Red Raiders’ comeback tops Titans
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Uniontown’s Nik Gibson (22) slides home before the throw to West Mifflin catcher Ryan Ruffing (10) and scores the second of two runs on an RBI double by Red Raiders’ Kaine Frye in the fourth inning of Monday’s Section 4-AAA game at Hutchinson Park.
West Mifflin shortstop Jeff Doran (5) attempts the tag on Uniontown's Colby Simmons (4), but Simmons steals second during the first inning of their Section 4-AAA game Monday at Hutchinson Park.
Uniontown second baseman Eric Idrovo (1) puts the tag on West Mifflin's Zach Reinheimer (15) during a third inning run-down during Section 4-AAA action Monday at Hutchinson Park.
Uniontown's Carter Waligura (13) advances to second on a wild pitch and gets there ahead of the throw to West Mifflin shortstop Jeff Doran (5) in the bottom of the fourth inning. Waligura would go on to score on a 2-run double hit by teammate Kaine Frye (3) in the Section 4-AAA game Monday at Hutchinson Park.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standa
Uniontown’s Christian Forsythe is caught in a run-down and tagged out by West Mifflin shortstop Jeff Doran. The run-down gave Uniontown’s Colby Simmons time to score the Red Raiders first run of the game in Section 2-AAA action Monday at Hutchinson Park.
And the young ones shall lead them.
Even on Senior Night.
Uniontown honored its five senior baseball players, but it was a couple of sophomores who came up with game-tying and game-winning hits in an improbable, unbelievable 9-8 win over West Mifflin in a Section 4-AAA game that went nine innings.
In a game that had more ups and downs than a million yoyos, the Red Raiders (6-7, 5-4) moved a game ahead of the Titans (5-6-1, 4-5) for third place in the section.
First it was Nik Gibson, a sophomore who was in line to take the pitching loss after giving up three runs in the top of the ninth. His bases-loaded infield hit scored Christian Forsythe to tie the score with one out in the bottom of the ninth.
Then, it was fellow sophomore Kaine Frye’s turn. With the bases still loaded and the WM infield and outfield all playing shallow, Frye laced a pitch that rolled to the center field fence for the longest, but sweetest walk-off single in the history of such things.
That turned Gibson from losing pitcher to winning pitcher.
“What a wild game,” Uniontown coach Ken Musko said. “We kept fighting and fighting, but that’s becoming the MO of this team.
“We’re three-quarters of the way through the season and we’re finally starting to play better baseball. It’s nice to be on the other side of these close games. In the last week or so, we’ve just been fighting through them.”
West Mifflin coach Jeff Smith said the very obvious, that the game was there for the Titans to win.
“But we couldn’t get the pitching, couldn’t get the outs, couldn’t get it done,” Smith said. “Give Uniontown all the credit. Their kids made the plays when they needed them most. Right now, we’re not a playoff team.”
Smith tried three different pitchers in the ninth inning alone after Donavan Myers pitched 4.1 relief innings. He gave up three runs in the fourth to boost the Red Raiders to a 4-0 lead.
But the Titans bats came to life in the fifth and tied the game, 4-4. The game stayed tied until West Mifflin scored one in the eighth. Uniontown came back to tie it when Forsythe walked and scored on a Mark Fike double.
“We had a couple of chances to win the game, but we just couldn’t close the door,” Smith said.
Of course, it was far from a perfect game, even from Uniontown’s perspective, but Musko will proudly take this team into battle with him the rest of the way and hopefully into the playoffs.
“We know we are going to make mistakes and we made plenty tonight,” he said. “But we’re sticking together and we’re getting great leadership from our seniors and it’s beginning to pay off.”
All five seniors played key roles for the Red Raiders, as Colby Simmons had three hits and a walk and scored two runs, Eric Idrovo singled in a run and was flawless at second base, Forsythe drew two walks, was hit by a pitch and scored two runs, Fike doubled in a run and scored the game-winner and Waligura walked three times, scored a run and got a bunt single.
“I would really like to thank our parents, our boosters and our administration for continuing to build a solid baseball program here at Uniontown,” Musko said. “We’re had some growing pains along the way, but I think we’re ready to turn the corner.”
Snatching this victory from the jaws of defeat will go a long way to get the Red Raiders around that corner.