Bowser Pontiac Overcomes Six Run 2nd Inning Deficit

By Josh Yohe, MCKEESPORT DAILY NEWS

Andy Brettschneider doesn't have the best winning percentage of any manager in Daily News League history for nothing. The manager of the five-time DNL champion Bowser Pontiac Twins took an unusually hands-on approach in Tuesday's showdown with Klingensmith Insurance at Helen Richey Field, and he pushed every proper button along the way. On a night when the Twins didn't do anything particularly well, their aura and mystique willed them to a 7-6 victory over Klingensmith Insurance. Bowser roared back from a 6-0 deficit to steal the victory. "I can't believe we lost this game," Klingensmith Insurance star pitcher Mike Sikorski said.
Bowser, playing without star Jared Frye, received reasonably quiet games from superstars Jim Onder and Dalaine Ofchinick. Also, ace pitcher Jeff Griner was a late scratch because of some pain in his left shoulder and Bowswer quickly fell behind 6-0. Matt Litzinger raked a two-run triple, Jack Waltonbaugh barely missed a home run on a sacrifice fly to right and Joe Capibianco drilled a two-run homer to give the Mets a six-run lead in the bottom of the second. With Scott Manko on the mound and looking sharp, a Klingensmith Insurance victory seemed inevitable. "But you just can't count them out," Klingensmith manager Jeff Kern said. "They're a great hitting team."
On a night when his team was shorthanded and looking lost, Brettschneider made a number of decisions that all paid off. Seeing that Skills was clearly off his game, Brettschneider removed his starting pitcher in the second inning and brought little-known Ed Flohr into the game. The McKeesport Area graduate was simply brilliant, giving the Twins 3 2/3 scoreless innings. "I can't say enough about the job he did," Brettschneider said. "He came of age tonight. I don't know that he's going to be a starter for us, but he's at least going to be a middle relief guy who can eat some innings for us. What he did tonight was very impressive."
Manko was solid, allowing only two runs in four innings for Klingensmith. "Manko was pretty good tonight," Kern said.
Still down 4 in the fifth inning, Ofchinick and Onder, two of the great players in DNL history make the first two outs for Bowser, before some unsung heroes emerged for the Twins.
Brettschneider staged an uncharacteristic strategy meeting before the inning, and saw his team respond with five runs. With two outs and the bases loaded, pinch hitter Chris Zampogna laced a full count fastball for a two-run single. Brettschneider then called for another pinch hitter and watched Tyler Baran hit a two-run double to even the game at 6-6. Ryan Moore then followed with a run-scoring single. "It was a classic display of clutch Bowser hitting," Brettschneider said. More classic Bowser finished off the victory. In the top of the sixth, Flohr retired the first two batters he faced before allowing Matt Litzinger's third hit, a single. Brettschneider then brought Onder in to pitch to Jack Waltonbaugh. Although Waltonbaugh managed to fist a bloop single to left, Onder struck out the next batter to end the inning. Onder started the top of the sixth by using his foot to knock down a grounder, ultimately retiring the heart and soul of the Mets, Scott Dolekary. Then, it was time for The Hammer. Brettschneider wasted no time in welcoming the Twins' new closer, Mike Finocchi, into the contest. A hard-throwing reliever who was in Class AA last year, Finocchi closed out the sixth. "He is our closer," Brettschneider said. "And we're very happy to have him." With the Twins' lead still a run in the bottom of the seventh, Brettschneider faced an interesting situation. With the game-tying run at third base and two outs, Litzinger who was 3-for-3 and is turning heads with his terrific play so far this season came to the plate. Brettschneider approached the mound and was going to suggest walking Litzinger and Finocchi taking his chances with Waltonbaugh. But things didn't work out that way. "He never gave me a choice," Brettschneider said of his closer. "He just told me to let him pitch. So that's what I did."
Finocchi, in vintage Bowser fashion, refused to intentionally walk Litzinger. Instead, he went after the former Serra Catholic star and forced him to ground out to first, ending the game.
Onder was pleased to emerge with the victory but said early June games simply don't matter that much. "Dynasties are made in August," Onder said. "And besides, I don't want to go 24-0. I'd rather go about 14-10. You go 24-0, and you have no worries. Go 14-10, and you build some character and some desperation. That's what I'd like to see." "Right now, we're very pleased with how everything went. It was a very solid victory, a great comeback. It was a Bowser kind of win."

Date: June 1, 2010     Time: 6:00pm      Venue: Helen Richey Field