Belle Vernon takes Game 1
Tops Smithfield-Fairchance in league final
JB Crovak is a tough nut to crack, but Smithfield-Fairchance jumped out to an early lead against Crovak and Belle Vernon in Game 1 of the Fayette County American Legion Baseball league playoffs on Monday at John DiVirgilio Sports Complex in Rostraver Township.
The visitors had a 2-0 lead heading into the bottom of the first inning, but Belle Vernon (16-2-1) scored four in its half of the frame and one in the second for a three-run edge.
Smithfield-Fairchance (12-7) tied the game with three runs in the top of the sixth inning, but the home team scored six in the bottom of the frame prior to holding Smithfield-Fairchance off the scoreboard in the seventh for an 11-5 victory and a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. Game 2 was contested Tuesday evening at German-Masontown Park. The result was not available at press time, but can be viewed at www.heraldstandard.com once the recap is completed.
Belle Vernon Post 484 didn’t allow Smithfield-Fairchance scoring three runs in to top of the sixth to affect its play, as the host scored six runs on four hits and four walks for the sixth-run advantage.
Nate Grimm drew a lead-off walk on a 3-2 count prior to Dom Pireaux’s line drive to center field that advanced courtesy runner Max Manley to second base. Pireaux and Manley stole second and third before Manley scored on Vincenzo Francia’s pinch-hit single for a 6-5 lead.
Aiden Shaffer walked to load the bases, and with Jesse Sobczak batting, Pireaux raced home on a wild pitch for a two-run advantage. Francia crossed home plate on Sobczak’s line drive to right field for an 8-5 lead.
Jack Crovak walked to load the bases again before Shaffer scored on JB Crovak’s sacrifice flyout to center field and a four-run cushion. Sobczak raced home on Jacob Peterson’s base hit to right field and Jack Crovak scored the game’s final run on a wild pitch.
Grimm earned the win on the mound after yielding three unearned runs on two hits over 1 ⅓ innings. He struck out three and walked two. Cole Matusik stuck out the two batters he faced to close out the game in the top of the seventh inning.
A.J. Watson and Matt Malinsky scored for Smithfield-Fairchance in the top of the first inning.
Watson and Malinsky drew back-to-back walks to lead off the frame before Kenyon Sutton sacrificed both to second and third on a bunt. Watson crossed home plate on Kayden Perez’s run-scoring single prior to Malinsky scoring on an error for a 2-0 lead.
Belle Vernon tied the game quickly in the bottom of the first inning on JB Crovak’s double to right field that plated Sobczak and Jack Crovak, who had doubled and singled in the first two at-bats for the home team.
Vito Francia and Matusik drew back-to-back walks to load the bases and courtesy runner Anthony Corella scored on a wild pitch for a 3-2 advantage. Grimm was hit-by-pitch and Manley touched home plate when Pireaux reached first base on a fielder’s choice to second base for a 4-2 edge.
Sobczak walked, advanced to third on an error, and scored on Jack Crovak’s base hit to left field in the bottom of the second frame for a 5-2 lead.
JB Crovak found his groove after the opening frame, as he only allowed base hits to Malinsky and Watson in the second through fifth innings. He finished five innings of work at 101 pitches (58 strikes). Crovak yielded two runs (one earned) on three hits. He had 10 strikeouts and walked five.
Smithfield-Fairchance took advantage of Crovak’s exit in tying the game in the top of the sixth on two hits and a walk. Belle Vernon also committed an error in the frame.
Nico Edwards singled to lead off the inning, but Grimm came back with two strikeouts before Watson walked and Malinsky reached first base on an error to load the bases.
Sutton came through in the clutch with a line-drive to right field that plated Edwards, Watson and Malinsky for a 5-5 game.
Regardless of what happens in the league championship series, both squads will represent the Fayette County American Legion Baseball League in the Region 6 tournament that begins Saturday at Chippewa Park in Beaver Falls. The event will be hosted by Blackhawk.