Mill Run beats Mitch’s BB to take 1-0 series lead

By JASON BLACK

For MVI Sports

Mill Run pitcher Bill Bendis has been playing county baseball since 1993, and in all of his years in the Fayette County Baseball League, Bendis has pitched tons of innings and racked up a lot of wins.

But on Sunday afternoon, the left-hander accomplished what he thinks is a first for him in the FCBL as he belted a solo homer to right field for his first round-tripper in the league. It was part of a huge afternoon for Bendis, who also doubled, scored two runs and picked up an RBI with a bases-loaded walk.

Bendis also tossed six innings and didn’t allow an earned run as Mill Run opened the FCBL playoffs with a convincing 11-3 win over visiting Mitch’s Bail Bonds.

Mill Run leads the best-of-three semifinal series, 1-0, with the second game slated for tonight at 6 p.m. at Charleroi.

“It’s been a while since I hit a home run,” Bendis said. “I don’t think I’ve ever hit one in the County League.”

As for the pitching, Bendis takes a relatively simple approach.

“If you can start off with first-pitch strikes and you don’t walk anybody, you’re going to win,” Bendis said.

It also helps to have plenty of run support. Mill Run concluded the regular season with a win that featured 12 hits, and the Millers were able to start the playoffs with another dozen hits.

“Hopefully this is a carry over,” Mill Run coach Ray Orndorff said. “We had the defense and the pitching, and we also had the offense. We got a good game from Bill (on the mound) and he had a great day at the plate.”

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