Baseball - Kiski Area vs Connellsville

Connellsville baseball wins 5-4 as Kiski Area comeback falls short

Down 5-1 to Connellsville after four innings, Kiski Area finally chased Falcons' starting pitcher Marc Prinkey and started their comeback. The Cavaliers held the Falcons scoreless while chipping away at the deficit for the final three innings, drawing to within one run with two outs in the seventh, before falling 5-4 in front of a good home crowd on Senior Day at Kiski Area High School. 

While neither team scored in the first, Connellsville got on the scoreboard in the second after the Falcons loaded the bases and Ryne Wallace walked Brody Bonadio to send Tanner Orndorff across the plate with the first run. After the Falcons' Marc Prinkey retired the Cavaliers quietly in the second, Connellsville added another run to their side in the third, loading the bases with one out for Jarrod David's sacrifice fly to score Jacob Ansell from third. Kiski Area got one back in their half of the third, loading the bases with no outs, then Nick Yohe scored as Matt Skelly grounded into a fielder's choice to retire Ethan Guercio at third. Connellsville then turned a double play to get out of the inning with no further damage. Connellsville added three more in the fourth inning as Jacob Ansell singled to drive home Brody Bonadio, then Tanner Orndorff singled to drive in Kyle Ridley and Ansell, making their lead 5-1.

The Cavaliers began their comeback effort in the fifth, chasing starter Marc Prinkey after a pair of inning opening walks, then reliever Elijah Small walked Cameron Guercio to load the bases. Nick Yohe scored from third as Matt Skelly grounded into a double play, but Billy Perroz flied out to end the inning. In the sixth, the Cavaliers moved another run closer on the board as Ryne Wallace opened with a double, then scored on Adam Poleski's single to right field. The Falcon's Caleb Dillon took over on the mound for Small, retiring the side before any further damage was done. When Connellsville failed to score in the top of the seventh, Kiski Area's offense quickly closed the deficit to one run. Garrett Polka singled and Cameron Guercio doubled, then Polka scored on Matt Skelly's sacrifice fly to center field. A fly out by Billy Perroz took the Cavaliers down to their last out, but they weren't done just yet. Ryne Wallace was hit by a pitch, then Adam Poleski walked to load the bases. But a pitching change brought Austin Petraglia in to face Ryan Rametta, who flied out to shortstop to end the game. 

Tanner Orndorff and Cade Warrick each had 3 hits for Connellsville, with Orndorff tallying a pair of RBIs. Brody Bonadio had a double for the Falcons. Cameron Guercio had 2 hits for Kiski Area, as he and Ryne Wallace each had doubles. Matt Skelly had a pair of RBIs on the day for the Cavaliers. Marc Prinkey picked up the win on the mound for Connellsville.       

Watch this link for a full gallery of action photos available for purchase or sharing the day after the game.