Clint Wilson pitched seven solid innings and did not allow a single earned run or walk a batter while coming up with two hits at the plate, but thanks to five Tyrone Legion errors, Altoona First-Barkman Oil will be the team taking on ReMax Realty in the Kelly Federation championship series later this week.
After the Tyrone Legion couldn\’t manage anything in the top of the first against Altoona First-Barkman Oil hurler Andrew Lafferty, Scott Zimmerman got things going for the home team with a leadoff double to the wall in center field. When Zimmerman tried to steal third, Derrick Soellner\’s throw ended up in left field allowing Altoona First-Barkman Oil to take an early 1-0 lead. Then Wilson hit Eric Snyder with a pitch, and a sacrifice bunt moved him up a base, but Wilson struck out the next two batters to escape further damage.
With one out in the top of the second, Clint Wilson singled. Courtesy runner Matt Morrissey took a lead off first and Lafferty threw the ball away in an attempt to pick him off. Morrissey took third on the play, but would get no farther as Lafferty struck out the next two batters.
The bottom of the second featured two straight errors to begin the inning that put runners on second and third. Lafferty helped his own cause with a single to score both runners before Wilson struck out Curtis Oliveri and Zimmerman flew into a double play. Paul Frederick collected the only base hit of the third, fourth and fifth innings for either team, but Wilson struck out Ryan Patterson and Lafferty to strand him at first.
The Legion almost brought a run home in the fifth when Shane Gherrity reached second on an error and moved to third on a wild pitch with one out, but left fielder Zimmerman caught a Jeremy Myers short fly ball and threw home to retire Gherrity who was trying to score on the play.
In the top of the sixth Tyrone missed a golden opportunity to score. With one out, Barry Gummo singled, and Thadd Westley reached on an error after hustling down the line. Soellner walked to load the bases for Jason Wilson. Wilson worked a 2-0 count before the third pitch was called a strike despite being near his chin. Wilson grounded out moments later.
Altoona First-Barkman Oil used the momentum of getting out of the bases loaded jam to score four more unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth. With one out Caleb Johnson singled. Wilson got Jeff Curfman to ground out, but an error allowed Frederick to reach and Johnson to score. Altoona First-Barkman Oil took advantage of their second life in the inning as Patterson singled home Frederick. Pinch hitter Cody Beach singled to move Patterson to third. Altoona First-Barkman Oil pulled off a double steal with Beach taking second and Patterson coming home before Oliveri reached on an error that allowed Beach to score. Wilson got Zimmerman to ground out and end the inning, but not before the Legion found themselves down 7-0 with only three outs left.
Clint Wilson got a rally started for the Legion in their final at bat with his second single of the game. Gherrity walked before Lafferty got a strike out. Ben Lynn continued his success against Altoona First-Barkman Oil with a single to center that scored courtesy runner Matt Morrissey and moved Gherrity to third. Barry Gummo hit a deep sacrifice fly to left that brought home Gherrity, but Lafferty got Ben Gummo to line out to center and end the game.
“Clint pitched great on only two days rest. It\’s a shame we couldn\’t play better defense for him tonight, but they played their hearts out, and there was never a lack of effort,” said head coach John Gummo.
The Tyrone Legion finished with an 18-10 record after their 15-8 regular season and 3-2 playoffs.
“It was a great time coaching these kids, we had a lot of fun, and they played up to their talent or even better. They should be proud of themselves,” said Gummo about living up to the season\’s expectations.
Legion Notes: After stealing their first three bases successfully against Altoona First-Barkman Oil in game one, the Legion were thrown out three consecutive attempts and did not attempt a steal in game three… Clint Wilson suffered a similar fate against Altoona First-Barkman Oil earlier this year when he gave up 15 runs, but only four were earned in a 15-6 loss in Martinsburg… After hitting .446 and sporting a 8-0 record on the mound in the regular season, Barry Gummo strengthened his case for MVP with a 2-0 record on the mound in the playoffs.
Tyrone Legion 2 Altoona First-Barkman Oil 7
TYRONE LEGION – Ba. Gummo, cf, 3-0-1; Be. Gummo, ss, 4-0-0; Westley, 2b, 3-0-0; Soellner, c, 2-0-0; Morrissey, cr, 0-1-0; J. Wilson, rf, 3-0-0; C. Wilson, p, 3-0-2; Gherrity, 3b, 2-1-0; Myers, lf, 3-0-0; Lynn, dh, 3-0-1; Hoover, 1b, 0-0-0. TOTALS 26-2-4.
ALTOONA FIRST-BARKMAN OIL – Zimmerman, lf, 4-1-1; E. Snyder, rf, 2-0-0; Snowberger, c, 2-0-0; Johnson, dh, 3-1-1; J. Snyder, ss, 0-0-0; Curfman, 3b, 3-0-0; Frederick, 1b, 3-1-1; Blough, pr, 0-1-0; Patterson, cf, 3 2-1; Lafferty, p, 2-0-1; Beach, ph, 1-1-1; Oliveri, 2b, 2-0-0. TOTALS 25-7-6.
Tyrone Legion 000 000 2 2-4-5.
Barkman Oil 120 004 X 7-6-4.
2B: Zimmerman.
RBI: Ba. Gummo 1, Lynn 1, Lafferty 2, Patterson 1.
SO: C. Wilson 5, Lafferty 8.
BB: Lafferty 2.
WP: Lafferty LP: C. Wilson.
