Cougars settle for 3rd

By ADAM BREWER

MVI Sports

What a difference 24 hours make.

After compiling a seven-run sixth inning in a 10-4 victory over Chartiers-Houston Monday, the Charleroi baseball team could not muster that same big inning energy in an 11-5 defeat on the road Tuesday afternoon in Section 1-2A action.

“We just can’t find any consistency on the field this season,” Charleroi coach Luke Mollis said. “It seems like we allow that one big inning in these losses that completely changes the game. That has been our kryptonite this spring. We just allow too many walks and that is compounded by making way too many errors at key times.”

Second place was on the line for both teams in the contest, but all the bounces and calls went the home team’s way. With the loss, the Cougars (10-7, 7-5) dropped to third place in the section behind first place Burgettstown and the Buccaneers (9-8, 9-3).

“We had to hit the reset button from Monday’s loss and bring a new attitude into the game,” C-H coach Andy Manion said. “Scoring those three runs in the first really shifted things our way and we just continued to add to our lead. We played winning baseball and limited our mistakes.”

After a scoreless top of the first, the home team collected three runs in their opening frame. Aaron Walsh drew a walk to start the inning and then advanced all the way to third base on an errant pickoff throw.

An RBI single by Anthony Romano opened the scoring for the Bucs. Then in consecutive at-bats, C-H made it 3-0 courtesy of an RBI single by Nico Filosi and a sacrifice fly from Justus Buckingham.

The Cougars trimmed the deficit to 3-1 in the top of the second when an RBI groundout by Dylan Klinger scored Kaden Woods. In the bottom half of the second, the Bucs had a response by way of a two-out, two-run homer by Luke Camden. Camden led the offense on the day with three hits.

“Luke is one of our leaders and he was motivated today,” Manion said. “He did not want to lose his final home game of his senior year. It was very cathartic when he smashed that home run. Luke is a big, athletic kid and he played with a little chip on his shoulder today.”

Charleroi’s Jake Beveridge received the loss and only last two innings, allowing five runs off four hits with four walks and only one strikeout.

After a scoreless third frame, Charleroi made it 5-2 in the fourth after a run-producing hit by Logan Koteles scored Jackson Keranko.

C-H grabbed the momentum right back in the bottom of the fourth and exploded for six runs. The home team sent 12 batters to the plate and took advantage of four walks, one hit by pitch and three, crushing errors by the visitors.

With the bases loaded and one out, Keegan Kosek reached on a fielder’s choice and then a pair of infield errors led to three runs in the next two at-bats. The only hit in the inning for the home team was a two-run double by No. 9 hitter Dom Cumer.

Brock Henderson was on the mound for the Cougars in the tough inning, as he only lasted 1 2/3 in relief for the visitors. Koteles threw the final two innings for Charleroi and only allowed one hit with two strikeouts.

“It was a tight zone today for both teams,” Mollis said. “Our pitchers could not adapt to the strike zone today and that hurt us. I thought we could hit a little bit better today, but we just could not put hits together. It’s a disappointed loss, but we just have to regroup and learn from this loss.”

Trailing 11-2 in the top of the fifth, Charleroi loaded the bases against C-H starter Brady Gotfredson, but the freshman was able to wiggle out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts. 

Gotfredson tossed 95 pitches in the win and lasted 5 2/3 innings. He only allowed two runs off two hits with four strikeouts and worked around six free passes.

“Both teams had a tight, strike zone today,” Manion said. “Brady is only a freshman, but he pitches with ice in his veins. He was locked in today against their lineup. His numbers will not blow you away, but I was impressed today with how he battled for outs and made the right pitches to limit the damage.”

For the game, the Cougars left 11 runners on base. The visitors were finally able to break through in the top of the seventh and scored three runs. Koteles tallied an RBI single followed by a two-run base knock by pinch hitter Lazer Glasser.

Jake Perchinsky relieved Brady Robaugh in the seventh and recorded the final out to give the Bucs second place in the section.

“We didn’t really change anything approach-wise at the plate from last game,” Mollis said. “I like the late push we had in the seventh, but it was just a little too late. If you take that big inning away from them, then this is a lot closer of a game. It’s a tale of teams for us right now. If we show up and play the way we are capable of, I believe we can compete with anybody.”

Charleroi wraps up the regular season play at non-section foe Waynesburg Thursday before awaiting their playoff fate when the WPIAL released the brackets later this week.