Some games in baseball follow the pattern that whoever bats last wins, because both teams are able to score often. That was the case Tuesday, but unfortunately for the Tyrone Legion entry, Barkman Oil was the home team. In their last at bat, Barkman was able to plate two runs and defeat Tyrone 10-9 in what was an evenly matched battle throughout the game.
Neither team got off to a hot start with the bats as no runs were scored in the first two innings, but that in no way set the tone for the game. Tyrone got the scoring started in their half of the third inning with some help from Barkman Oil. Barry Gummo hit a slow chopper to third that Scott Zimmerman was unable to pick up. The error led to two runs later in the inning when with two outs, Chris Tremmel singled up the middle to score Gummo and Andy Garofoli who had reached on a fielder’s choice.
In the bottom of the third, Tyrone returned the favor to Barkman Oil by committing two errors that led to four Barkman runs capped off by Zimmerman’s RBI single to make the score 4-2 Barkman Oil after three.
In the fourth inning, Tyrone used a two-out rally to tie the game. Gummo reached on a fielder’s choice and scored when Friling’s single to left got past the fielder. Friling moved to second on the play and scored on a Garofoli RBI single.
The game remained knotted at five until the bottom of the fifth when Barkman Oil used four hits, an error, and a hit by pitch to score four runs and give themselves an 8-4 lead. The error in the inning led to Barkman’s third unearned run of the game. “We made some mistakes out there tonight, but we were missing four starters, and people weren’t in positions they are normally at,” said coach John Harlow after the game.
After Barkman’s big inning, Tyrone fired back with one of their own. Continuing his season long tear, Matt Germino led off the top of the sixth with his second single of the day. After stealing second, Germino scored on a Gummo single. Friling drew another walk, and Garofoli plated Gummo with his second RBI single of the game. After two outs, Nick Cushion drew a walk to load the bases for Jeremy Myers who hit a game tying two-run single to right that moved Cushion to third. Myers then attempted to steal second, and when the throw soared into the outfield, Cushion trotted home from third to give Tyrone a 9-8 lead.
Relief pitcher Barry Gummo retired the side in the sixth allowing only a two-out single. Gummo got things started in the top of the seventh for Tyrone when he reached on an error, but was caught stealing on the next pitch. “I may have gotten a little too aggressive on that play, but that’s the style we have been playing the whole year, and it has worked,” said Harlow on the failed stealing attempt.
Nick Friling was able to draw a walk with two outs, but was stranded when Garofoli hit a rocket to the deepest part of centerfield and was robbed by centerfielder Colby Hazenstab of a sure RBI triple.
The catch would prove to be costly for Tyrone as Barkman’s Shaun Weyant led off the bottom of the seventh with a perfect bunt single. Weyant took a big lead off first and started to head to second as Barkman’s next batter attempted to bunt him over. When the bunt was missed, Garofoli attempted to throw out Weyant at first, but his throw got past first baseman Justin Clark and Weyant moved to third. Clark is usually Tyrone’s starting designated hitter, but was forced into fielding duties as Tyrone had only nine players. Weyant tied the game up when he scored on a single. After another hit by pitch, Barkman won the game on a one-out RBI double just past right fielder Jeremy Myers.
“You have to give Barkman Oil credit. They executed the perfect bunt, made that catch on what would have been a triple for Garofoli, and got clutch hits. I was pleased with how we pitched tonight, and we are just getting everything into place for Saturday (When the playoffs begin),” said Harlow when reviewing the game.
Legion Notes: Barry Gummo reached base in all five of his at bats Tuesday…. Nick Friling drew three of Tyrone’s seven walks…. Friling and Chris Tremmel are the only left-handed batters on the Tyrone Legion and are batting a combined .429 with 19 RBIs and 19 runs scored…. coach Harlow became a little flustered in the final inning when it appeared Barkman Oil’s Colby Hazenstab leaned into a pitch, putting the winning run in scoring position. It was the second time Tyrone has been a victim of questionable lack of application of the rule that you must make an attempt to move.
Tyrone will travel to Vets Field tonight to take on Altoona First at 5:30 p.m..
Barkman Oil 10, Tyrone Legion 9
TYRONE LEGION – Ba. Gummo, cf-p, 5-3-2; Friling, p-cf, 2-2-1; Garofoli, c, 4-2-2; Soellner, 3b, 4-0-0; Tremmel, lf, 4-0-2; Cushion, ss, 2-1-0; Myers, rf, 3-0-1; Clark, 1b, 4-0-0; Germino, 2b, 4-1-2. TOTALS 32-9-10.
BARKMAN OIL – Hazenstab, cf, 4-1-2; Fether, 2b, 5-0-2; Lingenfelter, 1b, 4-1-2; Ebersole, c, 3-1-0; Snowberger, lf, 4-2-2; Zimmerman, 3b, 3-1-1; Weyant, p-rf, 4-2-3; Frederick, ss, 4-1-1; Lafferty, rf-p, 3-1-1. TOTALS 34-10-14.
Tyrone Legion 002 205 0 9-10-4
Barkman Oil 004 040 2 10-14-5
2B: Fether 1.
RBI: Garofoli 2, Myers 2, Tremmel 2, Ba. Gummo 1, Fether 2, Frederick 2, Weyant 1, Zimmerman 1.
SO: Friling 3, Ba. Gummo 1, Lafferty 3, Weyant 2.
BB: Friling 2, Weyant 5, Lafferty 2.
WP: Lafferty LP: Ba. Gummo.
