SOMERSET —
Brent Barron has seen his share of big games and tricky situations, but one of the centerpieces to Somerset’s unbeaten American Legion team never had to do what head coach Bob Hay asked of him Wednesday evening.
Trailing Richland, which had to win its final game of the regular season just to clinch the eighth and final seed of the Cambria County League playoffs, by one run with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, Hay told Barron to grab a bat and pinch-hit for designated hitter Michael VanLenten. Given Barron’s .577 batting average, the move might not seem too unusual, but the Somerset coach never inserts a player into the batting order when pitching. The Businessmen’s depth allows such a luxury.
But, when faced with a spot in the loser’s bracket of the double-elimination tournament, Barron stepped into the batter’s box against crafty Richland righty Brandon Fesko and delivered a dramatic, opposite-field two-run home run to key Somerset’s 5-3 victory.
“We always have a DH because we have a deep lineup. Anyone on this team can hit,” said Barron, who pitched a complete game in addition to his game-winning homer. “Coach had confidence in me to take the bat there.”
For Hay, the decision was an easy one, even if it went against the norm.
“Maybe I should have let him bat the whole game and it might not have been as close,” he said. “We have such a deep team and that’s why we utilize the DH, but it was a nice spot for a pinch-hitter in that situation. (Barron) is one of our big hitters. Usually, he hits in the middle of the order.”
Barron rushed to the batter’s box and was thinking fastball from Fesko, who pitched a strong game before Somerset (23-0) got to him for four runs in the sixth. After two pitches, Barron extended on a fastball low and outside and sent it over the right-field fence for a 4-3 lead.
As Barron was congratulated by teammates, he looked skyward and let out a sigh because for the first 51/2 innings, it looked like Richland (9-14) would hand Somerset, which plays fourth-seeded Patton today, its first defeat.
“It’s nice to get pushed. It’s good to know we’re not perfect and we can lose a game,” Barron said. “Maybe there was a little doubt, but our team always battles back.”
Richland, which plays at Meyersdale today, had won seven of nine games at the end of the regular season and was not intimidated by Barron and his league-leading 0.39 ERA. Richland staked itself a 1-0 lead in the top of the second when Robert Varner’s two-out double scored Dan Berkey. After Somerset tied the game in the third on a bloop single from Jake Nicholson, which landed between four players, Richland added a pair in the fourth on another Varner double. Varner reached base in all three plate appearances and finished with three RBI.
Fesko, meanwhile, had Somerset swinging early and often. Through five innings, Fesko allowed four hits and induced 10 flyball outs before Michael Flyte started Somerset’s rally with a run-scoring triple in the sixth.
“These guys are very resilient,” Richland coach Jason Kaminsky said. “Nobody gave us a chance and this team has a lot of kids nobody wanted but now that we’re healthy, we can play with anybody.”
Even an unbeaten team like Somerset.
“There’s no mercy rules in the playoffs. We expect all the games to be tight. I’m just glad we executed in the sixth,” Hay said. “They were 7-2 down the stretch. That’s not your typical eight seed.”
Sports
Barron’s pinch-hit homer lifts Somerset
- Sports
-
-
Palmer to leave UPJ women’s position
Sasha Palmer will embark on a new chapter as a women’s basketball coach next month.
-
Sumney added to SFU men’s coaching staff
St. Francis men’s basketball coach Rob Krimmel filled a vacancy on his coaching staff Monday with the hiring of Mike Sumney as an associate head coach.
-
Goalie Anderson gives Senators a chance
Craig Anderson has his game back, and just in time to give the Senators a chance.
-
Ottawa rallies to top Pittsburgh
Colin Greening scored 7:39 into double overtime, and the Ottawa Senators rallied for a 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins that cut their series deficit to 2-1 on Sunday night.
Daniel Alfredsson got Ottawa even 1-1 by scoring a short-handed goal with 29 seconds left in regulation just after the Senators pulled goalie Craig Anderson for an extra skater. -
Locke grinds through as Pirates blank Astros
Jeff Locke didn’t have his best stuff Sunday. He didn’t need it to shut down the majors’ worst team.
Locke allowed three hits over seven innings, Pedro Alvarez homered and the Pittsburgh Pirates won for the eighth time in 10 games, 1-0 over the Houston.
Locke (4-1) won his fourth straight decision and gave up one run or fewer for the fifth time in his past eight outings. He struck out four and walked three. -
CORY ISENBERG| District playoffs command spotlight
District 5 gets set to jump into the baseball and softball playoffs this week.
Class A softball opens with four games on Wednesday, all set for 4:30 p.m. -
Bengals’ Hawkins visits Windber for charity tourney
Andrew Hawkins never forgets his roots.
-
MIKE MASTOVICH | Roberts, Kent State up to old tricks
George Roberts and his Kent State University teammates reached a familiar destination on Saturday afternoon, but took a somewhat different route in winning their third consecutive Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular-season title.
-
Astros beat Bucs in extra innings
Jason Castro led off the 11th inning with a double and scored the go-ahead run on a close play at the plate as the Houston Astros topped the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2 on Saturday night.
-
Senators offense to get boost vs. Pens
Jason Spezza doesn’t have much time to return to form if the Ottawa Senators want to extend their season.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Myers: 'We still need to do some evaluating as to what exactly we need'
Weekend Recruiting Wrap
Heat vs. Pacers: Playoff grudge match
Triple Play: Miguel Cabrera, Giants, and Rays
Globe 10.0: Can the Bruins young defensemen keep playing well?
Does Tiger feel he should clear the air with Sergio? In a word: no.
Redskins looking to find edge at the tight end position
Galiardi: 'We think we're the better team'
Kevin Dupont discusses Bruins-Rangers Game 2
Singer forgets lyrics, makes up words to National Anthem
Padres honor Marines
Nolan Arenado Fitting Right In With The Rockies
Preakness Day 2013
WQAM Audio: Lamar Miller's goal? 1,500 rushing yards
Red Wings beat Blackhawks 4-1 in game 2 of Western Conference Semifinals
Orb heads Preakness field
Betting at the Preakness
Amico: Grizzlies/Spurs series preview
Three and Out: Knick's Bench
