In Tyrone’s first meeting with Altoona First, Altoona used a twelve-run inning to win a game that had been very close. Wednesday, Altoona First pulled the same trick with a five-run first inning that was enough to give them an 8-6 victory over a game Tyrone Legion team.
The Legion made a bid to score in the first inning when Tyler Mertiff reached on an error and advanced to third on an Andy Garofoli single. However, a play that has worked all season for Tyrone, failed three pitches later. Garofoli took off for second and attempted to get in a run down that could score Mertiff from third, but Altoona First’s catcher threw the ball directly back to pitcher Jeff Curfman who was able to catch Mertiff breaking for home.
Altoona First rode the momentum of the play into their half of the first with a leadoff double by Ty Nevins. After a single to put runners at first and third, Brian Daughenbaugh hit a towering three-run homer over the left field fence to put Altoona First up 3-0. A hit by pitch and two singles loaded the bases again for Altoona, and with two outs Curfman hit a single just to the right of shortstop Nick Cushion to score two more runs.
“We were so close to winning this game. There were just a couple bad hops and a few balls we missed by inches,” said coach John Harlow after the game.
Tyrone was able to cut into the lead in the second with three runs of their own. Derrick Soellner led off with a walk, and went to third when Cushion hit a sinking line drive that glanced off right fielder Derek Bassler’s glove. With Soellner and Cushion in scoring position, Tyler Rickards came through by hitting a low line drive single that hit off the pitcher’s mound and rolled into centerfield to score both runners. Rickards went to second on the throw home, and he moved to third on a wild pitch. After an eleven pitch at-bat, Jeremy Myers was able to drive Rickards in with a sharp ground out to shortstop.
Altoona First responded in the bottom of the inning with a solo home run by Lee Kensinger to make the score 6-3.
After a quiet third by both teams, Tyrone tied the game in the top of the fourth. Cushion reached on an error by Nevins and moved to second on a wild pitch. Rickards hit a single that moved Cushion to third, and when Curfman made a bad pick off throw to first Cushion scored, and Rickards went to third. With Rickards at third, Myers struck out, but because the ball got past the catcher, Myers got to first safely and Rickards scored.
After an out, Myers stole second, and Barry Gummo singled to move him to third. Gummo stole second, and Nick Friling drew a walk. With the bases loaded, Mertiff tied the game with a deep sacrifice fly to right that scored Myers. Tyrone threatened to score more, but for the second straight day Garofoli was robbed of extra bases by a nice catch.
Ty Nevins got things rolling for Altoona First in the bottom of the inning when he reached on an error. As Scott Stern drew a walk, Garofoli’s throw to second attempting to keep Nevins there got into the outfield and allowed Nevins to reach third. After an out, a pitch got past Garofoli allowing Nevins to score a run to give Altoona First the lead 7-6.
Showing great poise, Mertiff did not allow Stern to score from third as he struck out Daughenbaugh and got Bassler to ground out.
Altoona First used two walks, a hit, and a Tyrone miscue to pick up a run in the sixth to stretch their lead to 8-6.
Lee Kensinger was able to close the door on Tyrone in the seventh, as Altoona First picked up the victory when left fielder Eric Snyder snagged a line drive in the gap hit by Cushion to end the game.
“We were down 5-0 after an inning to one of the top three teams in this league, and we fought back to tie it up. That is guts, and this team has a lot of heart. They never stop fighting, and I am confident about our chances against anyone in a best of three series,” said Harlow on the heart his team showed when they came back from a five-run deficit early in the game.
Legion Notes: In the fifth inning, Tyler Mertiff hit Eric Snyder with a pitch in the helmet. After Snyder and Mertiff exchanged a few words, Mertiff picked him off first base….When Mertiff was caught stealing home, it ended his streak of thirteen straight successful steals. Tyrone has stolen 84 bases on the season, and they have been successful on 90 percent of their attempts….Tyler Rickards had two singles in the game despite playing with a torn tendon in his shoulder….Tyrone finishes up their regular season Friday against Bellwood at Vet’s Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
Tyrone Legion 6 Altoona First 8
TYRONE LEGION – Ba. Gummo, lf, 4-0-2; Friling, cf, 3-0-0; Mertiff, p, 3-0-0; Garofoli, c, 4-0-2; Soellner, 1b, 3-1-1; Cushion, ss, 4-2-0; Rickards, 3b, 2-2-2; Clark, ph, 1-0-0; Myers, rf, 3-1-0; Germino, 2b, 3-0-0. TOTALS 30-6-7.
ALTOONA FIRST – Nevins, 2b, 4-2-1; Stern, ss-p, 2-1-0; L. Kensinger, cf-ss-p, 4-2-2; Daughenbaugh, c, 4-1-3; Bassler, rf, 3-1-1; Snyder, lf, 2-1-1; Ritchey, 3b, 3-0-1; Rhodes, dh, 3-0-0; Feltenberger, 1b, 0-0-0; Curfman, p-cf, 3-0-1. TOTALS 28-8-10.
Tyrone Legion 030 300 0 6-7-2
Altoona First 510 101 X 8-10-5
HR: Daughenbaugh 1, L. Kensinger 1.
2B: Nevins 1.
RBI: Rickards 2, Mertiff 1, Myers 1, Daughenbaugh 3, Curfman 2, L. Kensinger 1, Snyder 1.
SO: Mertiff 2, Curfman 2, L. Kensinger 2, Stern 1.
BB: Mertiff 4, Curfman 1, Stern 1.
WP: Stern LP: Mertiff S: L. Kensinger.
