Latrobe’s offense stayed hot in Tuesday’s District 31 win at Legion-Keener Park. Jethawks beat Hempfield East 7-3.
Latrobe’s second consecutive win included six RBIs and 10 hits.
“I hear these guys all the time saying ‘pass the bat to the next guy,’” Latrobe Manager Jason Bush said. We rushed the first pitch and had too many men chopping. Pregame, we discussed it. Tuesday’s plate patience was better. Club hits good.
Logan Bradish pitched and scored for the Jethawks Tuesday night. Bradish went 2–3 with two singles and an RBI. Three runs on six hits in six strong innings, he struck out three and walked three.
Bush praised his starter.
Bush said Bradish is “everything to this team”. He leads with his bat and pitch, not his words. He said, “I’ll pitch two more innings,” and did. Two more to shrink our bullpen.
Louie Amatucci singled twice. One run and a fastball struck him. Jake Albaugh had two singles, a walk, and one RBI.
Vinny Amatucci, Duncan Foust, and Jack Stynchula each got one hit and RBI. Colin Bush’s fourth-inning walk scored the sixth Jethawk run.
Hempfield East scored after a scoreless first. Peyton Chismar’s RBI-single scored Connor Burkey for Hempfield East.
Jethawks reacted. After two quick outs, Albaugh walked, Foust singled, and Stynchula delivered an RBI single to tie the game.
Latrobe’s inning continued. Latrobe led 2-1 in the third inning when Louie Amatucci’s infield single to shortstop scored Foust.
Bradish comfortably defeated Hempfield East in the top third, but the Jethawks scored in the bottom. Vinny Amatucci singled right-field. Bush reached on a fielder’s choice to shortstop after Vinny Amatucci beat the throw to second base.
Dom Cararini sacrifice bunted Vinny Amatucci and Bush into scoring position with one out. Latrobe led 4-1 after Albaugh singled to right field to score Vinny Amatucci and Foust grounded out to score Bush.
Bradish had two quick outs in the top of the fourth, but Hempfield East did damage like Latrobe. Four two-out hits and a walk by Hempfield East’s Chase Regester and Michael McCready cut Latrobe’s lead to 4-3.
Jethawks reacted swiftly. The inning began with pitches hitting Erick Batista and Louie Amatucci. The Jethawks loaded with no outs after Bradish’s infield single to shortstop.
The Jethawks’ third hit-by-pitch scored Batista. Bush’s RBI-walk put the Jethawks ahead 6-3 again. A pitching change retired Hempfield East’s next three hitters with the bases loaded.
Bradish’s zero gave Latrobe another run in the fifth.
Louie Amatucci bunted a third-base single after Batista walked. Batista and Louie Amatucci moved up on a passing ball. Latrobe led 7-3 in the sixth after Bradish’s RBI-sacrifice fly scored Batista.
Both teams’ pitching and defense dominated. The Jethawks won after Nate Lemmon relieved Bradish in the eighth and struck out one batter.
Latrobe defeated Blairsville 9-4 again Monday night.
“I love home,” Jason Bush said. “We’re trying to win and move on. When you’re good, the squad wants to play again. We’re game.
Latrobe presents Bushy Run Wednesday at Legion-Keener Park. First pitch is 6 p.m. Jethawks play 18 games in 15 days, including Bushy Run.
Jason Bush said he likes load management. Keep our players’ arms healthy. We need every reserve. We just played 10 or 11 of those guys (Tuesday), but this season and stretch, all of these baseball players will contribute.”