Mikes ride Lawless’ 2-hitter to title game
Carmichaels Senior Brandon Lawless (7) fouls the ball during Monday’s game at Ross Memorial Park in Washington.
Riverview Senior Zach Hanus (3) makes the catch in the first inning during Monday’s game at Ross Memorial Park in Washington.
(Photo by Andrew Baugh)
Carmichaels senior Brandon Lawless (7) pitches during Monday’s game at Ross Memorial Park in Washington.
Riverview Senior Zach Hanus (3) is forced out at second base by Carmichaels Senior Ty Cole (3) during Monday’s game at Ross Memorial Park in Washington.
NORTH FRANKLIN TWP. — Brandon Lawless pitched a two-hit gem and Carmichaels took advantage of seven errors with a 9-0 triumph over Riverview in the WPIAL Class A baseball semifinals at W&J’s Ross Memorial Park Monday night.
With the win, the Mikes (14-2) improve to 6-1 in the semifinal round since 2002 and advances to their first title game since 2009.
Carmichaels will see a familiar opponent in the championship game, as it will battle against Section 1-A rival California at CONSOL Energy Park on May 27.
The Mikes’ only two losses in 2014 have come against California.
“I’m very excited to get another crack at California in the title game,” Carmichaels skipper Scott VanSickle said. “Me and (Cal’s coach) Nick Damico are good friends and we both went to Cal U. Everyone knows everyone, and it should be an intense game. The kids are focused right now.”
In the top of the first, Carmichaels plated two runs courtesy of one hit when Billy Bowlen was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and Joel Spishock drew a bases-loaded free pass.
Lawless walked the first two batters in the second frame, but got out of the jam with three straight outs and was on cruise control the rest of the game, retiring 15 straight at one point. Lawless threw 97 pitches with seven strikeouts and two walks.
“I had a good defense behind me and it felt good when we had that early lead,” Lawless said. “The breaking ball was working and my fastball kept on getting better as the game went on. It’s a great feeling to get to the title game and to have a chance to play California again. It’s huge for us and we have to play a complete game to win.”
The Mikes doubled their lead to 4-0 in the third when Ty Cole started the inning with a triple and scored off an RBI single by Bowlen. Bowlen came across home after a perfect, RBI squeeze bunt by Justin Newman with two outs.
The Raiders’ (14-6) defense came apart in the fourth with three errors that led to Ryan Zalar and Michael Blasinsky scoring.
“We put the ball in play and their seven errors helped us out a lot,” VanSickle said. “We played great defense and that’s the defense I’ve been waiting to see all year from us. Defense was the difference maker in the game. We attacked the baseball.”
With two outs in the fifth, Brennen McMinn was issued a walk, stole second and scored off of a misplayed ball by the first basemen to give the Mikes a 7-0 edge.
Carmichaels garnered two more runs in the seventh via some defensive miscues by Riverview that scored pinch-runner Josh Bogucki and Spishock.
“Brandon pounded the zone tonight and pitched a great game,” VanSickle said. “We have been waiting for that type of game from him and tonight he delivered. Brandon told me last year (after a quarterfinals loss to Western Beaver) that we were going to make it to the title game, and I was glad that he was on the mound tonight.”