Ben Foose pitched 7 1/3 innings of relief in Altoona Johnston Realty’s 4-3 victory over Buffalo-2 Full Circuit Power on Thursday in the 74th annual AAABA Tournament quarterfinal round at Sargent’s Stadium at the Point.
The senior-to-be at Pitt-Johnstown struck out five and walked one while allowing just two hits over 89 pitches thrown.
The right-hander relieved starter Sam Servello with two outs in the second inning. Foose held Buffalo Full Circuit at bay through the remainder of the contest as Johnston Realty overcame an early 3-2 deficit.
Altoona will face the winner of the quarterfinal game between Johnstown Martella’s Pharmacy and Youngstown Creekside Crocodiles, which will be on Thursday night at Point Stadium. That semifinal will be played on Friday.
Buffalo had notched all three of its runs without a hit against Sam Servello as the Altoona starter walked four batters and hit another while also delivering three wild pitches to keep runners moving.
Buffalo got its first hit of the game in the fifth inning as Andy Xapsos singled into right field.
Xapsos had scored in the top of the first when Ryan Mroczka grounded out to second. Mike Mazzara also scored in the inning when Sam Servello’s wild pitch got past catcher Adam Bankovich.
Trenton Creppage singled in Cory Storm and Keegan Soltis for Johnston Realty.
Full Circuit Power got back the lead in the second when Jack Arnold, who had one of his team’s two hits, scored on a passed ball.
Altoona moved in front 4-3 in the third, as Drew Weglarz worked a bases-loaded walk a batter before Creppage grounded into a double play to plate John Servello.
Following the third-inning runs by Altoona, the teams got a runner to second twice the rest of the way.
NOTE: Photo Courtesy of The Tribune-Democrat. Great shot taken by Photographer Thomas Slusser.