Low scoring 3-2 contest is result of solid game

Mooney pitcher Kyle McCarthy earned a 5-0 record.
STRUTHERS -- You would expect two teams that lead their league and are top seeds in their sectional tournaments that play against each other to produce a good baseball game.
Cardinal Mooney and former Steel Valley Conference rival Austintown Fitch did just that Wednesday at Cene Park.
Mooney (15-3), the SVC leader and top seed in the Division III sectional, scored single runs in the first and second innings, and scored the game winner in the fifth to edge the Falcons, 3-2.
Kyle McCarthy pitched a complete game to improve to 5-0 on the year. He allowed just one earned run, with five strikeouts and five walks.
McCarthy also added two hits, a run batted in, and scored a run.
"Kyle is a competitor," Mooney coach Steve Leslie said. "He has had a problem with a blister on his finger but he just competes.
"This was a tournament-type atmosphere," Leslie said. "[Steve] Gruver threw a great game for them."
For Fitch, (12-5) leaders of the Federal League and top seed in the Division I Sectional Tournament, freshman left-hander Gruver suffered his first defeat after three wins.
"It is nice to still play Mooney," Fitch coach Wally Ford said. "It is nice to see a good pitcher like [McCarthy]. He had nice stuff which can only help us when we get into the tournament.
"This was a good ballgame. We just could not capitalize when we got guys in position."
Gruver allowed three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks in 51/3 innings of work. Matt Brogley had a strikeout in his 2/3 of an inning of relief work.
Mooney scored in the first inning as McCarthy had a one-out single, followed by an infield hit by Joe Irvin.
Kevin Drummond singled sharply to left, which loaded the bases, and Jon Grist was hit by a pitch to force home the game's first run. Gruver struck out the next two men to end the threat.
Shane Gallagher opened the second inning with a single and was sacrificed to second by Brennan Meenachan. After a ground out, McCarthy singled home the second run.
The Falcons came back in the third frame. A one-out single by Charlie Olenych was followed by a walk to Dom Modarelli.
A passed ball moved the runners up a base, and after a strikeout for the second out, a single by Mike Elisio tied the contest.
Mooney got the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth. A two-out walk to Irwin was followed by a bad pick off throw which allowed Irwin to advance to third.
Drummond then hit a line drive to center which went for a triple after the Falcon centerfielder slipped trying to make the catch. Irwin scored for the 3-2 lead.
Fitch stranded nine men on base.
Close defeats
"We are not bringing them in," Ford said. "We have lost two of our last four games by one run.
"We made one mistake and it cost us," Ford said. "Steve has given us four good career outings. You can't ask for more than that from him. He has been a pleasant surprise for us."
Drummond had two hits for Mooney while Tony Brunetti added a double. Elisio had two hits for the losers.
"I am just pleased the way we have started to swing the bats the last couple of days," Leslie said. "Kevin Drummond has been playing well the last couple of days, both at the bat and defensively.
"There are going to be some errors in high school baseball with young kids, but you have to make the plays, and hopefully we will be able to do it."
The Falcons had a chance in the seventh inning. After the first two men were retired, Joe Burnich reached first on an error.
Brian Mellott singled and John Mang had a great at-bat that lasted 10 pitches before he drew a walk.
McCarthy then forced Mike Brown to hit a sharp ball to Brunetti at shortstop who threw to second base for a force out to end the game giving Mooney the win.