photo by: Kim North

Bethany left fielder Jacob Stoner waits on the ball as Barton’s Zac Smith slides into third base during first-inning action Wednesday in Game 2 of the Ohio Valley Baseball League’s best-of-5 championship series on Russ Schwertfeger Ball Field inside Bethany Park. Smith tried to advance from first on a bunt but was thrown out. The Brewers won 5-2 to take a 2-0 lead. Game 3 is set for Friday in Crescent.

BETHANY – One of the rarest double plays you will ever see ended the top of the first inning, giving Bethany an early spark in Game 2 of the Ohio Valley Baseball League championship series Wednesday night.

After pulling off the never-heard-of 1-3-7 twin killing, the third-seeded Brewers (18-9) scored twice in the bottom of the inning and tacked on three more in the second to down top-seeded Barton, 5-2, to take a commanding 2-0 advantage in the best-of-5 format.

Game 3 is set for 6 p.m. Friday on Henning Field inside Pramesa Park in Crescent. Should the Braves (16-8) prevail, Game 4 would be played Sunday at 1 p.m. back in Bethany. Game 5, if necessary, will be played on Monday at 6 p.m. in Crescent.

“It’s been a total team effort. Our pitchers have been throwing strikes and pitching late into the two games, and our bats continue to be red-hot,” Bethany player/manager John Santimarino said. “Our guys are seeing the ball really well and we’re just going out and playing baseball.”

Barton’s Zac Smith reached on an infield single to start the game. Shane Smolenak’s sacrifice bunt turned into the first of three double plays turned by the Brewers. The ball bounced to pitcher Nick Leonard as third baseman Gian DeGenova also charged. Leonard threw to Isaac Hines for the out at first. Smith, seeing third base uncovered, rounded second and kept running. However, left fielder Jacob Stoner was also running to cover the bag and Hines delivered a perfect peg to nail Smith.

“Our defense has been pretty-much lights-out,” Santimarino stressed. “We’ve been playing fundamental baseball. Get a groundball with less than two outs and runners on, and then turn it.”

However, the first-inning play still amazed Santimarino, who has an OVBL title as a member of the Wheeling Cardinals.

“Everything had to be perfect,” he said while shaking his head, still in disbelief of what he had watched earlier. “Issac had to lead Jacob perfectly to get that out, and he did. What a play!”

Inspired by its defense, Bethany didn’t waste any time in taking the lead for good with a pair of runs as Brice Rayl singled and raced around the bases on a double by Russell Schwertfeger. Leonard, who improved to 6-0 on the mound this summer, singled in Schwertfeger for his fifth consecutive hit in the two games. He would go 6-for-6 before making an out.

“That was huge,” Santimarino said of scoring early. “It took some pressure off of us and put more on them.”

Barton scored an unearned run in the top of the second and looked to be headed to bat in the third as the first two Bethany batters in the bottom of the second made outs. However, five straight hits resulted in three more tallies as the margin grew to 5-1, which was more than enough run support for Leonard and two relievers who allowed six singles.

DeGenova blasted a two-run double to deep left-center while Joel Wise followed with a run-scoring double.

Barton hit into a 5-4-3 around the horn double play to end the third and also bounced into a 5-3 two-out play in the seventh.

The Braves, however, had their chances in the fifth and sixth frames, but left the bases loaded on both occasions. The sixth inning really hurt because they had them loaded with no outs, but a pair of infield popups and a ground out thwarted that threat.

Smith was the lone Brave with two hits.

Leonard finished with four strikeouts and two walks. Hines pitched the sixth, fanning one and issuing a walk. Schwertfeger, for the second straight day, finished up.

Ben Taylor was saddled with the loss. He went six innings with seven punchouts and no walks. He did, however, get touched up for 11 hits among his 79 pitches, of which 63 were strikes.

Schwertfeger led the hit parade with two singles and a double. Rayl and Leonard evenly divided four base raps.

EXTRA BASES

– The Brewers now have five double plays in 14 innings, having turned a pair in Game 1.

– Santimarino said veteran righty Matt Brooks would get the ball on Friday.

– Veteran Barton manager Billy Timko had no comment.

– Game 2 took 1-hour, 36-minutes to complete. That was seven minutes shorter than Game 1.

– Bethany Park has an artificial surface infield with natural grass in the outfield.

– Joe Banovsky (home plate) and Terry DiBacco (bases) were the umpires.