The Falcons got one of those runs back in the bottom of the fifth. Puskar walked to lead off the inning. He was sacrificed to second by Ty Henry. Mike Parlak’s grounder to short was bobbled putting runners at first and third.
In the sixth Blocker singled for the Falcons. Wiltrout was safe on an error putting runners at first and second. Bonadio was robbed of an RBI on a diving catch by centerfielder Christian Goletz. Onusko’s fly ball to second was dropped on a collision with the rightfielder allowing Blocker to score.
“We had good pitching against Kiski Saturday and good pitching again today,” Orndorff said. “We had no errors defensively today and we were fortunate to take advantage of some of their miscues. Now we have two section wins going into the section half. I think we’re more relaxed and the kids know they can turn around a couple those close losses in the first half.”