Ambridge-Baden tops Blackhawk, wins American Legion District 6 title
Manager Steve Antolic wasn’t sure of the last time Ambridge-Baden reached the American Legion baseball state tournament.
“The rumor is that Ambridge-Baden hasn’t been there since 1960,” Antolic said. “That’s been awhile.”
How ever long the wait has been, it’s over now.
Tre Thomas went 5 for 5 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBIs and Nick Campalong pitched eight strong innings to lead Ambridge-Baden over Blackhawk, 8-2, in the American Legion District 6 final at Hutchinson Field on Wednesday night.
With the victory, Ambridge-Baden earned a trip to Ephrata for the state tournament where it will open against the Region 3 champion at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
“Honestly, I don’t know what to expect,” Antolic said in anticipation of the trip out to eastern Pa. “As long as we come ready to play we’ll let the cards fall where they may. But it will be an experience that these kids will never forget, and I won’t forget it either. It’s a big moment for our organization and our community.”
Ambridge-Baden had fallen to manager Bob Amalia’s Blackhawk squad a day earlier, 12-2 in seven innings. On Wednesday A-B first had to wait while Uniontown and Blackhawk battled to see who it would match up with in the final.
Blackhawk’s 5-0 win set up a rematch, but this time Ambridge-Baden was ready.
“We’re familiar with Blackhawk,” Antolic said. “Bob always has a strong team and they’re consistent, so we knew we were going to be in for a game. But they had to play two and they played that first one in the 90-degree weather.
“We had confidence we could do it. We forgot yesterday.”
The final began as a pitching duel between Campalong and Blackhawk’s Andy McClymonds with neither giving any ground the first three innings.
Ambridge-Baden broke the scoreless tie in the fourth. Travis Holman led off with a walk, Thomas beat out a bunt single and Zach Greene bunted the runners up to set the stage. Mike Mellor hit a sacrifice fly and Vinnie Morelli followed with an RBI infield single to put A-B up 2-0.
Antolic’s squad made it 3-0 in the sixth when Thomas legged out a double, took third on Greene’s second sacrifice bunt and scored on Mellor’s ground out that glanced off MClymonds’ glove.
Noah Krokonko helped put A-B ahead 4-0 in the seventh when he laid down a bunt single, stole second and scored on Holman’s single.
McClymonds, who left after seven innings, gave up four runs on eight hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in taking the loss.
Meanwhile, Campalong cruised through the first seven innings, allowing just three singles, two of them infield hits, until Blackhawk finally cracked the scoreboard in the top of the eighth.
Zach Zuchelli singled and Michael Turconi tripled him home. Turconi scored on John Nixon’s ground out to get Blackhawk within two, 4-2.
Any thoughts Blackhawk had of pulling out a late-inning victory vanished in the bottom of the inning, though, when Zuchelli relieved McClymonds.
Mellor doubled and Morelli and Kevin Holman walked to load the bases and one out later Alex Fetkovich’s sacrifice fly made it 5-2. Jarret Cunnard’s RBI single to left kept the rally going and a walk to Travis Holman brought up the red-hot Thomas, who laced a two-run double deep to left-center field for an 8-2 advantage.
“I’ve been on fire the past couple games,” Thomas said. “I’ve been just sticking to my approach at the plate, sitting on a lot of curveballs and when they throw me fastballs I take advantage of it.”
Campalong surrendered two runs on six hits with two walks and five strikeouts in eight impressive innings.
“He’s fantastic,” Antolic said. “Nick throws a lot of strikes. When we send him to the mound we have a lot of confidence that he can do the job.”
Greene tossed a scoreless ninth to wrap up the win.
“It feels great,” Thomas said of qualifying for the state playoffs. “I’ve played Ambridge baseball for a long time and I’ve never made it this far. Just to be able to get back with the boys I grew up with playing baseball, it’s a good experience and I can’t wait to go to the next part.
“I can’t wait to see what’s out there for us.”
Antolic commended Thomas, who was the star of the tournament.
“Tre has been hitting the ball all over the place, and he pitched the first game of the tournament and threw a shutout against Connellsville,” Antolic said. “He’s rock solid. He’s one of the leaders of the team. He just comes through when we need him, too. He’s a fabulous ballplayer. We’re glad to have him.”
Amalia was gracious in defeat.
“Obviously, we’re not the kind of guys that like to be runners-up,” Amalia said. “But I’m very proud of our team. I’d like to congratulate Ambridge. I hope you guys win it all.”
Antolic had confidence in his team coming into the tournament.
“We play in a pretty strong Beaver County league and we get good competition throughout the year,” he said. “Blackhawk is a tough team. Hopewell is in our league, too, and they’re a tough team.
“So when we’re able to compete and battle with them, when we get here, we feel we can compete.”