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Mikes open season with 11-2 road victory

By Jim Downey 5 min read
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Carmichaels pitcher Liam Lohr tosses the ball to first baseman Mason Lapana for the out on Albert GallatinëƵs Geno Valenti in the bottom of the third inning in a non-section game at German-Masontown Park on March 20.
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Albert Gallatin second baseman Geno Valenti backhands the throw from catcher Cyrus Potkul as CarmichaelsëƵ Dom Colarusso slides into second for a stolen base in the top of the second inning in a non-section game at German-Masontown Park on March 20.
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Carmichaels left fielder Douglas Reynolds runs down a fly ball hit by Albert GallatinëƵs JJ Myers in the bottom of the first inning in a non-section game at German-Masontown Park on March 20.

MASONTOWN ëƵ Carmichaels pieced together four multi-run innings for an 11-2 non-section victory over Albert Gallatin on a cold, blustery March 20 afternoon at German-Masontown Park.

The game was the first for both teams, and the first for Albert Gallatin coach Nick Groover.

ëƵFirst game, I got a little nervous earlier when I was thinking about it, but when I got here, itëƵs just baseball,ëƵ said Groover.

ëƵNick is going to do a great job for them,ëƵ complimented Carmichaels coach Dickie Krause. ëƵHeëƵs played for me in the county league and weëƵve played against him. I really like him. I think heëƵs a very knowledgeable coach.

ëƵHeëƵs going to do very well for them. HeëƵll get those young kids going, and theyëƵll get better and better as the year goes along.ëƵ

The top of the order was the most productive slice of CarmichaelsëƵ lineup with Dom Colarusso, Robbie Wilson-Jones and Liam Lohr combining for seven hits, seven runs scored and six RBI.

ëƵWe have a couple kids that have been through it. ColarussoëƵs played a lot of baseball in four years. So, we know what they can do,ëƵ said Krause. ëƵBut, we also have some kids that are in starting positions or playing positions for the first time.

ëƵWeëƵre a little uneven right now. We have some guys we know that can play. We know theyëƵre good and we have some guys we think theyëƵll be good.ëƵ

The Albert Gallatin defense placed starter Evan Weakland, a freshman in his first high school start, in early trouble with back-to-back errors to start the game.

Lohr ripped a run-scoring double down the third base line and Ambrose Adamson came through with a two-out, two-run single.

Weakland settled down after the first inning, allowing one hit and a walk over the next two innings.

ëƵErrors are always going to hurt. They add up,ëƵ said Groover. ëƵOutside of that, I think our pitchers didnëƵt do too bad. WeëƵre young. We started a freshman. He threw well.ëƵ

The Mikes came back to life in the top of the fourth inning, sending 10 batters to the plate. Carmichaels scored four runs on five hits.

Colorusso drove in two runs with a double. LohrëƵs double brought home the third run of the inning and Mason LapanaëƵs ground out increased the lead to 7-0.

The Mikes were poised to enact the mercy rule in the top of the fifth inning.

Albert Gallatin got the first two outs in the inning, but Wilson-Jones singled to begin the rally. Lohr followed with a run-scoring single. The Mikes loaded the bases on back-to-back walks, and Chance Lemley walked home a run.

The Colonials escaped with an inning-ending strikeout.

CarmichaelsëƵ lead grew to 11-0 in the top of the sixth inning.

Albert Gallatin extended the game to seven innings by staving off the mercy rule with two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Geno Valenti snapped the ColonialsëƵ hitless streak with his second double of the game to lead off the bottom of the sixth inning. Ethan Carr came through with a pinch-hit RBI single for the first run and then stole second for two runners in scoring position.

Hayden Metts hit a fly ball into short right-center field that just ticked off the edge of the outstretched glove of the infielder that scored the second run. Carr also tried to score on the play, but was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.

ëƵI was happy with the first five innings. We knew we got good pitching. Defensively, we played well. Those last two innings we got a little sloppy,ëƵ said Krause. ëƵFor the conditions, IëƵm pleased with this game. I think once we got up 11-0, we just thought it was just going to shut down. And, (Albert Gallatin) didnëƵt quit.ëƵ

Lohr was dominating on the mound, allowing just one hit over five innings with six strikeouts, two walks and four runners. Valenti led off the bottom of the first inning with a double and Lohr then held the Colonials hitless through five innings.

Lohr allowed three runners over the minimum with one runner eliminated on an inning-ending double play in the fourth inning.

ëƵ(Lohr) threw well for them. We havenëƵt seen a ton of live pitching yet,ëƵ said Groover, adding, ëƵIëƵm hoping the bats will come around. We put a lot of work in the cage this year.ëƵ

Lohr was used primarily in relief last season, moving into the starting rotation this year.

ëƵI was really happy with (Lohr). Last year, he didnëƵt start much for us. He came in relief, a lot. HeëƵs going to be really good. IëƵm really high on him,ëƵ said Krause.

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