RECAP >> Alex Pion tossed a two-hitter and his teammates supported his effort with plenty of offense as fourth-seeded Lower Mac rolled to an 11-1 five-inning win over fifth-seeded Carbon Monarchs last night in the opening round of the Lehigh Valley Legion playoffs.
Pion went four innings allowing just one run while striking out four as he picked up his first victory of the season for Lower Mac which defeated Carbon for the second time this season in improving to 10-4-1.
The victory advances LM to the semifinals where they will take on either No.1 seed South Parkland or No.8 seed Salisbury who were rained out. Those two teams will meet tonight at 5:45 p.m. at Parkland High School. The winner will then take on LM at 8 p.m. at Emmaus Community Park. The game will be carried LIVE on www.easternpasportsnetwork.com beginning at 7:45 p.m.
Third baseman Dominic Chiego led the offense for the winners going 3-for-3 at the plate with an RBI. First baseman Taylor Davis had a game-high three RBI, while centerfielder Jackson Merk and right fielder TJ Geist each had two hits and scored two runs. Pion also helped his own cause with two RBI.
Carbon dropped its third straight game and fell to 8-9 overall. Richard Strack had a hit and drove in the lone run of the game for the Monarchs who will host Northern Valley in an elimination game.
Starting pitcher Jack Edwards suffered the loss and had to leave the game with a leg injury in the third inning.
Lower Mac 11, Carbon Monarchs 1
CM – 000 10 – 1-2-4
LM – 223 22 – 11-11-0
Jack Edwards, Talen Sensinger (3), Matt Craigie (5) and Nikolas Schwartz; Alex Pion, TJ Geist (5) and Anthony McWhinney. WP – Pion (1-1), LP – Edwards (1-1)