Cornell shuts out Pioneers, 5-0
Edward K.Thompson
West Greene starting pitcher Patrick Brady strides to the plate as Cornell’s Dae Collin takes his lead off third base during Wednesday’s WPIAL Class A first-round playoff game at Peterswood Park.
Supporters of the West Greene baseball team line the fence in the Pioneers’ WPIAL Class A first-round playoff game against Cornell at Peterswood Park last season. West Greene snapped a two-decade long playoff drought with a postseason berth in 2018 and sixth-year head coach Shawn Lohr is hoping that upward trend continues this spring. (Photo by Edward K. Thompson)
Cornell's Kaden Divito can't handle the throw as West Greene's Craig Stoneking (12) slides into second base during Wednesday's WPIAL Class A first-round game at Peterswood Park.
VENETIA — West Greene made its first playoff appearance since 1993 last Wednesday, but the Pioneers ran into a stellar pitching outing by Cornell’s Hayden Hoffman and fell 5-0 in the first round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs at Peterswood Park.
Hoffman was almost unhittable from the start of the game, striking out the first seven batters he faced en route to a 16-strikeout performance on 100 pitches over 6 2/3 innings of work.
“We just ran into a buzz saw today on the mound,” West Greene coach Shawn Lohr said.
“He had good velocity and that’s the hardest thrower we have seen all year. We tried to make an adjustment by telling our kids to back up in the batter’s box. We tried to bunt and get some walks, but he kept us on our toes. He had a good enough curve, too.”
The junior righty reached the 100-pitch mark in the top of the seventh with two outs, and had to be pulled after just giving up two hits and three walks.
Stefan Blackstone recorded the final out in the seventh on a groundout to secure the win for Cornell.
The Raiders (10-4) were eliminated by top-seeded Vincentian Academy (13-4) in the quarterfinals on Monday.
Patrick Brady delivered a solid outing for the Pioneers (7-11), going five plus innings and allowing four runs on six hits with two strikeouts and three walks on 88 pitches.
“Patrick pounded the strike zone and got ahead of the count,” Lohr said.
“He got a little gassed in that sixth inning and Cornell was able to time up some of his stuff. He has battled for us all season long.
“That was probably one of the best defensive games of the season. Cornell earned every run they got today.”
Brady was relieved by Devon Jameson in the fifth, as Jameson was able to work his way out of the inning by allowing just one run of his own on two hits.
After three scoreless innings, Cornell broke through with a run on an RBI single Cody Maxwell that scored Hoffman in the fourth.
The Raiders doubled their lead to 2-0 in the fifth when Hunter Smith scored on an RBI fielder’s choice by Blackstone.
Cornell chased Brady out of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning and tacked on three runs on three hits.
The big hit in the inning was a two-run double by Tony Piccola.
Hoffman was going for a no-hit bid, but West Greene broke it up when Joey Reed smashed a first-pitch strike up the middle to start the sixth.
Caleb Rice had the Pioneers’ other hit in the seventh, while Craig Stoneking reached base twice on a pair of walks.
West Greene will lose six seniors, but will have a strong core back for another run at a playoff berth in 2019.
“We lose some seniors, but we have a lot of youth coming back,” Lohr said.
“Those seniors led this team and they will all be missed. We had a lot of freshmen starting for us today and we just threw them into the fire this year. They learned a lot about the varsity game and we take a lot of positives out of this season.”