Monday night the Tyrone Legion made a statement to anyone who thought their season was over after Sunday\’s deflating 8-7 ten inning loss in game one to Altoona First-Barkman Oil: They aren\’t ready to hang up their spikes for the summer just yet. The Legion pounded out 18 hits, four of them by Ben Lynn, and rolled to a 19-4 victory over the second seeded Altoona First-Barkman Oil.
With Tyrone Legion ace hurler Barry Gummo on the mound, Altoona First-Barkman Oil were unable to get anything started in the top of the first, but the Legion got to Caleb Johnson early and often.
With one out in the first, Ben Gummo, returning from his muscle strain injury, reached on an error. Thadd Westley hit into a fielder\’s choice, but went to third on a Derrick Soellner double. Westley scored when Johnson committed a balk, and courtesy runner Matt Morrissey came home on a wild pitch to give the Legion an early 2-0 advantage.
Two Legion miscues allowed Altoona First-Barkman Oil to take the lead in the top of the second. Jeff Curfman singled and went to third when Paul Frederick reached on an error. Curfman scored on a wild pitch that moved Frederick to third, and Ryan Patterson was hit by a pitch. Gummo picked Patterson off first, but Frederick headed towards home and Clint Wilson threw the ball to the plate. The throw beat Frederick and he was called out as Patterson moved to second. Gummo got Cody Beach to pop out, but another error allowed Patterson to come around and score. Scott Zimmerman put Altoona First-Barkman Oil ahead by knocking in another run with a single before Gummo struck out Eric Snyder to end the inning.
The bottom of the second inning turned out to be the best half inning the Legion has put together in years. Eighteen batters came to the plate and 14 scored. Jason Wilson led off with a single, but was thrown out stealing. That marked the second base runner who had been thrown out in the game, but head coach John Gummo explained it was more the pitcher than catcher Evan Snowberger.
“The pitcher was quick pitching. That led to the caught-stealing problems we had tonight,” said Gummo. “It wasn\’t their catcher and it won\’t affect how we approach tomorrow\’s game.”
The out did nothing to deter Tyrone\’s offense. Shane Gherrity doubled, and Lynn reached on an infield single before Tyler Rickards tied the game with a single to center. Barry Gummo reached on an error to load the bases, and Ben Gummo hit a towering shot to deep left that bounced on the warning track and brought in two runs. Westley knocked in two more with a single, and Soellner cleared the bases with a home run that ended Johnson\’s night on the mound.
Reliever Scott Zimmerman didn\’t fare much better. After getting a strike out, Jason Wilson got his second single of the inning, and Gherrity reached on an error. Lynn brought in Wilson with a single to center, and Rickards knocked in his second run of the inning with a single of his own. Barry Gummo brought home Lynn with a single, Ben Gummo walked, and Westley got his third RBI of the inning with another single. Soellner brought home Westley for the 14th run of the inning before reliever Nat Detwiler got the final out.
The Legion added two more runs in the bottom of the third on singles by Gherrity, Lynn and Ben Gummo.
A walk to Patterson, a single by Curtis Oliveri and a wild pitch produced a run for Altoona First-Barkman Oil in the fourth to extend the game.
It wouldn\’t last for much longer. Jeremy Myers was hit by a pitch, but retired when Jared Rodgers hit into a fielder\’s choice. Gherrity drew a walk, and Lynn hit his fourth single of the night to deep left to score Rodgers and give the Legion a 19-4, 15 run mercy rule victory.
“They were out of pitching, but we did hit the ball real well tonight. Ben Lynn came through with four big hits and Soellner had the home run,” said Gummo about the offensive explosion.
The Tyrone Legion will take on Altoona First-Barkman Oil one more time in game three with a ticket to the Kelly Federation championship on the line.
Clint Wilson is expected to be the starting pitcher for the Legion.
“We\’ll have Clint starting, and Ben (Gummo) will be available for relief. We\’ll be all right,” said Gummo about the available pitchers.
The game will be at Vet\’s Field and will take place at 7:00 PM. The winner will take on ReMax Realty in the championship.
Legion Notes: Tyrone has not lost a game this season in which Barry Gummo has stepped on the mound… He was 8-0 in the regular season and is currently 2-0 in the playoffs… Ben Gummo was 2-3, scored two runs and had three RBIs in his return from injury… After going 5-6 in game one, Evan Snowberger was held in check by Barry Gummo, going 0-2… The Legion hit .600 (18-30) as a team Monday.
Altoona First-Barkman Oil 4 Tyrone Legion 19
ALTOONA FIRST-BARKMAN OIL – Zimmerman, 3b-p, 3-0-1; E. Snyder, rf, 1-0-0; Lanzendorfer, 3b, 1-0-0; Snowberger, c, 2-0-0; Johnson, p-3b, 1-0-0; Detwiler, p, 1-0-0; Curfman, dh, 2-1-1; J. Snyder, ss, 0-0-0; Frederick, 1b, 2-0-0; Patterson, cf, 0-2-0; Beach, 2b, 1-0-0; Blough, 2b, 1-0-0; Oliveri, lf, 2-1-1. TOTALS 17-4-3.
TYRONE LEGION – Ba. Gummo, p, 3-2-1; Be. Gummo, ss, 3-2-2; Westley, 2b, 3-3-2; Soellner, c, 4-1-3; Morrissey, cr, 0-1-0; C. Wilson, 1b, 3-0-0; Myers, rf-cf, 0-0-0; J. Wilson, cf, 3-1-2; Rodgers, rf, 1-1-0; Gherrity, 3b, 3-3-2; Lynn, lf, 4-3-4; Rickards, rf, 3-2-2; Hoover, 1b, 0-0-0. TOTALS 30-19-18.
Altoona First-Barkman Oil 030 1XX X 4-3-4.
Tyrone Legion 2(14)2 1XX X 19-18-2.
2B: Soellner, Be. Gummo, Gherrity.
HR: Soellner.
RBI: Zimmerman 1, Be. Gummo 3, Westley 3, Soellner 3, Lynn 2, Rickards 2, Ba. Gummo 1.
SO: Detwiler 2, Zimmerman 1, Ba. Gummo 8.
BB: Detwiler 3, Johnson 1, Ba. Gummo 2.
WP: Ba. Gummo LP: Johnson.
