Mikes score three late runs for 9-6 victory over Rockets
Matthew Barrish started Friday's non-section game against Jefferson-Morgan for Carmichaels. Barrish had a no-decision but the Mikes rallied for a 9-6 opening-day victory at Carmichaels High School.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Jefferson-Morgan’s Gage Clark (16) steals second as Carmichaels shortstop Liam Shea is unable to field the ball cleanly during the first inning of Friday’s non-section game at Carmichaels High School.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Carmichaels’ Chad Ruse steals second as Jefferson-Morgan’s Eli Rafail (2) and Zack Gamble attempt to field the throw from the catcher during their non-section game at Carmichaels High School on March 24.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Jefferson-Morgan’s Joseph Headlee trots home after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a non-section game at Carmichaels on March 24.
The Rockets lost the game, 9-6, but Headlee’s blast gave his team a 6-5 lead.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Carmichaels’ Matthew Barrish scores on Joel Spishock’s double during the first inning of Friday’s non-section baseball game against Jefferson-Morgan at Carmichaels High School.
John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard
Jefferson-Morgan catcher Isaac Dean stumbles but holds onto the ball to tag out Carmichaels’ Joel Spishock (26) during Friday’s non-section game at Carmichaels High School.
Carmichaels' Joel Spishock (26) is tagged out by Jefferson-Morgan pitcher Gage Clark after Sipshock is caught in a run-down between third base and home plate during Friday's non-section baseball game at Carmichaels High School.
CARMICHAELS — One time section baseball rivals Carmichaels and Jefferson-Morgan met Friday with the Mikes scoring three late runs in a 9-6 victory at Carmichaels High School.
The teams have met many times in the past during section play but the Mikes have moved up to Class AA with realignment, but the two Greene County teams played the type of game that resembles a rivalry.
The contest wasn’t a technical masterpiece but Carmichaels coach Richard Krause will take it, especially with the way his team battled back to score three runs in the bottom of the sixth.
“We will take this, we are happy with it because I have a lot of respect for Jefferson,” Krause said. “Their pitcher and catcher played for me a couple of years in the summer so I know they are really good baseball players.
“I am also happy about winning the game like we did in the sixth inning with it tied. You bank that away because at some point in the section you are going to be in a tight game, and when you have been there before, you don’t know how you are going to respond. They responded really well. They really executed the bunt game well and did some smart things. I like the fact we won it the way we did.”
The Mikes (1-0) took advantage of a Rockets’ error in the bottom of the sixth to score two for an 8-6 lead.
Collin Reynolds led off the inning and reached base on a hit-by-pitch. Michael Robison entered the game to run for Reynolds.
Liam Shea walked for Carmichaels to put runners at first and second with nobody out. Carmichaels’ Chad Ruse laid down a bunt but the ball was misplayed by Jefferson-Morgan to plate Robison and Shea for an 8-6 advantage.
Ruse scored on a 6-3 ground out hit by Matthew Barrish for a 9-6 lead.
“We did some good things today, but all in all, we threw too many pitches, walked too many, and when we needed to make the play to end an inning, we didn’t,” Jefferson-Morgan coach John Curtis said. “We need to tighten up and play better on defense. We had a couple of gap shots and the home run on the offensive side of things.”
Freshman Dylan Wilson, who pitched a scoreless sixth inning, shut down the Rockets (0-1) in the seventh to pick up the win for Carmichaels. Wilson pitched two perfect innings with two strikeouts.
“He came in, threw strikes and took command of the game,” Krause said. “That is the exciting part.”
Both teams scored two runs in the first inning with the Mikes committing an error and the Rockets two.
Carmichaels added three runs on one hit in the second for a 5-2 advantage. Joel Spishock hit a bases-clearing double to score Ruse, Jacob Hair and Wilson, who had all walked to reach base. Spishock also doubled in the first and had a single in the sixth for three hits. The Mikes’ first baseman and relief pitcher collected four RBIs.
Jefferson-Morgan’s starting pitcher Gage Clark allowed five runs, but only on two hits. He had five strikeouts and walked four.
The Rockets took a 6-5 lead in the third on three hits, including a two-run blast by Joseph Headlee that gave his team a one-run advantage.
“The games against Carmichaels are always competitive and the kids know each other, and we have games against Class AA and AAA competition in non-section play,” Curtis said.
Jefferson-Morgan scored all of its runs in the frame with two outs. The rally started when Zack Gamble walked and scored on Eli Rafail’s double for a 5-3 deficit. Rafail scored on Isaac Dean’s RBI-single and courtesy runner Holden Headlee trotted home on Headlee’s homer.
The inning proved to be the last for Barrish, who started the game for the Mikes. He allowed six runs on four hits in three innings with four strikeouts and three walks.
“He gave up that one little flurry with the double and the home run, but other than that, they didn’t hit him,” Krause said. “It is early yet.”
Carmichaels tied the game at 6-6 in the fourth when Ruse reached on an error, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Stephen Spiher’s RBI ground out.
Rafail led the Rockets with two hits, two runs scored and one RBI.
Dean took the loss on the mound in allowing four runs on two hits in three innings. He had two strikeouts and walked one.
Carmichaels is back in action on Monday against Brownsville in a non-section contest. The first pitch at Redstone Township Field is set for 4:15 p.m.
“Our youth really showed and we made a ton of mistakes, basic mistakes,” Krause said. “We booted a couple of ground balls and made some terrible mistakes in the outfield. We have a lot of room to grow but we are really young.”
Jefferson-Morgan hosts Avella in a non-section game at 4:15 p.m.
“Playing against this kind of competition will make us better if we straighten things out when section play comes along,” Curtis said.
Non-section
Jefferson-Morgan 204 000 0 — 6 5 5
Carmichaels 230 103 x — 9 4 2
W: Dylan Wilson, 2so-0bb. L: Isaac Dean, 2so-1bb. 2B: Joel Spischock 2 (Car), Dean (JM), Eli Rafail (JM). HR: Joseph Headlee (JM). Records: Carmichaels (1-0), Jefferson-Morgan (0-1).