Copperheads wrap up top seed in FCBL playoffs
Carmichaels' Brock Bonadio swings against AMD Industries during Tuesday evening's Fayette County Baseball League game in Carmichaels. Bonadio singled on the pitch for one of his three hits in the Copperheads' 11-1 win.
Carmichaels' Tyler Reyes slides head first into second base as AMD Industries' Payton Conte awaits the late throw during the third inning of Tuesday evening's Fayette County Baseball League game in Carmichaels.
Lori C. Padilla
Carmichaels pitcher Hunter Robinson fires a pitch against AMD Industries during Tuesday evening’s Fayette County Baseball League game in Carmichaels. Robinson was the winning pitcher in the Copperheads’ 11-1 victory.
Lori C. Padilla
AMD Industries third baseman Anthony DellaPenna waits for the throw as Carmichaels’ Brody Bonodio slides into third base during Tuesday evening’s Fayette County Baseball League game in Carmichaels.
CARMICHAELS — Carmichaels wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the Fayette County Baseball League playoffs and extended its winning streak to eight games after an 11-1 victory over AMD Industries Tuesday evening at Carmichaels Area High School.
The Copperheads improve to 12-2 and will conclude regular-season action Thursday at home versus Better Edge.
The top four teams in the league will qualify for the postseason, which starts on Monday.
Carmichaels will play either Mitch’s Bail Bonds or Mill Run in a first-round, best-of-three series.
“I think we are ready for the playoffs and we all know anything can happen in the playoffs,” Carmichaels manager Richard Krause said.
“No matter who we face, we are going to face a quality starting pitcher. Our offense has to pick it up a little now. We have to square the ball up more and put together more quality at bats.”
AMD Industries (4-11) will miss the playoffs in its first year in the league, but player/manager Alex Adams said it was a good experience.
“We kind of put this team together about two weeks before the season,” Adams pointed out. “We have a lot of young guys on the team and a lot of the guys haven’t played in four or five years. We were a little rusty and as a new team in the league you expect to take some lumps. This is a process and we have learned a lot. We are already ready for next year.”
Carmichaels took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning after a RBI single by Joby Lapkowicz and a bases-loaded walk to Brody Bonadio.
The Copperheads pushed their lead to 3-0 in the second frame after a sacrifice fly by Chuck Gasti.
In the third, Carmichaels opened the game up with five runs.
Scott Hofty had an infield RBI single, followed by a two-run double by Brock Bonadio. Two more runs would cross home plate after an infield error.
“In that third inning, it started with the bottom of our lineup,” Krause said. “They were able to string some hits together and they flipped our lineup over. You need that type of production in the playoffs and you can’t afford to have any weak areas on your team. One through nine, we have to produce at the plate. We have to be better situationally.”
The Copperheads sent nine to the plate in the fourth and plated three more runs. Brody Bonadio led off with a triple and scored on Andy Manion’s groundout.
Brock Bonadio added an RBI single later in the inning, followed by a run-scoring fielder’s choice by Josh Bogucki.
Carmichaels pounded out 13 hits, led by Brock Bonadio with three. Tyler Reyes added a pair of singles and Hofty scored a team-high three runs.
The visitors avoided the shutout in the top of the fifth. Robbie DeFranco began the inning with a single and would later score on an outfield error.
Winning pitcher Hunter Robinson improved to 5-1 and only allowed one hit over four innings with eight strikeouts and two walks. Nate Torbich came on in relief in the fifth inning and registered two strikeouts.
For the season, the Copperheads’ pitching staff has allowed only 12 runs with eight shutouts over 14 games.
“Our pitching has carried us all year,” Krause said. “We run about five or six deep, and we have gotten a lot quality innings from our starters. Hunter has been outstanding and showcased his good command. Pitching and defense are our calling card this year. We just have to scrape enough runs to win in the playoffs.”
Anthony DellaPenna was tagged with the loss for AMD, while Drake Johnson pitched the final two innings.
Carmichaels, which started play in the FCBL in 1984, is closing in on 800 wins as a team. The Copperheads have won 12 league championships, including the last two.