The day was hot and humid to say the very least. On Sunday afternoon in the hottest time of the clammy day, Martin Oil won a 15-5 10-run mercy rule victory over Dick’s Pharmacy in five innings.
Martin Oil (13-6) had their offense going like the temperature, putting up scores in every inning except for the third, but because of the heat or whatever the explanation, a trio of Martin Oil pitchers tried to give it back to Dick’s Pharmacy.
“We only gave up three hits,” cautioned Martin Oil manager Ed Davis. “But we had a lot of walks, hit batsmen and wild pitches. Fortunately we were just lucky to get out of here after five innings with the 10-run rule. It was awful hot and that was a nice way to finish it off!”
Dick’s opened the game with a pair of runs in the top of the first, and both scores got on base via walks. Tyler Stiffler walked, moved around the bases on wild pitches and then scored on a wild pitch. Shane Gillmen walked, moved to third on a groundout and wild pitch and scored on an infield single by Josh Ross.
In the third inning, Stiffler drew his second walk of the game, advanced to second on a passed ball and third on a groundout before Ross scored him with a single to left. Tyler McCaulley and Mike Newenberg were both hit by pitches by Martin Oil starting pitcher Brian Hostler. Martin Oil brought in Brandon Beech after Ross scored on a wild pitch and T. McCaulley scored when Hostler committed a balk.
Beech got Rich McCaulley to fly out deep to center to end third the inning and then pitched a scoreless fourth. When Beech walked the first two hitters in the top of the fifth, Davis brought in Dustin Harris to finish the game. Harris fanned the first two batters and got the final out on a third baseman Chad Coho to Troy Brunner routine play third-to-first.
Beech picked up the win, while Harris, not in a save situation, was credited with a hold.
In the leadoff spot, Beech led off the Martin Oil first by singling on the first pitch. Earnie Kelley followed suit with a single on the first pitch he saw which sent Beech to third base. After Kelley swiped second base, Zach Tomchick followed with a two-run single, his first of three straight base hits. With one down, Martin Oil took the lead when catcher Blaze Winterstein drove in Tomchick with an RBI groundout.
Martin Oil put five more scores on the board in the second. With one out, Harris and Hostler drew back-to-back walks. Harris stole second base and continued on to third on an error by the catcher. Aaron Geis, courtesy running for Hostler stole second base and Harris scored on a wild pitch. Beech walked. Geis scored and Beech moved around to third on wild pitches. Tomchick singled home Beech and went to second on an outfield error. Troy Brunner reached base on an errant throw by the Dick’s Pharmacy third baseman, with Tomchick scoring on the play. Winterstein capped the scoring with a two-run single to left.
Chad Coho doubled to lead off the third inning, but was stranded at third base.
In the fourth, Kelley started the frame with a double. Tomchick beat out an infield single to put runners at the corners. Brunner walked to load the bases. Dick’s made a pitching change, bringing in Brant Clouser to replace starter Tom Riggleman. A fielder’s choice by Winterstein scored Kelley. Chris Alley looped a triple to right scoring both Tomchick and Winterstein. Alley came home on a wild pitch to push Martin Oil into a 12-5 lead.
Martin Oil put the game away via the mercy rule an inning later with three more tallies, all with two outs. Beech walked to begin the inning, but Clouser got the next two hitters. Brunner singled to get Beech home, then stole second. Winterstein doubled to get Brunner in. Alley ended the contest with a double that scored Geis, running for Winterstein.
“Blaze had a real nice day at the plate with five RBIs,” said Davis. “Tomchick had three hits and three RBI, Alley had a couple big hits, Coho had a couple hits. The hitting was really there today. We still aren’t playing good defense, and the pitching is still questionable. We need to step it up a notch this week or Lord knows where we will end up in the playoffs.”
Martin Oil hosts Tyrone Legion this afternoon at Bellwood’s Stadium Drive baseball diamond at 6 p.m. This is the third meeting between the two northern Blair County rivals, with Martin Oil coming from behind twice to win 9-8 and 8-6 triumphs in the first two games played between the two teams.
Martin Oil 15 Dick’s Pharmacy 5, 5 inn.
Dick’s Pharmacy – Rudy, rf-2b, 3-0-1; Stiffler, ss, 1-2-0; Gillmen, lf, 2-1-0; Clouser, 2b-p, 2-0-0; Ross, cf, 2-1-2; T. McCaulley, c, 2-1-0; Newenberg, 3b, 2-0-0; R. McCaulley, 1b, 3-0-0; Riggleman, p-rf, 2-0-0. TOTALS 19-5-3.
Martin Oil – Beech, 2b-p, 2-3-1; Kelley, cf, 4-2-2; Tomchick, rf, 4-3-3; Brunner, 1b, 3-2-1; Winterstein, c, 4-1-2; Alley, ss, 4-1-2; Coho, 3b, 3-0-2; Harris, lf-p, 2-1-0; Hostler, p-2b, 1-0-0; Geis, cr, 0-2-0; Miller, cr-2b, 1-0-0. TOTALS 28-15-13.
Dick’s Pharmacy 203 00 5-3-3.
Martin Oil 350 43 15-13-2.
2B: Kelley, Winterstein, Alley, Coho.
3B: Alley.
RBI: Ross 2, Winterstein 5, Tomchick 3, Alley 3, Brunner.
SO: Riggleman 3, Hostler 3, Harris 2.
BB: Riggleman 4, Clouser 1, Hostler 3, Beech 2.
WP: Beech LP: Riggleman
