ICC holds off Brewers, 7-6

A.J. Peracchia and Erik Ruff get 3 hits each and then preserve the win in the 7th.

By Josh Goodin

    BERLINSVILLE -- The Tri-County League playoff race got a little closer tonight as the ICC Pirates held off a late rally by the Lehigh Township Brewers to win 7-6. The Brewers entered the day with a half game lead over the Gabelsville Owls and a three game lead over the Pirates.

    ICC grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the first inning after Josh Mohlmann walked. A.J. Peracchia followed with a single, then Eric Ruff Drove in Mohlmann with a single. A double play ended the inning for Lehigh Township.

    The Brewers struck back in the bottom half of the inning for their only lead of the game. With two outs, Steve Unger singled and Eric Schmitt followed him with a two-run homer to left, his ninth this season, putting him five behind Mike Merkel's 1996 record.

    ICC erupted for three runs in the second inning, all off starter Josh Friebolin (5-1). Kyle Ruff lead off with a single, then Friebolin walked John Conrad. Todd Brosious dropped a bunt to sacrifice the runners over, then Chad Stecker walked to load the bases. Mohlmann hit into a fielder's choice, allowing Ruff to score, but on the takeout at second, Stecker's spikes caught shortstop Jeremy Bartha's leg. After a lengthy delay, Bartha was taken to the hospital for 25 stitches to help mend a six-inch long deep gash on his lower leg. He will be out two weeks. Play resumed with the score tied at 2-2. Peracchia and Eric Ruff each knocked in a run, and Friebolin was lifted early for reliever Jeff Erschen, who promptly struck out Dave Stauffer to end the inning.

    Lehigh Township struggled against Scott Stewart (5-1) after the first inning. Smull's leadoff single in the third inning was their only hit with less than two outs, and until the sixth inning, Unger was the only baserunner past second.

    The Pirates struggled as well against Erschen, who's only mistake was hitting Mohlmann in the fourth inning. Brandon Leslie relieved Erschen to start the fifth inning, and ICC had better luck with him. Eric Ruff led off with a single, then moved to second on a sacrifice. After Tony D'Amico struck out, Kyle Ruff was intentionally walked to set up a double play. The plan backfired because Conrad smacked an RBI single to right field to put the Pirates ahead 5-2.

    ICC added to their lead in the sixth inning with two more runs. Peracchia singled and stole second. Stauffer singled, and Peracchia scored. Stauffer also stole second, then moved to third base after D'Amico swung and missed a wild pitch for strike three, but got to first base in time. It proved to be a costly mistake because the next batter, Kyle Ruff singled and drove in Stauffer.

    Omar Torres began the Brewer's comeback with a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Nick Bowen struck out the Pirates' side in a perfect seventh, the Brew Crew had momentum on their side. Leslie, still in the game at first base, led off with a single up the middle. He moved to second on a fielder's choice by Charlie Torres. Bill Fatzinger walked and Smull singled to score Leslie and chase Stewart from the game. Eric Ruff came on in relief and walked Unger, the first batter he faced, to load the bases. Schmitt, looking to end the game with a walk-off grand slam, only extended it with an RBI single that made the score 7-5. Joe Bubba continued the hit parade with another RBI single, scoring Smull. Omar Torres, who had homered in his last at bat lofted a fly ball into shallow center field for the second out. Unger tagged at third and was thrown out at the plate on a strong throw from Peracchia to end the game.

    For ICC (21-11), Eric Ruff and Peracchia had three hits each. Ruff also had two RBI and Peracchia added one. Kyle Ruff chipped in with two hits. The Pirates next game is July 16 against the Cetronia Longhorns.

    Lehigh Township (23-9) was led by Smull (three hits), Schmitt (two hits, three RBI's), and Leslie (two hits). The Brewers play at Jordan Creek against the Gators July 15. There will be no love lost as these two teams meet again July 20 back at Bryfogle Park, maybe with first place bragging rights on the line. Game time on Saturday is 1:30.