Pitcher, catcher combo beats Irish

Gerberry, Beany keep Fitch alive

By BRIAN DZENIS

bdzenis@vindy.com

STRUTHERS

Call this a battery-powered win for the Austintown Fitch High School baseball team.

The Falcons got a great defensive performance from backup catcher Chris Gerberry and a quality outing from pitcher Brian Beany as they downed Ursuline, 3-2, on Monday at Cene Park.

Fitch’s three pitchers kept the cold Falcons’ bats in the game before they finally pulled through in the top of the sixth inning. Beany started out as the would-be hard luck loser, entering the game in the third inning with a 1-0 lead after Kole Klasic’s RBI single in the second.

Beany gave up the tying run as Ursuline’s Alex Schlosser singled home Bobby Cavalier and then an error at second base gave the Irish the lead. Despite Beany and starter Derek Gunter allowing one hit through four innings, the Falcons were behind.

It could have been worse. Beany found himself in a pickle with runners at second and third with one out in the fourth, but emerged unscathed after striking out the next two batters. He made a similar escape in the fifth as Ursuline’s final two hits of the game put runners in scoring position.

“It was really tough, I just had to hit my spots,” Beany said. “I just had to put the ball there and let my defense work and it all turned out well.”

Beany allowed three hits, walked two, hit a batter and struck out five before leaving the game with two outs in the sixth. Making the best defensive plays was Gerberry, who coach Wally Ford described as a scrappy utility man.

Ursuline tried to be aggressive on the basepaths, but Gerberry was having none of it. The junior threw out three would-be base-stealers, including a critical stop in the bottom of the seventh.

“It felt great, I knew I could do it and everything,” Gerberry said. “It was just great helping out the team.”

Jared Kapturasky picked up the save. The deciding runs came from back-to-back RBI-singles from Nick Bianco and Nick DeSalvo. DeSalvo hit blooper to right-center field, but miscommunication between outfielders Logan Pullin and Gianni Quattro allowed the ball to drop between them.

“It was Opening Day. There was the weather and [Pullin] has mostly played infield, so it’s kind of a new position,” said Ursuline coach Matt Weymer, who made his debut with the team. “It’s no excuse.

“We practice that exact situation, so the communication wasn’t good and with the schedule we play, we’ll play a lot of games like this. What we try to hammer home is these close games have no margin for error.”