Dean tosses 1-hitter in Uniontown’s 8-0 victory
HOPWOOD – Clay Dean allowed just one hit and Uniontown made the most of a couple fortunate calls for an 8-0 victory over visiting Smithfield-Fairchance Wednesday night in the first game of a Fayette County American Legion Baseball League doubleheader at Hutchinson Field.
“It’s tough playing a doubleheader. We have a few kids out,” said Smithfield-Fairchance manager Nick Groover.
Uniontown grabbed the early lead with two runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Nick Fleszar walked with one out and Parker Hoff followed with a single.
The Smithfield-Fairchance faithful felt catcher JJ Myers’ throw to third baseman Colin Andrews was on time for the out on Fleszar, but the visitors didn’t get the call and Uniontown had runners on second and third after the passed ball.
Wyatt Nehls walked to load the bases and Devan Krivosky followed with a walk for an RBI. Hoff scored on a wild pitch. Noah Lion took a curve ball off the helmet to reload the bases, but Evan Weakland worked out of the jam with a strikeout looking.
Uniontown had two hits in the second inning, but both runners were caught stealing.
Weakland had a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the third inning.
Smithfield-Fairchance had doubts on another safe call in the bottom of the fourth inning, especially when Uniontown scored four runs.
“It’s always something little,” said Groover.
Krivosky walked to start the inning and moved to second on Connor Hebda’s ground out.
Lion walked and left fielder Jake Bellish tracked down Dean’s fly ball.
Luke Gresh kept the inning alive with an infield single that scored Krivosky. Lion scored on a balk and Gresh moved to second.
Ethan Koffler moved Gresh to third base with a bunt single. Koffler stole second and both runners scored on Musko’s singled tha took a big hop over second base into center field.
“That’s the best offensively we’ve been able to take advantage of base runners. The past few games we’ve left a lot of guys on base. Now, we’re at a point where we’re getting consistent games,” said Uniontown manager Rich Franks, adding, “Our guys are getting into the rhythm.”
Uniontown appeared to have something going in the bottom of the fifth inning when Nehls ripped a line drive into right field, Nehls kept chugging around the bases after the ball kicked away from the outfielder for a triple. However, Nehls missed first base and was ruled out after the appeal.
Bellish walked back-to-back batters, but induced an inning-ending fly ball from Dean.
Uniontown had one more rally left in their bats in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Gresh and Ethan Koffler walked to start the inning. Musko laid down a bunt for a single. Back-to-back 5-4 putouts brought the final two runs home.
Dean was in control throughout the game, although Smithfield-Fairchance did make some noise in the top of the second inning.
Myers struck out to start the inning, but the third strike was mishandled and the throw to first caught him in the back. Myers stole second and took third on a passed ball.
Evan McGee walked with one out and stole second.
Dean killed the rally with back-to-back strikeouts, so he finished with four strikeouts in the inning.
Dean carried the no-hitter into the top of the sixth inning.
Weakland broke the no-hit bid when his ground ball to the hole between first and second base eluded a diving Musko and a sliding Hoff was unable to field the ball in time as Weakland hustled down the line for the infield single.
Dean recovered with back-to-back strikeouts. The right-hander struck out two more in the seventh inning to finish with 14 strikeouts, one walk and one hit.
“There were a lot of first-pitch strikes we were watching and getting into a hole,” said Groover. “He kept us off balance. I’ve known Clay for a few years. That’s probably the best Clay has thrown.”
“He’s been trending upwards. Once (Clay) finds his zone, he’s one of the best in the league,” praised Franks. “We would expect nothing less from him at this point.
“He controlled the zone. He dictated everything to (Smithfield-Fairchance). He was able to locate it where he wanted to.
“He went mainly fastball. He was able to locate it where he wanted to.”
Uniontown 18, Smithfield-Fairchance 1 – The home team rolled to a mercy rule victory in the nightcap.
Musko drove in four runs, including three on a double in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Uniontown jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first inning on Dean’s two-run double, a run-scoring single by Krivosky, Dean’s RBI double and Luke Gresh’s infield ground out.
Nehls finished with two hits, two runs scored and two RBI. Dean had two hits, three RBI and two runs scored. Hoff drove in two runs. Eahn Stevenson finished with three hits.
Lion went the distance in the five-inning victory, allowing just two hits with two walks and six strikeouts.