Local roundup
California girls edge Geibel, clinch playoff berth Pitching and defense.
California had the edge – albeit a slim one – in both Monday afternoon in a thrilling 3-2 Section 6-A victory over Geibel Catholic which clinched a WPIAL playoff berth for the Lady Trojans.
With Beth-Center unbeaten and already assured the section crown, California and Geibel both entered play Monday with three losses. California’s victory means the Lady Trojans can finish no worse than 6-4 in the section and tied with Geibel, which they play Wednesday.
The Lady Gators need victories over Frazier (today) and California in order to qualify for the postseason
On Monday, Geibel jumped on top with two unearned first-inning runs. After winning pitcher Alison Edwards retired the first two batters, Laura Campbell singled and Emily Pennington reached on an error.
Ashley Gardner and Laurel Feyar followed with RBI-singles to stake Geibel to a 2-0 lead.
California (11-5, 6-3) scored all three of its runs in the bottom of third inning. Amy Wohar led off with a double and scored on Stacy Scrip’s single. Scrip then advanced to second and Chelsey Gillen was safe at first on a fielder’s choice before Olivia Vargo walked to load the bases.
Cassie Wolpink followed with turned out to be the game-winning hit, a two-run single to right field.
Campbell prevented any further damage by striking out two batters and recording the final out on a ground ball.
Edwards (9-5) was nearly untouchable after the first inning, retiring 16 of the final 18 batters including 14 straight at one point.
“I thought both pitchers threw a great game,” said third-year California coach George Zarlino. “I think they both pitched their hearts out. Our girls have been working hard and I have a couple of great assistant coaches. I’m not positive, but I think this may be the first time the softball team has made the playoffs.”
Edwards went the distance, striking out six while walking only one batter.
Campbell was just as efficient, allowing four hits over six innings with seven strikeout and one walk. She also had Geibel’s lone extra-base hit, a double.Connellsville 9, Albert Gallatin 0 – Keri Hiles tossed a complete game two-hitter, and Nikki Porterfield laced a two-run single as the Lady Falcons blanked the Lady Colonials in Section 2-AAA action.
Hiles allowed only two singles, while striking out 10 and walking two.
Erin Whitelatch added two hits for the winners, including a double, and drove in a run.
Connellsville jumped on top 4-0 in the second inning, with Whitelatch and Porterfield delivering run-scoring hits. Leading 5-0, the Lady Falcons put game away with four more in the sixth inning with the help of four Lady Colonial errors.
Jessica Lemro suffered the loss, allowing seven hits over seven innings. She struck out two and walked one.Jefferson-Morgan 10, Mapletown 2 – Kelli Waligora tossed a complete game six-hitter, and helped herself out with two hits, as the Lady Rockets topped Mapletown in Section 1-A action.
Waligora (5-8) allowed six singles, struck out five and walked four. Tiffany Milan had two hits, including a double, and two runs scored, and Aubrey Pears also had a double and two RBIs.
Erica Smoggie and Emily Falcon each drove in two runs for the winners, which, leading 2-1, broke the game open with five runs in the fourth inning. Stafany Hutchinson added two hits.
Liz Novak suffered the loss, allowing nine earned runs on 11 hits. She didn’t record a strikeout while walking seven batters.
Kayla Fordyce was 3 for 4 in a losing effort.Boys baseball
Frazier 3, Jefferson-Morgan 2 – On Senior Day at Frazier, the Commodores saved the best for last, scoring in the bottom of the sixth to eke out a non-section win over the Rockets.
With the game tied at 2, Frazier’s Adam Souply led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk off losing pitcher Joe Culp, who was making his first appearance. Souply then stole second before Tom Begonia popped up for the first out.
Culp hit John Paull and walked Jake Rabatin to lead the bases before being relieved by Zack Weston. Weston walked Scott Knight, however, to provide Frazier with the winning margin before recording the inning’s final two outs.
Souply (3-3) picked up the win, allowing four hits over seven innings. He stuck out eight and walked two.
Steve Erdley and Begonia had two hits each for the winners, including a double by Begonia.
Culp, making his first varsity start, pitched well. The junior left-hander allowed four hits and two runs over 5 1/3 innings, while striking out five and walking two.
“This was the first game he’s ever pitched,” said J-M coach John Curtis. “We worked with him all year in the gym. I told him just to go out there and relax and pitch the best you can.”
A.J. Curtis smacked his third home run of the season to give the Rockets a 1-0 first-inning lead and also doubled.
Frazier tied the game in the bottom of the second when Begonia doubled and scored on Jake Rabatin’s single.
The Rockets jumped back in front in the fourth when C.J. Moon singled and came eventually came around on Jeff Coneybeer’s single.
The Commodores tied the game in their half of the inning when Begonia led off with a single and scored later in the inning on a Knight grounder.
“It was a well-played game,” said Frazier coach Ray Smitley. “It was Senior Day and it was nice for the seniors to go out with a win. I’m very pleased with how we played. We’ve had our share of ups and downs this year and this allowed us to finish the season on a good note.”
Jefferson-Morgan 7, West Greene 1 – Zack Weston allowed just one hit over five innings, and A.J. Curtis blasted a solo home run to lead the Rockets past the Pioneers in Section 1-A action.
The game was a completion of a previously suspended contest.
C.J. Moon and Curtis had two hits each, while Eric Cox smacked a two-run second-inning home run, his first of the season.
Gary Welch started and suffered the loss, last two innings. He allowed four runs on four hits.
Jay Allen doubled for West Greene.
Jefferson-Morgan improved to 8-5 overall and 6-4 in section play, while West Greene drops to 5-10 overall and 4-4 in the section.
Beth-Center 7, McGuffey 5 – Bob Yanak’s second trip to the mound wound up better than his first as the Bulldogs picked up a key Section 1-AA win over visiting McGuffey.
Yanak started the game, but lasted just 2 1/3 innings after allowing five runs (four earned) on five hits. D.J. Nakutis worked the next 2 2/3 innings, before Tom Chisler came on in the sixth.
Trailing 5-3, Beth-Center (8-6, 4-5) scored four times in the bottom of the sixth.
Yanak then came back on and blanked McGuffey in the seventh to pick up the save. Chisler, who worked a scoreless sixth, was credited with the win.
Tristan Pinkney had two hits, including a double, and an RBI for the Bulldogs, while Mark Neston added a two-base hit.
Adam Sadler suffered the loss, working the fifth and sixth innings. Paul Bruckner started and went two innings, and was followed by Ryan Kouver.
Beth-Center returns to action today, taking on Peters Township at West Virginia University at 7 p.m., then travels to Charleroi for a Section 1-AA contest Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Boys tennis
WPIAL Doubles Tournament – Connellsville’s doubles team of Ryan Hornick and Josh Martin lost to a team from Franklin Regional by a 10-8 score and were eliminated in the first round.
“We had our chances,” said Falcons coach Don Martin. “We were up 8-7 and leading 40-love, but we didn’t get it done.”
Men’s baseball
Balan Player of the Week – California University of Pa.’s Ryan Balan has been honored as the PSAC-West Co-Player of the Week.
Balan went 4 for 10, smacking three home runs, a double and finishing with seven RBIs.
Balan has 12 homers on the season and is hitting .423.
On the mound, Balan is 7-0 with a 1.07 ERA.
California is 28-14-1 overall and 16-3-1 in the conference.