Cougars edge Vikings, 3-2, in key section game
Edward K.Thompson
The Cougars’ Keaton Riley fires a pitch to the plate during Wednesday’s Section 3-AAA game against Mount Pleasant at Charleroi.
Mount Pleasant outfielder Asher O'Connor makes a running grab during Wednesday's Section 3-AAA game at Charleroi.
Mount Pleasant's Jared Wagner throws to first to get a Charleroi runner during Wednesday's Section 3-AAA game at Charleroi.
CHARLEROI — Charleroi was able to capitalize on Mount Pleasant errors Wednesday afternoon to secure a 3-2 win in Section 3-AAA baseball action.
“Good pitching and really good defense definitely helped us, and this was probably our best defensive game of the year,” said Charleroi Luke Mollis.
“Taking advantage of their errors was really the difference in today’s game because we didn’t exactly tear the cover off the ball,” continued Mollis. “But, it was a good game between two good teams.”
With a runner on second in the top of the first, Mount Pleasant (7-5, 7-4) took an early 1-0 lead thanks to Pete Billey’s RBI single.
The Vikings got off to a rocky start defensively, allowing Charleroi’s first two batters to reach base on errors.
With two outs and runners on second and third, Mount Pleasant committed another error, bringing home Geno Pelligrini and Justin Day to give the Cougars (11-3, 7-3) a 2-1 lead.
The Vikings tied the game 2-2 in the top of the second inning thanks to an RBI single off the bat of George Tetteris.
The Cougars quickly responded in the bottom of the second inning with the game-winning run courtesy of Pelligrini’s RBI single, which made it 3-2.
Both pitchers and defenses stepped up their game for the remaining five innings with each team holding the other scoreless.
“We gave them too many opportunities, and we’ve got to make the plays on the field because that’s what gave them those first couple of runs at the beginning of the game,” said Vikings head coach Chris Firmstone. “We just got to learn to compete and come back, and when we have runners in scoring position, we have to be clutch.”
The teams combined for only five hits in the game.
Both teams resume sectional play on Friday with Charleroi traveling to Brownsville (9-2, 8-2) and Mount Pleasant hosting Southmoreland (1-13, 0-10).