PORTAGE —
Dom Milanesi savored his 6 for 6 performance in Patton’s
19-6 victory at Portage on Friday night.
Not so long ago, the 17-year-old second baseman didn’t know if he’d play in the Cambria County American Legion League after a serious accident nearly four months ago.
“March 3,” Milanesi said, recalling the date instantly. “I was in a car accident. I broke two bones in my arm and I had a lot of internal injuries. I was out for three months before I was cleared.
“I started getting back in the weight room and swinging the bat after that.”
His comeback came at a deliberate pace.
“It’s always tough to get back into things. I was weaker,” said Milanesi, who will be a senior at Cambria Heights High School. “It took me a long time to get the timing down but with the guys around you it’s easy to feel good in the lineup.”
Milanesi had four RBIs and scored twice to front a 16-hit Patton outburst that pushed the Redmen record to 12-5.
Patton Manager Ray Eckenrode appreciates Milanesi’s impact in a Redmen lineup that also produced multiple hits by Dylan Corl (3 for 5, five RBIs), Shane Mallin (2 for 4, three runs), Andrew Brawley (2 for 3, four RBIs, two runs) and Jarid Ivory (2 for 4, three runs, two RBIs).
“Dom did not play high school ball this year,” Eckenrode said. “He started out slow in Legion. We worked him back in.
“This was his second time at (the) lead-off (spot) this season,” Eckenrode added. “Dom can hit the baseball. He’s a great player, a contact hitter.”
Patton built a 5-0 advantage through two innings against a gritty 1-14 Portage squad and pushed the margin to 9-2.
The Beavers did bounce back with a four-run fifth to close within 9-6.
But Patton answered with a six-run sixth and a four-run seventh.
“The whole season we’ve been fighting,” Portage manager Jim Vocco said.
“We’re young. We’re playing for the future. The guys play hard and do their best. It seems like we have that one big inning and we let it go.”
Right-hander Corl made a spot start and had 10 strikeouts in five innings.
“He’s a college kid. He has not pitched since high school,” Eckenrode said. “We’re thin on arms this time of the year. He said he was ready to go. He’s having a great year for us at shortstop and hitting.”
Portage’s Bailey Kerch went 3 for 4, reached base four times and scored twice. C.W. Miller had three hits, one run and one run batted in.
Joining his teammates in a big win was most important to Milanesi on Friday.
“Six for 6 is always a good time but as long as we get the win, that’s all that matters,” he said. “It means a lot to be able to play this season. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to play at all this year.”
Sports
Related Photos
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Patton shortstop Brandon Crawford snags a line dive in the bottom of the first inning of Friday’s Cambria County American Legion game at Portage. John Rucosky
Discussion
Six-run sixth inning lifts Patton Legion past Portage
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