Belle Vernon coach Bill Frankel didn't say much after a disastrous doubleheader Saturday that saw his team commit costly mistakes and allow 32 runs in a doubleheader sweep by Fayette American Legion Baseball rival Connellsville.
“Well, you aren't allowed to print what I really want to say,” Frankel said. “I just hope today wakes this team up. We've had an easy start to the season and the kids started to mess around. They're undisciplined. Connellsville is a good team, but we just didn't show up to play today and hopefully it makes this team realize that they can't afford to screw around if they want to win games.”
Belle Vernon (7-3) managed only 11 hits across the two games - compared to 29 for Connellsville (11-5) - and committed eight errors.
Game 1
Connellsville 21,Belle Vernon 2
Things started out rough for Belle Vernon, as Connellsville jumped out to an early lead on a towering three-run home run over the left field wall by pitcher Corey Fogle. Fogle then struck out the first two batters in the bottom half of the inning before giving up consecutive hits to Adam Holliday and Joe Ruffalo. But the hosts' rally was cut short when centerfielder Garrett Brooks threw out Holliday advancing to third on Ruffalo's single.
Connellsville chased Belle Vernon starter Dylan Pietrantoni with a four run second inning that saw the visitors bat around.
Connellsville added two more runs in the fourth and one in the fifth off of new pitcher Matt Bashioum. They were on the verge of a Mercy Rule victory before Belle Vernon plated two runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Fogle had retired 11 consecutive batters before Niko Tasser doubled to right center and scored on Tyler Simsic's single to right. Matt Benicky ran for Simsic and scored when shortstop Brock Bonadio let Josh Kucmeroski's grounder trickle through his legs.
Connellsville stormed backsending 13 batters to the plate and scoring 10 runs in the top of the seventh to cap the win.
Connellsville's top four batters combined to go 12 for 21 with 16 runs scored and 13 RBI. Brooks went 3 for 4 with a homer, triple, five RBI and three stolen bases. Cleanup hitter Fogle went 3 for 5 adding two doubles and six RBI. Fogle also threw a complete game, giving up five hits, a walk and two runs while striking out nine.
Tasser led Belle Vernon with two hits. Belle Vernon committed five errors.
Game 2
Connellsville 11,Belle Vernon 5
Connellsville scored three runs in the top of the first, but Belle Vernon countered with three runs of their own in the bottom half.
Leadoff hitter Kucmeroski walked and Bashioum reached on an infield single. Both runners advanced an extra base on second baseman Derek Orndorff's throwing error. Kucmeroski scored on Connellsville's second error of the inning and two more runs followed on a single by Pietrantoni.
But Connellsville continued to pour it on, scoring three more on a two-out, bases-loaded double by Ty Henry in the second. They also scored two in the fourth and one each in the third, fifth and sixth innings.
Cody Menges manufactured a run with his legs in the sixth, leading off the inning with a single, before stealing second, taking third when the catcher's throw bounced into centerfield and scoring when the centerfielder's throw landed out of play.
Menges worked 4 2⁄3 innings, giving up eight hits and nine runs, while striking out eight, walking six and hitting three batters. Nolan Stulock pitched the final 2 1⁄3 innings, giving up two hits and two runs, while walking one and striking out three.
Bashioum and Menges led Belle Vernon with two hits each in the secong game.
“We played better in the second game, but it still left a lot to be desired,” Frankel said. “We were not capitalizing on the chances we had. And then we go out in the field and Connellsville converted every chance they had. It's hard to win that way.”
Donnie Tasser is a freelance writer.
