From Staff Reports
CRESAPTOWN - Jeremy Shingler pitched a complete-game six-hitter to lead WEPCO Federal Credit Union to a 4-2 win over Chessie Federal Credit Union in the first game of the best-of-three Rec Baseball League championship finals Monday at Hamilton Field.
Shingler struck out nine Chessie hitters and walked just one. He outdueled Chessie's Corey Greig, who started and went the first six before being relieved by Matt Farris in the seventh.
Chessie jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by Sean Nolan.
WEPCO answered with two runs in the top of the second to take a 2-1 lead. Shingler began the inning with a single, and courtesy runner Justin Blubaugh stole second and moved to third on Ryan Colmer's single. With runners on first and third, Tommy Holtschneider sent a sacrifice fly to right to score Blubaugh with the tie run. Paul Keifer was then hit by a pitch before Bill Freeman brought in the second run on a fielder's choice.
In the third inning WEPCO made it 3-1 as Daniel Warnick led off with a double, went to third on a passed ball and scored when Marcus McGinnis hit a fielder's choice ground ball.
WEPCO made it 4-1 in the sixth when Jamie Stowell was hit by a pitch, stole second, moved to third on a passed ball and scored when Shingler hit a sacrifice fly to center.
Chessie added a run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Logan Harden singled, went to second on a passed ball, and then scored on a single by Blaine Leasure.
Warnick doubled for WEPCO and Harden singled twice for Chessie.
WEPCO (18-2-1) and Chessie (17-2-2) will meet in game two on Wednesday, 5:30 p.m., at Holler Field.
A WEPCO win would give it the championship.
