SV’s Garbowsky tallies 12 Ks in BCABL win
CRANBERRY TWP — In its attempt to avoid a third consecutive loss, Seneca Valley turned to Evan Garbowsky and the pitcher delivered in dominating fashion.
After allowing a run on two hits in the first inning, Garbowsky retired 16 of the next 17 batters he faced in SV’s 6-2 victory over East Butler Tuesday in BCABL play at Graham Park.
Seneca Valley (4-2) won its first three games of the season before dropping a pair to Butler Township, the team SV defeated for the league crown last summer.
“We played well tonight,” said SV manager Matt Baic. “We had only one error, though Evan’s 12 strikeouts had a lot to do with that.”
That’s what Garbowsky tallied in his 6.2 innings pitched. He was relieved by Alex Mortier with two outs in the top of the seventh after allowing four straight batters to reach base.
Garbowsky surrendered two runs on six hits while walking four.
“This is the best I’ve ever pitched,” Garbowsky said. “I really wanted to stay in the game and finish.”
Baic paid a visit to the mound after Garbowsky allowed a one-out single to Zarian Finucan and a walk to Colton Dickison in the seventh with SV leading 6-1, but the pitcher remained in the game. Justice Schmeider then singled, but Dickison was tagged out after venturing too far off second base. Cody Stroup drew a walk, prompting the pitching change.
“Evan pitched such a strong game, but he was at around 115 pitches and was starting to get a little wild,” Baic said.
Finucan scored on a wild pitch from Mortier, but the reliever struck out Luke Campbell to end the game.
“Thirteen strikeouts and six of them were looking,” said East Butler manager Jay Wagner. “We have to have a better approach with two strikes and put the ball in play.”
East Butler (1-6) took an early lead when Kyle Krason led off the game with a double and scored on Cam Cygan’s single.
“It seems every game I pitch, I give up a run in the first inning,” Garbowsky said. “But once I get into a groove, I kinda turn my brain off and let my body do the work.”
Garbowsky set East Butler down in order via strikeout in the second. The only base runner he allowed in the second through the fifth was a lead-off walk to Cody Stroup in the third.
SV had responded to its early deficit by plating three runs in the bottom of the first against pitcher Jacob Wagner. Calen Wilkerson, Patrick O’Toole and Colton Firster each singled in the frame.
Firster, SV’s cleanup hitter, added two doubles later in the game and is now 8-for-9 at the plate this season. His double in the fifth scored Mortier to make it 5-1.
“Our team that won the title last year was deeper than this one,” said Baic, “but this year’s team is more dedicated. I haven’t yet had to make any call-ups (from the Colt league).”
Jay Wagner said his team is the youngest in the league, which includes players ages 17-20.
“We have 13 guys on our roster and most of them are 17 or 18,” he said. “We’re going to stick together and hopefully, it will pay off in a few years,” he said.
East Butler 100 000 1 — 2 6 1
Seneca Valley 301 020 x — 6 7 1
W: Evan Garbowsky 6.2 IP (12K, 4 BB). L: Jacob Wagner 5 IP (4K, 5BB).
East Butler: Kyle Krason 1B 2B R, Cam Cygan 1B RBI, Zarian Finucan 1B R
Seneca Valley: Calen Wilkerson 2-1B R, Colton Firster 1B 2-2B 3R RBI, Ethan Staudt 1B RBI
Wednesday: Seneca Valley at Freeport
Saturday: East Butler at Seneca Valley
