Published: August 14, 2009 12:50 am      

AAABA: Lansing eliminates Youngstown

Lansing only had two players on its bench Thursday morning.

With the possibility of a doubleheader on the horizon, the Carl’s squad needed to get as much as it could out of its starting pitcher.

Jake Smith worked into the ninth inning and Lansing took advantage of six Youngstown errors in an elimination game at Point Stadium. The win set up Lansing’s game with New Orleans just a few hours later at Fichtner Field.

Bob Dziachan, who was filling in for Lansing manager Andrew Joseph, was pleased with what he got out of his team.

“We came down with 13, and one had to go home for a wedding,” he said. “Our manager is getting married Saturday, so he left town.

“They left me holding the bag here, but we’re happy with a win.”

Smith pitched eight innings and did not give up an earned run. He allowed six hits and two walks while striking out six.

“We knew we had to play a doubleheader (Wednesday) if we won this one, so we went as long as we could with our starter, Jake Smith,” Dziachan said.

“He did an excellent job.”

After the first two runners reached in the ninth Andy Rademaker came on to get the final three outs and earn the save.

Lansing had 11 hits, including RBI singles by Carlos Berroa and Chad Gromek.

Brad McCann also drove in a run with a fielder’s choice, but most of the damage was self-inflicted for Youngstown.

The Metros lost 13-0 to Johnstown’s Delweld entry on Wednesday night, but manager Bob Mingo wasn’t about to blame the early morning game for all of his team’s problems.

“I’m sure that had something to do with it, but it doesn’t make any excuses,” he said. “It’s another day, the sun’s out, it’s a beautiful day, you get to play at the Point Stadium again.

“There’s no excuse for having six errors.”

Brad Bates took the loss. He pitched seven innings, allowing three earned runs on nine hits.

Bates walked two and struck out five.

“I thought he got us in the game for a long time,” Mingo said. “We just didn’t capitalize on certain situations.”

Dustin Ditsworth and Chris Bossenberry each had two hits for Carl’s, which had 11 singles by nine different players.

Matt Pitzulo had half of Youngstown’s six hits and drove in a run.