M&R Transit advances to FCBL finals with 16-2 victory
M&R Transit rolled into the Fayette County Baseball League finals with a 16-2 victory Monday night on the road at Mitch’s Bail Bonds.
The defending champions swept the best-of-3 semifinal series and now awaits the winner of the Oakland (Md.)-Carmichaels semifinal. The best-of-5 championship series is set to begin Thursday at Hutchinson Field.
“(Sweeping the series) gives my guys an extra day of rest,” said M&R Transit manager Buddy Marra. “We’re pretty good with pitching. They’re rested.”
M&R Transit scored four runs in the top of the first inning, but Mitch’s Bail Bonds answered in the bottom of the inning with Nick Groover’s two-run home run.
M&R Transit steadily pulled away with five runs in the top of the second inning, two in the third inning, four more in the fourth inning and a single run in the top of the fifth inning.
Justin Brestensky started and pitched three innings for the win. The left-hander allowed two runs on three hits with three strikeouts and one walk.
Santino Marra finished the game, allowing no hits in the final two innings. He didn’t walk a batter and struck out two.
Andino Vecchiolla, Brestensky and CJ Gesk all doubled in the victory. Brestensky and Gesk also singled. Jace Capellini finished with three singles, and Santino Marra, Chad Petrush and Wyatt Lepley all had two singles in the 15-hit attack.
Groover also singled and losing pitcher Colby Simmons singled to account for the three hits by Mitch’s Bail Bonds.