Published: July 26, 2008 12:02 am            

Principle slides past Martella’s Pharmacy in opener

Principle Development refused to take its medicine in Game 1 of a best-of-5 AAABA League semifinal playoff series against Martella’s Pharmacy.

Principle’s Matt Stahl broke up a no-hitter by Andrew DiNardo and later scored on a busted suicide-squeeze attempt to help the fourth-seeded club upset the top seed 1-0 during Friday’s early game at Point Stadium.

Stahl’s seventh-inning infield single to deep shortstop with one out was the first hit off DiNardo. The next batter, Shade High School graduate Ben Leonard, blooped a single down the right-field line.

Stahl had to hustle to get under the tag of Martella’s third-baseman Sam Watkins, putting runners on first and third.

Eli Traup looked to squeeze bunt a DiNardo offering but the low pitch caromed off catcher Steve Bills’ mitt and trickled far enough away to allow Stahl to score the eventual game-winner for Principle (17-19).

“If the ball would’ve been buntable, Eli would have bunted it,” Principle manager Tony Joseph said. “But (DiNardo) threw a real bad pitch and even the catcher couldn’t handle it. We’ll take it that way.”

Game 2 of the series is scheduled for 7 tonight at Point Stadium. Game 3 is slated for 4 p.m. Sunday at the Point.

Principle starting pitcher Paul Bugajski one-upped DiNardo’s performance.

Bugajski struck out eight and walked two in the nine-inning outing.

“When you throw the Pete Vuckovich Award winner, you expect to win,” Joseph said. “We don’t score many runs and we don’t give up many runs.”

The right-hander from Duquesne University was selected as one of the best hurlers in the league this season after posting five wins and an ERA of 0.68, second-best with at least 30 innings pitched.

Bugajski shared the pitching award with GMI Renegades’ Eric Bruno.

Martella’s had a 6-1 mark against Principle during the regular season, beating Joseph’s team 6-1 on July 16 and 4-2 the following day. Martella’s outscored Principle 30-16 during its seven regular-season meetings.

DiNardo was breezing through Principle’s lineup Friday, striking out seven and walking one before the fateful seventh inning. The Seton Hill University product gave up just four hits in the complete-game effort.

Center fielder Jake Oswalt singled to right, doubled to left and tripled to center for Martella’s. Bills added three singles.

Martella’s stranded nine runners, including Oswalt at third base in the first and sixth innings.

“We got the pitching effort we needed from Andrew DiNardo,” Martella’s manager Chris Pfeil said. “We just didn’t get the big hit when we needed to. We had eight hits, had our opportunities but weren’t able to get the big hit. You’ve got to give Paul Bugajski a lot of credit, he got tough when he needed to.”

Joseph said that Martella’s (26-9) will face another quality pitcher today.

“They’re getting just as good of a pitcher in Matt Hill,” Joseph said of his Game 2 starter who had a 1.07 ERA in 45 innings pitched this season.

Pfeil will counter with Chris Sobota.

“We have all the confidence in the world in him,” Pfeil said.

        

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