Brewers outlast Fleetwings 11-10

15 hits, four homers and a 10-run 3rd inning just enough to lift LT to a 2-0 series lead.

By Mark Bentz

    SCHERERSVILLE -– 2,400 years ago Aristotle wrote “It is likely that the unlikely will happen.” While it’s doubtful that the great Greek philosopher was discussing the Tri-County League playoffs, his words applied perfectly to Game Two of the semifinals between the Lehigh Township Brewers and the Tri-City Fleetwings.

    Billed as a pitcher’s duel between the Brewers’ Brandon Leslie and the Fleetwings’ Josh Gunkle, Game Two turned out to be anything but a pitcher’s duel. The hot weather brought out the best in the bats of both teams as Lehigh Township’s ten runs in the top of the third inning catapulted the Brewers to an exciting 11-10 victory over the Fleetwings to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

    Lehigh Township went out in the first inning with only a double from Eric Schmitt against Gunkle. Tri-City started the scoring right away in the first against Leslie. Paul Santay reached on an error and reached second when the throw went into the bushes in right field. Matt Marcks singled and stole second, leaving runners on second and third with no one out. Justin Godusky struck out, but Ben Swatsky reached on another infield error to push across one run. Dave Toth then grounded into a fielder’s choice, but Marcks was able to score to make it 2-0, Fleetwings. The following batter  was Dan Dillon, and he turned on a fastball from Leslie and ripped it out of the yard to put Tri-City ahead 4-0 through one.

    Each team went relatively quietly in the second. It looked like the pitchers were settling in. That didn’t quite happen.

    What followed was one of the greatest displays of offense baseball one will see anywhere. Coming against one of the league’s best pitchers in Gunkle, it was even that more impressive. It started innocently enough when Nick Bowen struck out. Charlie Torres and Bryn Lindenmuth each singled, but then Steve Smull went down on strikes as well. That left one on and two out for Eric Schmitt, who doubled home Torres. Then Steve Unger ripped the second pitch he saw way over the center field fence for a three-run homer to tie the game at 4-4.

    Jeremy Bartha singled to set the stage for Omar Torres to line one barely over the left field fence to give Lehigh Township the lead at 6-4. Bill Fatzinger reached via an error, and Lehigh Township had batted around. Bowen followed with a double to chase Gunkle, who was brilliant in the opening round against Banko. Toth came in to pitch for Tri-City, and he fared no better. Charlie Torres lined a two-run double into the gap to score both runners and put Lehigh Township ahead by four runs. Lindenmuth stepped into the box and lined out deep to left field. Godusky leaped and nearly came through with an amazing catch, but he and the ball went over the fence and Lindenmuth had a two-run homer and the Brewers led 10-4.

    Tri-City got one back in the bottom of the third as Godusky led off with a home run of his own. Neither team would score again until the fifth. Bowen hammered a 1-2 pitch from Dillon, who relieved Toth, over the fence for a solo home run to put Lehigh Township up 11-5. But the Fleetwings responded in their half against Leslie. Godusky walked and Swatsky singled him to third. With first and third, Swatsky attempted to steal second and the throw went into center field. Godusky scored and Swatsky made it to third. After Toth popped out, Dillon hit a long fly to right that was good enough for a sacrifice fly and the Fleetwings would cut it to 11-7.

    There was no scoring again until the bottom of the seventh. Godusky flew out to right, but Swatsky drew a walk from reliever Mike Petrucci. Scott Garger, who entered for Toth, hit a bleeder good for an infield single, and the Fleetwings had two on with one away. Dillon then cracked an RBI ground-rule double to score Swatsky and make it a three-run game. Manager Shawn Andrews then made the move to his closer in Bowen. Bowen, who often makes things exciting, walked Matt Hlay. Ryan Palos, pinch-hitting for Teague Fatzinger, picked up another infield hit to score Garger. Suddenly it was an 11-9 game. Bowen struck out Arner, but Santay reached on yet another infield hit to bring home Dillon and the game was a one-run affair. But Bowen whiffed Matt Marcks to end this thrilling ballgame.

    With the victory the Brewers now lead the best-of-five series two games to none. Game Three will take place tomorrow night at Bryfogle Park in Berlinsville. Dennis Kinney will almost certainly start for the Fleetwings, while Lehigh Township has a host of pitchers to choose from. Whatever the case, it will be hard to beat Game Two for excitement level.