The Tyrone Legion Federation baseball team finally took the field nearly two weeks after their scheduled first game, and made it count with a 7-5 victory over Locker Room. The team has been plagued by horrible weather, but on Friday the sun was out along with Tyrone’s bats.
After a quick 1-2-3 top of the first by starting pitcher Ben Gummo (1-0) the Legion bats struck early. Barry Gummo led off with a double down the left field line, and after an error and a groundout, Lockeroom pitcher Andy Harris threw a wild pitch that scored Gummo. Andy Garofoli followed with a RBI single to right field to score Nick Friling who had reached on the error.
Ben Gummo continued to dominate Locker Room’s line up with the help of a diving catch with a runner on by Barry Gummo in the top of the third.
In the bottom of the inning, Tyrone’s offense struck again. Nick Friling lead off with a single and stole second. After Tyler Mertiff reached on an error, Andy Garofoli hit a pop-up to centerfield that was misplayed scoring Friling. Mertiff and Garofoli pulled off a double steal, and Ben Gummo helped his own cause with a two run double to make the score 5-0 after three innings.
Tyrone tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the fourth on a single by Barry Gummo, a walk by Mertiff, and a two-out single by Garofoli.
Locker Room picked up their first run in the top of the fifth with an RBI single by Matt Lonero. The run was all Ben Gummo would allow, leaving after five innings allowing only the run on three hits.
The visitors got an unearned run off Barry Gummo in the sixth, and after Tyrone went quietly in the bottom of the inning, the score was 7-2.
Closer Tyler Mertiff came in to finish the job for Tyrone, but was the victim of a single, a walk, and some aggressive base running which led to three runs for Locker Room. With the score 7-5 and no one on, Mertiff struck out Carl Shaffer to close the deal.
“I was impressed with how well Ben threw the ball considering he didn’t pitch at all during the high school season,” coach John Harlow said after the game.
Legion Notes: The Legion played one player short Friday as scheduled first baseman and clean-up hitter Clint Wilson was in the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh with a blood clot, leaving him out for the season. “Clint is still going to be a part of this team, and he made the lineup tonight. We look forward to seeing him around as a coach this year,” Harlow said of Wilson…. Tyrone stole seven bases in the game. Harlow believes the trend will continue, “This team is going to live on singles and speed.”…. Nick Friling will be on the mound today as Tyrone faces off against one of the better teams in the league, Park Furniture. Opening pitch is set for 5 PM at Tyrone.
Tyrone 7 Locker Room 5
Locker Room: Harris, P-LF, 401; Clawson, C, 400; Lonero, CF, 412; Michael, SS, 310; Krug, 2B, 410; Diehl, 3B, 210; Shaffer, RF, 401; Glover, 1B, 210; Smith, LF-P, 301. Total: 30-5-5
Tyrone Legion: Ba. Gummo, LF-P-1B, 422; Friling, CF, 421; Mertiff, SS-P, 321; Garofoli, C, 312; Germino, CR-C, 100; Be. Gummo, P-3B-SS, 301; Myers, CR-R,F 000; Soellner, DH, 200; Clark, DH, 100; Rickards, 3B, 000; Cushion, 1B-3B, 300; Wilson, RF, 200; Tremmel, LF, 000; Maceno, 2B, 300. Total: 29-7-7.
