It took quite a while. Between the weather. unplayable fields and the state champion high school team it seemed like the federation season would never get started for the Bellwood area Martin Oil team.
The two-time defending champs finally got their first game played, even though much of the game was played in a drizzling rain. Martin Oil used the pitching of Zach Stere and Nate Carlson and a six-run fourth inning to defeat McMullen Furniture 9-3 at Bellwood on Friday evening.
“I thought for awhile we were going to have to get swimming trunks and snorkels to get this game played,” said Martin Oil manager Ed Davis. “We really needed to play. The high school kids obviously have been playing, but the rest of my guys hadn’t been playing and they antsy as all heck to play and we have been rained out two days this week. It was really good for us to get out and get this one played.”
Martin Oil put the first run on the board in the third. Zach Stere walked to open the inning and Nate Carlson ripped a shot inside the third base bag for a double that scored courtesy runner Dan Graham running for Stere.
McMullen tied the score in the top of the fourth with a single Mike Weyandt scoring Tom Forr, who had beat out an infield hit, advanced to second on an error on the play and stolen third base.
In the bottom of the fourth, Chris Alley beat out an infield single with one out. Dan Houser and Andy Brisbin walked to send Alley around to third base. A wild pitch scored Alley. Following another walk to Stere, both Houser and Brisbin scooted home on an infield hit by Carlson and throwing error on the hit. Derrick Miller delivered the biggest bomb of the inning by belting a triple to right center that scored Stere and Carlson. Miller scored the final tally of the inning on the play when relay throw got away from the McMullen catcher.
Martin Oil scored added single runs in the fifth and sixth, while McMullen scored twice in the without the benefit of a hit in the fifth. Houser walked with one down in the fifth frame moved to second on a walk to Brisbin, stole third base and scored on a wild pitch.
In the sixth, Dan Graham scratched out an infield single, Adam DeArmitt singled to left and Nick Treese scored Graham with the third straight base hit of the inning.
Stere went the first five innings to pick up the win for Martin Oil, allowing three runs, one earned, on two hits, striking out nine and walking one. Carlson tossed the final two shutout innings allowing three hits, fanning five and walking one.
“Zach and Nate threw real good for us tonight,” said Davis. “That is going to be the key for us this summer. I think we have good pitching. We are going to have to, with as many games in a row we are going to end up having to play. Our hitting will come along. This is the first time the kids have even played together as a team. Coming out with a win is big for us. I’m real pleased with everyone.”
Martin Oil (1-0) will play a doubleheader, weather permitting today. The first game will be against Locker Room at the Hollidaysburg Senior High School field at 1 p.m. The second contest will be against Barkman Oil at Bellwood, at 5 p.m.
Martin Oil 9 McMullen Furniture 3
MCMULLEN FURNITURE – Forr, ss, 3-1-2; Price, lf, 2-0-0; Resig, cr-lf, 1-0-0; T. Miller, 2b, 4-0-0; Buchanon, p, 4-0-0; Weyandt, c, 3-0-2; Haulman, 1b, 2-0-0; Moschella, rf, 3-1-1; Ma. Sprouse, 3b, 0-0-0; Plummer, dh, 3-0-0; Mi. Sprouse, cf, 2-1-0. TOTALS 27-3-5.
MARTIN OIL – Houser, cf, 3-2-1; Brisbin, 2b, 1-1-0; Stere, p-1b, 1-0-0; Himes, cr, 0-1-0; Carlson, 1b-p, 3-1-2; De. Miller, lf, 2-1-1; McDaniel, lf, 0-0-0; Da. Miller, rf, 4-0-0; Daly, ss, 2-0-0; D. Graham, 1-2-1; Albright, c, 3-0-1; DeArmitt, cr-ph, 1-0-1; Carrier, pr, 0-0-0; Alley, 3b, 2-1-1; Treese, cr-3b, 1-0-1. TOTALS 24-9-9.
McMullen Furniture 000 120 0 3-5-4.
Martin Oil 001 611 X 9-9-3.
2B: Carlson 1.
3B: De. Miller 1.
RBI: Weyandt 1, De. Miller 2, Carlson 1, Treese 1.
SO: Buchanon 4, Stere 9, Carlson 5.
BB: Buchanon 10, Stere 1, Carlson 1.
WP: Stere LP: Buchanon.
