Published: August 14, 2008 12:27 am      

Altoona advances with win over Maryland State

LILLY — Execution.

Baseball coaches preach about how important it is, but Altoona’s Johnston Realty baseball team personified that importance Wednesday afternoon.

After four scoreless innings, the Altoona entry fell behind Maryland State’s Columbia Reds by a run in the top of the fifth. However, Johnston scored twice in the fifth and twice more in the sixth to earn their third consecutive victory, 4-1, in a game at War Memorial Field in Lilly.

“Once again, tip your hats to the pitching staff,” said Altoona manager Kurt Farabaugh, whose team faces fellow unbeaten Philadelphia today. “They did a No. 1 job again. They gave up one run in nine innings and that pretty much sums it up.”

Altoona starter Kaleb Fleck danced through some raindrops in the first five innings as the Maryland State squad stranded 10 runners in that span. Fleck, who walked six hitters in five innings, pitched out of serious trouble as the Columbia Reds loaded the bases in the third and fifth innings, but scored just one run.

Fleck also pitched out of trouble in the second and fourth, stranding two runners in each of those innings.

Columbia manager Paul Donovan was well aware that his team, which had defeated Johnstown in extra innings Tuesday night, left 13 runners on base. Maryland State faces Washington today.

“Trust me, we went over that. That was discussed,” Donovan said after talking with his team. “(Altoona) gave us a chance, but we didn’t take advantage of it. Then, when they got their opportunities, they took advantage of it. That’s baseball. That’s the way the game is played.”

The only run that Maryland State scored occurred when Fleck walked Brock McCallister with the bases loaded to force in Matt Schroeder, one of three hitters who had singled to load the bases.

However, Altoona executed beautifully when they had the chance. Down 1-0, Johnston’s Kevin Scholly drew a walk from Maryland State starter Jeff Randolph. Altoona left fielder Nick Gilling then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Scholly to second, putting him in scoring position.

Scholly moved to third on an infield hit, and then scored when Matt Curtis stole second and catcher Jamie Jiron’s throw went into center field.

The bunting was not over for Altoona. With Curtis on third after a wild pitch, Altoona’s Johnny Martinez laid down a perfect suicide squeeze, scoring Curtis and giving Altoona a lead that they did not relinquish.

“We have been doing that all year,” Farabaugh said of the bunting. “That’s not something that we just added. We always bunt. I believe in playing the odds. Push them over and let your hitters knock them around.”

In the sixth, Altoona third baseman Brett Weibley singled and was sacrificed to second by Matt McCamley. Tyler Stiffler’s single scored Weibley, and Stiffler later scored on a single by Nick Gilling.

Mike Pierce relieved Fleck in the sixth and Weibley came on in the ninth to earn a save. Fleck earned the win, and Randolph was charged with the loss.