Rust Belt competition helps Cumming Motors
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By Michael Boytim
mboytim@altoonamirror.com
Cumming Motors opted to remain in a summer collegiate league this season, now called the Rust Belt League, for an opportunity to play against high-level college competition and occasionally play nine-inning games like it will have to in August's National All American Amateur Baseball Association tournament.
Playing an extra inning almost cost one of Altoona's two AAABA franchises Thursday night at Juniata Civics Field when the DuBois Bucks scored six runs in the top of the eighth inning to take a one-run lead.
That was until Jake Hillard came through with a walk-off three-run homer as darkness began to fall that gave Cumming Motors a 10-8 victory.
"The last two games, we have walked off on home runs," Cumming Motors manager Chris Sanders said. "The resilience of this team playing in this Rust Belt League is something. These guys come from all over, all different areas of the state, but it's a group of guys that come together all summer long. This is like a brotherhood, and they play together all the time. At any given second, this team can flip a switch and put eight, 10 or 12 runs up. I have faith in every one of them from the No. 1 guy on the roster to the No. 40 guy on the roster."
Hillard's literal moon shot came after both teams agreed to shorten the game to an eight-inning affair prior to the start of the eighth inning during which the teams combined for nine runs as night fell over the city.
"I couldn't see the ball very well," Hillard said. "It was kind of a guessing game up there, but I was able to see it out of his hand. We had a long inning, but we are resilient and know how to hit. We're a good team. We fed off one another. (Lucas) Muffie started it off getting on base, and then (Aidan Steinbugl) hit a line drive before me. We just fed off each other."
Hillard was part of the Cumming Motors team that made it through pool play last season at the national tournament.
"We can be pretty good," Hillard said. "It's all starting to come together later as we are going into the tournament. We are getting everyone on the team healthy and when we can get everyone to the games, we can be really good."
Playing in games like Thursday's and several Rust Belt League doubleheaders over the weekends helps that development.
"We're facing a lot more Division II and Division I arms," Sanders said. "Overall, I think the quality of baseball is better, and it prepares us for the tournament. It really does. With the pitching we see down there, it's pretty much what we're seeing on the weekends."
A year ago, both Cumming Motors and Altoona's other franchise, Johnston Realty, played in the Tri-State League which merged with the Rust Belt League.
"Our travel schedule this year wasn't as extensive as it was last year," Sanders said. "The commitment has been there. The guys want to see this type of baseball to prepare us for the tournament. They are committed to playing in this league, because the eventual goal is to raise a championship down in Johnstown. Going forward, we're going to continue to play in this league, because it makes our team better every game."
Johnston Realty chose only to compete in the Altoona Greater City League along with Cumming Motors this season, but both teams will represent Altoona in Johnstown in August and will do so with former AAABA executive director and Altoona native John Austin on their minds. Austin died at 79 last year after a battle with cancer.
"John always had a special place in my heart," Sanders said. "I can still remember four years ago him asking me to take a team, and I was like a deer in headlights. I learned a lot from him and from Matt (Cursio) this year, growing as a person and as a coach. I want Altoona, in general, to do well. Whether it's us or the other Altoona team (Johnston Realty), I want to see Altoona do well. Both teams are going, and both teams are pretty solid teams. Johnston Realty is pretty good. I'm not taking anything away from them. We have great battles when we play them, and overall it's been a competitive couple games we have played them."
Another option rather than playing in the City League or the Rust Belt League was taking Cumming Motors to Johnstown's AAABA league, but after short consideration, that was ruled out.
"We had meetings about it," Sanders said. "But, if we would have went and played in Johnstown, the Altoona franchise would have folded up. We decided in honor of John (Austin), and with Matt filling in admirably for John, we have been moving forward and learning. Out of respect for John, me personally, I would never want to see this Altoona franchise fold up. I won't let it happen, just because I have too much respect for John and too much respect for Matt and the Altoona area."
Cumming Motors led Thursday's game 7-2 through seven innings behind the strong pitching of Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic graduate Austin Hammerle, who is now at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. Hammerle allowed one unearned run and struck out seven in five innings.
"I felt really good out there, and my arm felt loose," Hammerle said. "This is my first summer coming off Tommy John surgery. I felt good, and I'm happy with what this team has done and excited for the tournament to see what we can do."
Sanders said Hammerle is a reliable option for his team.
"(Hammerle) came to the team at the beginning of the year looking for kind of a role like (Sam) Servello played last year as our veteran coming in looking for rehab coming off Tommy John surgery," Sanders said. "Austin has not disappointed. With him going out there, I know I'm going to get a fantastic start whether he goes five innings, seven innings -- I know every game he starts I'm getting a top-notch performance from him."
In addition to Hillard's walk-off home run, Cumming Motors got two hits, two runs scored and an RBI from Aidan Steinbugl and a double from Vincent Lear.
"Seeing that (college-level) pitching last year helped us to go deeper in the tournament last year," Sanders said. "I think it's going to benefit us again this year."
DuBOIS BUCKS (8): Foster 2b-lf 400, Elensky 3b-2b 500, Burger ss 310, Savage dh 311, Starr p 000, Olinger p 000, Alexander p 000, Billotte cf 120, Pasternak 1b 301, Smulik pr-1b 100, Probst c 312, Tyler eh 411, Armanini rf 210, Prestash lf-3b 000, Mitchell lf-rf 311. Totals -- 32-8-6.
CUMMING MOTORS (10): Muffie cf-ss 211, Steinbugl ss-p 322, Hillard 3b-2b 522, Burd dh 111, Hammerle p 000, Smearman p 000, Chamberlain 2b 300, Kormanski cr-3b 100, Rodgers rf 201, Summerson rf 200, Smith lf-p-lf 400, Lear eh-cr 221, Bakken eh-lf-cf 111, Klotz c 100, Woodward 1b 111, Swanger 1b 100. Totals -- 29-10-10.
SCORE BY INNINGS
DuBois Bucks 001 001 06--8 6 2
Cumming Motors 300 202 03--10 10 5
E--Billotte, Foster, Hammerle, Hillard, Steinbugl, Chamberlain 2. 2B--Lear. HR--Hillard. RBI--Probst 3, Tyler, Mitchell, Hillard 3, Muffie 2, Steinbugl, Rodgers.
PITCHING
DuBois Bucks: Starr--1 1/3IP, 2H, 3K, 3BB, 3R, 2ER, 38 pitches. Olinger--4 1/3IP, 6H, 1K, 5BB, 2HBP, 4R, 4ER, 78 pitches. Alexander (L)--1 2/3IP, 2H, 4K, 2BB, 3R, 3ER, 39 pitches.
Cumming Motors: Hammerle--5IP, 2H, 7K, 2BB, 1R, 0ER, 91 pitches. Smearman--2IP, 1H, 2K, 1BB, 1R, 1ER, 32 pitches. Smith--0IP, 0H, 0K, 3BB, 3R, 3ER, 20 pitches. Steinbugl (W)--1IP, 3H, 1K, 1BB, 3R, 2ER, 32 pitches.
Umpires: Derrick Soellner (HP); Jim Cushion (bases).