Friday's Section 2-AAAA baseball game between Connellsville and visiting Norwin carried a lot of weight for both teams. Neither team really played like a win was all that important, though
"I think we just had a couple more timely hits than they did, but both teams really didn't want it," Norwin manager Mike Liebdzinski said after watching his team build a big lead early then hold on for a 12-6 win.
Connellsville certainly didn't appear ready to play. It committed five errors in the first two innings, which helped Norwin build an 8-0 lead.
"We came out flat, and they came out and scored eight runs," Connellsville manager Brian Shipley said. "They put the ball in play and made us field it, and our defense was sloppy today."
Ryan Loutsenhizer doubled to drive in a run in the second inning, and Anthony Maroadi had an RBI single in each of the first two innings to help the Knights gain their big lead.
Connellsville starter John Leonard didn't get out of the second inning, but he certainly didn't get much help from his defense, either. In fact, each of Norwin's first eight runs were unearned.
"We came out flat for this being the biggest game of the year for us, but Connellsville gave us a little bit of a break with some bad defense," Liebdzinski said. "Then, we returned the favor."
Most of Norwin's defensive troubles were the result of walks. In the second inning, starting pitcher Nate Ellwood walked four straight, which led to a four-run inning by Connellsville. Seth Campbell connected for an RBI single to make it 8-4.
The Knights (6-8, 5-2) got a run in the third. Tyler Thomas tripled and scored on a single by Keary Hoffman. But for the next three innings, Norwin's offense was kept at bay by Josh Henry.
Henry pitched three scoreless innings, allowing the Falcons a chance to rally.
"I thought our pitchers threw well, and I can't say enough about Henry," Shipley said. "He pretty much shut them down."
The Falcons (5-6, 2-4) sliced Norwin's lead to 9-6 with a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Campbell and Leonard each ripped an RBI single. But those two runs were all the Falcons could manage against reliever Thomas.
In the seventh, the Knights finally broke through with three runs against Henry, highlighted by a two-run double from Ryan Neel and an RBI single by Matt Pato.
"A win is a win, and we'll take it," Liebdzinski said.
The win keeps the Knights in contention with Kiski for the top spot in the section. The loss was deflating for the Falcons, who had won three in a row.
"When you score six runs, it should be enough to win," Shipley said. "From an offensive standpoint, we didn't do bad, but our defense let us down."
The Falcons visit Kiski on Monday.
