Johnstown Rallies for a Win
August 8, 2011 - Johnstown won big in the home opener once again, but only after watching Zanesville take an early lead. After chipping away at that lead, Martella's rallied for 9 runs in the 6th inning. For Johnstown, it was their 12th opening night victory in the past 13 seasons, including the 5th against Zanesville. The Junior Pioneers are 0-8 on Opening Night.
Pioneers Build Early Lead
Zanesville struck first after an error by shortstop Jesse Cooper let Zack Pollock reach base. Hits by Brad Przebieda and Nicholas Yakubik loaded the bases, and Michael Newsom's ground-out brought home the first run of the game. Brice McCarty started for the Junior Pioneers and allowed only 1 hit in the first inning.
"The first turning point in the game was in the first inning when we had two guys on and we ended the inning with a strike-out," said Pollock.
In the second, Martella's Pharmacy starter Luke Novosel sent the Pioneers down in order. The Pharmacists then loaded the bases with no outs on a hit by David McKolosky, a walk to Brett Quiggle, and a blooper single to right by Matt McMillen. However, McCarty got two grounders for three outs and the Pharmacists left the bases loaded.
Zanesville added another run on another ground-out in the third as Ryan Huber led off with a single, stole second, reached third on a wild pitch, and scored on Zack Pollock's ground out. The Pharmacists led off with a strike-out, and despite managing to move Max McDowell to third base courtesy a hit, stole base, and sacrifice out, he was stranded there. Johnstown stranded 5 runners in the first 3 innings.
In the fourth, Zanesville's James Montgomery singled with one out and stole second with two outs. Jeramie Neff then appeared to ground out, but the first-base umpire saw that he bobbled the ball, making Neff safe and allowing Montgomery to score.
Martella's Strikes Back
Johnstown finally got on the board in the fourth. With one out, pitcher McCarty hit the next three batters to load the bases. Jesse Cooper then hit a timely single to centerfield to score two. Both Dan Abbenante and McDowell struck out to end the inning. The Pioneers went down in order in the fifth, highlighted by Matt McMillen's great diving catch at second base.
In the bottom of the fifth, Scott Dixon stretched out a double to centerfield thanks to a poor throw from the outfield. Mike Cima was hit by a pitch. David McKolosky then bunted and was thrown out in a close play, but Johnstown first-base coach Sam Zambanini believe he had beaten the throw (as did the large crowd in attendance). After arguing the call, Zambanini was ejected from the game.
On the very next play, Brett Quiggle hit a ball to the third baseman and was called safe at first on a play just a close as the previous one. Whether one or both calls were incorrect is uncertain, but McMillen's fly out to center field certainly scored the tying run. The Pharmacists stranded 2 more runners in the inning. The Pioneers went down in order again in the sixth, despite a lead-off walk: Yakubik was picked-off at first by catcher Pat Gully.
A Grand Inning for Martella's
Having now tied the game, Johnstown looked to take the lead. Cooper, Abbenante, and McDowell all hit for singles to load the bases with no outs. That opened the door for Scott Dixon, who blasted his first pitch high over the Screen Monster in left field for a grand slam home run that brought the large crowd to its feet. It also prompted a pitching change as James Montgomery was brought in for the Pioneers.
"It was my first home run in about five years," said Dixon. "I was just looking for a pitch I could hit and he gave me one right where I wanted."
Montgomery walked his first batter (Cima), and McKolosky reached on a chopper over first base. A fielder's choice on Quiggle's at-bat put runners at the corners, and McMillen flew out to left-field to score Cima. McKolosky stole second and then took third as Gully was walked. Jesse Cooper popped-up to shallow right field, but the Pioneers let the ball drop, scoring a run. That error let the inning continue, and Dan Abbenante dropped a single behind second base to score two more. Doug Pollock then brought in right-handed outfield Cody Wagner to pitch.
Abbenante stole second on a wild pitch and--when left-fielder Newsom dropped a routine fly ball--he scored. Finally, Dixon popped up to the short-stop to end the inning with Johnstown now in the lead by 9 runs.
Johnstown Ends the Game Early
In the seventh, Novosel walked Wagner and allowed a hit to Neff, prompting a pitching change. Novosel was upset with the decision, but left to cheers from the home crowd. He allowed 3 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks with 4 strike-outs. New pitcher Max Strasiser struck out Tom Sharrer and got Huber to hit into a double-play.
Johnstown could not score in the seventh, but then retired the Pioneers in order in the eighth. With Drew Wollenberg on the mound for the Pioneers, McMillen reached on a walk and Gully reached when the pitcher dropped a high fly ball in front of home plate. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Jesse Cooper recorded his 3rd hit of the night with a run-scoring single to right field to end the game in a mercy-ruled 13-3 decision.
"Jesse did a great job," said Pfeil. "He had great approaches at the plate."
While some umpiring calls were questioned by players and fans alike, the real story of the game was an explosive inning by the Pharmacists and a systematic breakdown by the Pioneer's defense.
"There isn't a coach I know that's been over here that wants to play [Opening Night]," said Pollock. "Not only does your team put pressure on itself, but there's always a couple umpire calls that go the wrong way. There's plenty of coaches that know that, but I might be the only one saying it publically. I think that they've really got to do something about the umpiring or the tournament will be lost. Everybody complains about it but nobody has the guts to say it."
"[Tonight's game] isn't a case where umpiring lost the game, but it contributed to changing the direction of the game, and then we took care of the rest ourselves by self-destructing," said Pollock. Zanesville ended with 3 credited errors and several other mental lapses that contributed to the Johnstown win. To their credit, Martella's Pharmacy never caved in to pressure created by the early deficit, got timely hits (despite stranding 10 runners), and received a great pitching performance that limited Zanesville to 3 runs on 5 hits.
Johnstown will play Cleveland tomorrow at the Point Stadium at 6:30pm with a concert by Soul Searcher to follow. In a terrible scheduling decision, Zanesville will play against New York City at Portage at 10:00am in an elimination game.
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