Huntingdon Bearcats drop Golden Eagles, 14-3

By BRADLEY KEIM

Daily American Sports Writer

       

SOMERSET - As the raindrops fell Tuesday afternoon, so did the curtain on

Somerset's 2003 baseball season. Defending champion Huntingdon clawed the

Golden Eagles 14-3 in the district playoffs.

"Our kids have hit the ball pretty well about the last five or six games,"

Huntingdon coach Tom Gibboney said. "We've scored a lot of runs. I don't know

how they do it. They just keep swinging the bats and keep getting the hits."

   

The Bearcats (13-7) are scheduled to face top-seed Central in Thursday's

District 6AA semifinals.

The Eagles (12-6) got just six hits off Huntingdon pitcher Casey McGraw and

allowed five unearned runs during the six-inning game.

Gibboney said McGraw threw from the stretch, rather than the wind-up, all

game because of the wet conditions.

"He just hung in there," Gibboney said. "He had to slow his ball down.

     

"He couldn't throw his curveball across, so he was just spotting (it) a

little bit. Fortunately, he stayed around the plate enough to get enough outs

to win the game."

Eagles coach Steve Costea said McGraw was effective.

"The kid can throw a little bit," Costea said. "A little bit of a breaking

ball, a little quick and it's there (over the plate). ... The kid's a quality

pitcher. Stuffed it down our throats."

Senior center fielder Bryan Hagerich doubled twice and scored a run.

Sophomore Ryan Uphouse doubled, drove in a run and scored another. Senior

second baseman Mike Walker and junior Justin Kreger each singled and knocked

in a run. Senior Andy McNelly also scored.

Eagles starter Adam Hemminger returned the first two Bearcats on pop fouls

before Huntingdon loaded the bases on two walks and an error. Second baseman

Brad Clark launched a three-run double to the fence just out of left fielder

James Bruner's reach.

Costea said Tuesday's game followed this season's script.

"That's been the story of this team," Eagles coach Steve Costea said. "When

we make the plays, when we do the things we need to do, good things happen.

"We walked two guys and had an error in the first inning and then gave up the

big hit. ... That's the way it happens."

Somerset was within striking distance at 4-1 after 3 1/2 innings, but the

Bearcats struck for five runs in the top of the fourth.

Slick shortstop Geoff Kozak singled and stole second, third baseman Jared

Smith drew a walk on a full-count check swing then Catcher Alex Waleski

drilled a three-run homer over the left-field fence.

Gibboney said that blast put his team over the top.

"That was probably the key hit in the game," Gibboney said. "At that point in

time, anything could happen, and that put some space between the two teams."

Hemminger beaned the next batter in the back, walked the following one and

both later scored on an error.

Meanwhile, McGraw kept the Eagles in check while his fielders backed him up

with an errorless game.

Costea said he will miss Somerset's six seniors and, he added, those who move

on to collegiate baseball will succeed at the next level.

"They work hard, they put their time in and they do what they need to do and

they'll move on and they'll do well at the programs they move on to."