High school baseball
Albert Gallatin hands Laurel Highlands first loss MASONTOWN – For the second day in a row, Albert Gallatin said “amen” to those who will argue that pitching is the most important ingredient of winning baseball.
Monday it was Alan Smodic throwing a string of zeroes at Southmoreland, and Tuesday Craig Hriblan worked a strong seven-hitter as Albert Gallatin ambushed Laurel Highlands, 6-4, handing the Mustangs their first loss of the season. The win left the Colonials 5-3 overall, 1-1 in Section 2-AAA play, while LH drops to 5-1 and 1-1.
Laurel Highlands took a 3-0 lead in the first, and still led 4-3 into the fifth when the Colonials made their winning move. Hriblan was nigh untouchable after the third, giving up only singles to Eric Darr to lead off the fourth, and to Paul Briczinski to open the seventh, plus only one walk to Kevin Martin with two down in the seventh. No Mustang runner advanced beyond second after the third inning.
Martin was the most troublesome batter for Hriblan, hitting a two-run homer in the first and a leadoff double in the third.
Hriblan said, “The fastball was my best pitch, especially late in the game. I used the curve as a setup pitch, then worked the fastball around. They had two runners on in the seventh, but I figured I would just pitch and let the defense catch it. The defense was very strong behind me today.”
Coach Shawn Chory said, “Craig showed a lot of poise for a sophomore pitcher. He got behind in the first, but I went out and told him to relax that this is a big rivalry game, and that’s what you work for in high school. He got a big win against a good team. Coach Landman (Tommy) always has a fine program there and this was a big win for both Craig and the team.
“This was a total team effort. Everybody had a hand in it somewhere. Ryan Jenkins had a big play in left early in the game, Ken Cerny a fine running catch in right to end the game, Adam Weakland heads up running on the basepaths, two double plays by the defense and Mike Kisko’s really big hit that put us ahead in the fifth. Then when we got the lead, our infielders took charge behind Craig and were aggressive on defense … just a total team effort.”
Landman called AG “tough all the way. We got a 3-0 lead at the start but to their credit they kept after us until they got the lead. They battled back, got the lead, and then held it and stopped us after the third. We just didn’t hit after the third and you can’t expect to win if you don’t hit.”
LH led 3-0 in the first after Justin Luckey walked to lead off, Martin cleared the right field fence, and Dave Landman walked and scored on singles by Santino Sloboda and Aaron Lowden.
The Colonials came right back with two runs. Chris Buncic walked and stole second. Hriblan walked, and they worked the double steal with Buncic scoring on a wild pitch and Hriblan scoring as Kisko grounded out.
Martin doubled to open the second and scored on Landman’s single for a 4-2 lead, but Hriblan shut the door after that.
AG made its move in the fifth. Ryan Gondek started the inning in relief of starter Mike Allison, and when he walked Josh Franks and Buncic, Sloboda was waved in to pitch.
Hriblan bunted them ahead, Bob Epley walked to load the bases and Kisko sent in two with a single. Epley went to third and scored as Jerome Manchas grounded into a force play.
Both teams are in section games Thursday. Laurel Highlands is at Connellsville and AG hosts Hempfield.