The Young Mudcats Come Up Big In Win

Things didn't start off well for Quinn's starting pitcher Anthony Garofalo. He had trouble finding the strike zone and uncharacteristically walked nine batters in 2.2 innings of work. However, the Snappers from South Hills could only push one run across against Garofalo because of some base running mistakes. The Mudcats struck quickly in the bottom of the first inning off of Snapper starter, John Bachman. Singles by Zack Miller, Derek Morrison and Adam Becker gave the Mudcats a 3-1 lead that they would never relinquish. The Mudcats blew up two innings later to put up nine more runs in the fourth, making it a 12-1 game. Luke Hils came on in relief of Garofalo and pitched a solid 4.1 innings to earn the win for Quinn Construction. The Mudcats were lead offensively by Ryan Kandsberger (3 hits), and Zack Miller, Adam Becker and Todd Sekowski (2 hits apiece).

By Mark Kaboly:

Nothing about this Daily News League game was pretty. While the poor field conditions at Clairton Park and the steady dose of rain were most noticeable, they paled in comparison to the display Quinn Construction and DNL newbie South Hills put on for 2½ hours.

• A combined 18 walks.

• A combined six errors.

• A combined 12 unearned runs.

• A combined 17 stranded runners.

The difference was Quinn was able to overcome its mistakes and South Hills was not. Despite 14 walks, including nine by starter Anthony Garofalo within the first 15 batters he faced, the defending league champions were able to take advantage of four fourth-inning errors that led to nine unearned runs to come away with a 12-3 win over South Hills. “It wasn't pretty,” Quinn manager Tom Simcho said. Especially difficult when one considers it was one of the DNL's top pitchers on the mound for Quinn. Garofalo went 4-1 with a 2.16 ERA last year and brought in a 2.40 ERA into Friday's game despite having a 1-2 record. The Plum graduate had walked eight batters in 131/3 innings this year. He had seven through two innings against the Snappers. “I have no explanation for it,” Simcho said. “Maybe you just have days like that. He wasn't using anything as an excuse. He just said, ‘I can't throw strikes.' I have never seen that out of him before.” Garofalo lasted just three innings and gave up only one hit. However, South Hills couldn't cash in the free passes. All the Snappers had to show for nine walks in three innings was a Jon Leber RBI single and seven runners left on base. “We just couldn't hit the ball,” South Hills player/manager Clarke White said. “We had some bad base running as well. That's been our Achilles all year. We have been killing ourselves on the base paths.” South Hills had runners thrown out at home and third in the first and at second in the second inning. “You add that to not being able to hit, and you lose,” White said. Luke Hils picked up the win in relief of Garofalo. He threw the final four-plus innings, giving up two hits and two runs. John Bachman took the loss for South Hills (5-4). Bachman went 3 1/3 innings, allowing six hits and 12 runs (none earned). Matt Shoemaker pitched the final 2 2/3 innings. “It doesn't help your cause when you boot the ball around like we did,” White said. With the score 3-1 in the fourth, Quinn (4-5) took control but not without some help from South Hills. Four errors led to all nine runs as Quinn, which was forced to play with six Legion players, sent 12 to the plate. Zack Miller, Adam Becker, Joe Stavor, Todd Sekowski and Ryan Kandsberger knocked in runs in the inning to stake Quinn to a 12-1 lead. “We got some bleeders, which we needed,” Simcho said. “What was good about this is that it is nice to know our younger kids can step up and play. “Those kids know what I expect from them. When the older guys come around, they don't know things that I want. It wasn't actually a bad thing.” Kandsberger, Becker and Sewkowski had two hits apiece, and Becker and Stavor had a pair of RBIs each. Quinn resumes action today with a doubleheader: 3 p.m. at Klingensmith Insurance and 6 p.m. at Sakas Landscaping. “Those games are big,” Simcho said. “We are battling for a playoff spot, and that will determine a lot.”

Date: June 20, 2014     Time: 6:00pm      Venue: Clairton Park