Published: July 18, 2008 11:44 pm            

Westmont’s huge rally earns spot in regional tourney

In a game that had more twists and turns than your favorite soap opera, Westmont had to rally twice after leading early to upset perennial power St. Michael 13-12, sweeping the best-of-3 Cambria County American Legion championship series on Friday.

“The kids really stuck with it,” Westmont manager Dave Price said. “These kids never say die.”

Third-seeded Westmont (22-9) will join regular-season champion Somerset at the Legion’s Region 7 Tournament in State College, which begins July 26. It will be Westmont’s first excursion into regionals during its four years of existence as a franchise.

“We don’t know what it’s going to be like but we can’t wait to be there,” said center fielder Mike Kastelic, who went 4-for-5, including a double – one of five hit by Westmont – and scored three times.

Westmont designated hitter Eric Lowry drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth off Kody Reighard, chasing home Dave McKolosky with the game-winner and capping the remarkable comeback Friday.

Westmont led 3-1 through four innings before top-seeded St. Michael (23-7) scored four in the top of the fifth, one in the sixth and tacked on four more in the seventh to lead 10-3 through 61⁄2 innings.

That’s when the Westmont bats first came alive, scoring three in the home half of the seventh and adding five runs in the eighth.

“We never quit, it’s a total-team effort from (batter) 1 through 9 all year,” Kastelic said. “That’s probably our best asset is our bats.”

St. Michael starter Steve Malesky was pulled in the eighth after facing four batters.

“They started hitting the ball and Steve started getting tired,” St. Michael manager Denny Gramling said. “His pitch count was up around 130. He’s was getting tired and getting the ball up, and they’re a good hitting team.”

Gramling signaled for third baseman Matt Skoner to relieve Malesky but was forced to go to shortstop Jason Shope instead.

“Our pitching sort of ran out,” Gramling said. “I wanted to bring Skoner in but his AAABA League coach (Delweld’s Rick Roberts) wouldn’t let him pitch, and that certainly jeopardizes my agreement with the double roster. We’re in a playoff situation and I wanted to bring him in, and I wasn’t given the opportunity. He’s (Skoner) my next pitcher, but I’m throwing a shortstop that’s only thrown in three games all year.”

Skoner missed most of his high school season with an injured throwing arm and has been limited on the mound this summer. Skoner pitched into the sixth inning of St. Michael’s semifinal-clinching win at Ebensburg on Tuesday and would have been throwing in relief on two day’s rest.

St. Michael tallied two runs in the top of the ninth off Seth Matthews to regain the lead 12-11, setting up Westmont’s frantic last at-bat.

“It’s a huge comeback and especially against ... let’s give St. Michael a lot of credit, they’re a good ballclub,” Price said. “When you put a little pressure on them, anything can happen. And we do put pressure on people by our speed and our bats.”

Westmont’s T.J. Keklak, Brennan Becker and Eric Lowry each had two hits. Keklak, McKolosky, Becker and Lowry each scored two runs. Sean McDonald and Lowry each drove in a pair of runs and Matt Ziance had an RBI sacrifice fly.

St. Michael’s Casey Theys had four hits, including a two-run homer (345 feet) and a solo shot (333), and four RBIs. Skoner (3-for-5) hit a solo home run to left-center and had four RBIs. Brandon McLaughlin, Shope and Aron Wilson each had two hits. Reighard, McLaughlin, Skoner and Shope each scored twice. Aron Wilson added a pair of RBIs.

Westmont swept Lilly in the first round of the playoffs before topping Claysburg in the semifinals. Westmont bested host St. Michael 16-9 in Game 1 of the championship series on Thursday.

        

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