Imler’s advances, CM out at AAABA tournament
AAABA roundup
Photo for the Mirror by Roger Kerekes Imler’s Michael Powell is safe at third base.
Photo for the Mirror by Roger Kerekes Imler’s Michael Powell is safe at third base.
Photo for the Mirror by Roger Kerekes Imler’s Michael Powell is safe at third base.
Photo for the Mirror by Roger Kerekes Imler’s Michael Powell is safe at third base.
Trending
From Mirror reports
JOHNSTOWN -- Imler's Poultry got another impressive performance from Gavin Fowler, Nick Kraft and Chase Plummer -- the same three batters who helped Altoona's top entry in the All-American Amateur Baseball Association's National Tournament win its opener -- in Wednesday's 8-2 win over Schenectady at Dee Dee Osborne Field at Roxbury Park that clinched a spot for Imler's in today's quarterfinal round.
"Proud is an understatement really at this point," Imler's Poultry manager Adam Plummer said. "The biggest thing here is that they really came together as a group. Some of these kids didn't know each other prior to the season, and really it's just exciting we get to go out there and play more baseball together."
Kraft and Plummer each drove in two runs during Imler's Poultry's eight-run second inning that put it in complete control after Schenectady had scored in the first inning.
Fowler continued to be a spark plug at the top of the lineup with three hits, and Michael Powell added two hits. But Imler's -- which will take on Mainline Pharmacy at Sargent's Stadium at the Point tonight at 7 p.m. in the quarterfinals -- did not score again.
"Overall, a win is a win," Plummer said. "We had one big inning and then kind of stalled offensively. We had guys in scoring position a couple of times and couldn't get the timely hit to extend the lead. Other than the one big inning, we stalled out."
Imler's beat Zanesville, 15-1, in its opener before losing to Buffalo on Tuesday. The lopsided games allowed the Altoona champions to maintain plenty of pitching options.
"We were able to conserve pitching being up big early in two of our games," Plummer said. "Our opening day starter is coming back at them, Brandon McClure, and we'll go from there."
SUBHED: Cumming Motors out
WINDBER -- Butler scored four runs in the top of the third inning to take control of its pool-play game against Cumming Motors on Wednesday at the Iron Horse Complex and eventually eliminated Altoona's runner-up entry with a 9-3 win in the AAABA National Tournament.
"We didn't make pitches in key spots," Cumming Motors manager Chris Sanders said. "They had some timely hitting. As young as we are, I think we'll be back stronger than ever next year. Youth definitely had a lot to do with it. Having a younger team played a big part in (our early exit)."
Kade Sell went 3-for-3 and finished with three of Cumming Motors' seven hits. Cooper Rother, Isaac Tiracorda and Roman Fridley each doubled for Cumming Motors, which lost its last two games after winning its opener.
"This group of kids didn't care who they played. They weren't intimidated by anybody," Sanders said. "I think this team is going to be back even stronger next year. We're only losing two. I think we're going to put our mark on Altoona again. We already have a couple key additions coming in that we have secured. I think next year you'll see an even hungrier bunch. Getting that taste of winning a game, I think it's going to be something to see next year."
Cumming Motors did not complete its Rust Belt League season this year due to a lack of numbers, but Sanders said his team intends to return to it next season.
"Our plan is to play in the Altoona league with our counterparts and get back into the Rust Belt," Sanders said. "This year, a lot of our guys were younger, and we had a lot of injuries. That league has made us very successful over the years."
SCHENECTADY (2): Calderone cf 501, Dutton dh 110, Kirkland ss 100, Tembruell 2b 301, Morey 2b 201, Menzies 1b 502, Scudder c 200, Hernandez eh 300, Himes rf 301, Scudder 3b 100, Kiefer ss 100, Dunn 3b 100, Hoffman lf 400. Totals -- 32-2-6.
IMLER'S POULTRY (8): Fowler 2b 413, Lamb eh 400, Kraft c 301, Plummer 3b 411, Powell cf 312, Parsons rf 211, Oakes rf 201, Gutshall 1b 411, Farabaugh 1b 000, Steiner ss 301, Szynal lf 311, Perry dh 310. Totals -- 35-8-12.
SCORE BY INNINGS
Schenectady 100 001 000--2 6 2
Imler's Poultry 080 000 00X--8 12 1
E--Plummer, Menzies, Kiefer. 2B--Menzies 2, Plummer. RBI--Kraft 2, Plummer 2, Fowler, Powell, Gutshall, Perry, Menzies, Scudder. WP--Baer. LP--Kenyon. SO--Scudder 2, Kiefer 1, Dwyer 1, Baer 2, Brauer 2. BB--Kenyon 2, Dwyer 1, Scudder 1, Baer 5, Perry 2, Brauer 1.
BUTLER (3): Demchak rf 401, B. Minich 2b 320, Danko cf 513, Delduca ss 300, Conville 1b 310, T. Minich 3b 311, Laser c 511, Godleski eh 512, Miner dh 412, Helgert lf 200. Totals -- 37-9-10.
CUMMING MOTORS (9): Oakes cf 400, Rother 2b 301, Ebeling lf 300, Tiracorda rf 321, Sell 1b 313, Hatch 3b 400, Miller 3b 300, Mierley ss 300, Thornburg eh 201, Fridley dh 401, Helms c 300. Totals -- 34-3-7.
SCORE BY INNINGS
Butler 204 000 030--9 10 4
Cumming Motors 020 001 000--3 7 4
E--Miller 2, Hatch, Helms, T. Minich 2, B. Minich, Conville. 2B--Rother, Tiracorda, Fridley, Laser. RBI--Mierley, Thornburg, Danko 2, Godleski 2, T. Minich, Laser, Demchak. WP--Hughes. LP--McConnell. SO--Hughes 5, Helgert 1, McConnell 1, Ewing 1. BB--Hughes 2, Helgert 2, McConnell 3, Kephart 2.
Records: Butler (3-0); Cumming Motors (1-2); Schenectady (0-3); Imler's Poultry (2-1).