Local roundup
Gators, Falcons pick up key wins Geibel Catholic and Brownsville both maintained their grips on sole possession of first place in their respective sections with victories in high school baseball action Tuesday.
The Gators (7-4, 5-0) rode an eight-run fourth inning to a 10-5 Section 7-A win over host Beth-Center, while the Falcons (6-2-1, 5-1) used a four-run third to propel them to a 6-4 Section 1-AA triumph over host Charleroi.
Geibel’s Phil Gratchie twirled a complete game and survived a Bulldog uprising in the seventh to earn the win.
Jordan White and Zach Leonard both tripled and singled, and Dan Menendez doubled and singled for Geibel.
Beth-Center (3-8, 2-4) scored twice in the third. Ben Whitten walked and Drew Frost singled to start the rally. Whitten came home on J.D. McCarty’s suicide squeeze bunt and Tristin Pinkney singled in Frost.
The Gators answered immediately in top of the fourth as White’s three-run triple ignited the eight-run outburst.
Geibel tacked on two important insurance runs in the top of the seventh and seemed comfortably ahead, 10-2, but the Bulldogs refused to go down without a fight.
Pinkney’s run-scoring single sparked a three-run rally that made it 10-5 and Beth-Center had the bases loaded with one out when Matt Falcone hit a fly ball into right-center field. Rob Ramsey ran the ball down to make the catch, however, then made a strong throw to double up the runner trying to advance to third base to end the game.
“It was an amazing play,” B-C coach Frank Pryor said. “We made a comeback, but it was a little too much for us to overcome.”
Pinkney had three hits, including a double, for the Bulldogs, and Frost contributed two hits.
Starting pitcher Matt Stay, who was knocked out in the fourth after tossing 3 1/3 innings and was followed to the mound by Larry Dibiaso, who went two frames, and McCarty, who finished up.
Beth-Center travels to West Greene today for a 4 p.m. section game. Geibel will be at Bentworth for a 4 p.m. section clash Thursday.
Brownsville also fell behind early as Charleroi (2-9, 1-4) pushed across a run in the first.
The Falcons jumped on top in the third as Chad Rice, Kevin Garbutt and Dom DeCarlo each delivered a run-scoring single and Corey Watkins hit a sacrifice fly.
That was enough for wining pitcher Garbutt, who allowed five hits and five walks with one strikeout in going the distance.
The Cougars trailed 6-2 in the bottom of the seventh before scoring twice and bringing the tying run to the plate in Corry Medved, who had earlier doubled. Garbutt got Medved on a soft liner to shortstop Rice, though, to end the game.
DeCarlo was 4 for 4 with and RBI and Scott Fraley doubled for Brownsville.
Starter Greg Hazy went four innings and took the loss.
The Falcons surge to the top of the standings has even impressed their coach.
“I’m pleasantly surprised,” said Brownsville coach Scooter Roebuck said, who isn’t claiming the section plaque just yet. “In this section there’s no great team and no bad team. Everybody is so equal, I think it’s still up for grabs. It just comes down to who plays better on that particular day. There’s no easy team out there.
“But if keep throwing strikes and putting the bat on the ball, we’ll be alright.”
Brownsville hosts Washington in another section contest at 4 p.m. on Thursday.
Laurel Highlands 6, Ringgold 3 – Sophomore Nick Midlik gave Laurel Highlands a huge lift with a complete-game performance as the Mustangs avenged a 14-2 home loss to Ringgold last week with a win on the Rams’ field.
The victory keeps coach Tom Landman’s team (5-4-1, 3-2) tied with Connellsville for second place in Section 2-AAA, one-half game in back of first-place Albert Gallatin.
Midlik allowed three runs on seven hits with just one walk and five strikeouts in improving to 2-0.
“I thought for a sophomore making his first start, he couldn’t have done much better,” Landman said. “He pitched outstanding. He kept Ringgold’s hitters off balance all game.”
The Rams scored a run in the second, but LH countered with a run in the third and another in the fourth to go up 2-1.
The Mustangs went in front to stay with four runs in the fifth as Greg Palladino and Paul Metz drew bases-loaded walks, Justin Guittap brought in a run when he was safe on an error and Andre Rolaf hit a sacrifice fly.
The Rams scored twice off Midlick in the sixth to make it 6-3, but Midlik finished up with a scoreless seventh to secure the win.
Justin Luckey had two hits for Laurel Highlands, which travels to Mount Pleasant for a non-section game on Thursday at 4 p.m., then hosts Connellsville in a key section game on Saturday at 12 noon.
Mapletown 10, Avella 1 – Justin Corso improved to 7-0 and homered as Mapletown routed Avella to remain in a three-way tie for first place in Section 1-A with Carmichaels and Chartiers-Houston.
Curso allowed one unearned run on four hits with no walks and five strikeouts in five innings. Jayce Donley wrapped up the win with two scoreless frames in relief.
The Eagles (2-9, 1-4) took a 1-0 lead in the first, but coach Jay Donley’s Maples (11-3, 5-1) tied it with a run in the second then tallied three in the third to take a lead they would not relinquish. Corso hit a two-run homer in the inning and Matt Brown, who had two hits and two RBIs, smacked a run-scoring single later in the inning.
Mapletown all but put the game away with a five-run fifth when it knocked out Avella starter and losing pitcher Ron Brandenburg.
Chris Petrick had two hits and an RBI, and Cory Dillinger doubled for the Maples.
Brandenburg doubled for the Eagles.
Chartiers-Houston 12, West Greene 1 – Justin Benson came within one out of a no-hitter in leading Chartiers-Houston to a five-inning Section 1-A win over host West Greene.
Benson walked four and struck out eight.
Freshman Travis Crouse hit a clean single to right in the bottom of the fifth for the Pioneers’ only hit.
Benson, Brady Yevins, Marc Moury and Dan France each had a double for the Buccaneers (10-2, 5-1).
Joey Welch walked one and struck out one in taking the loss for West Greene (1-11, 0-6).
Carmichaels 10, Jefferson-Morgan 0 – Jared Lapkowicz and Andy Mazur combined on a five-inning one-hitter as Carmichaels kept pace with Chartiers-Houston and Mapletown atop the Section 1-A standings with a win over visiting Jefferson-Morgan.
Mazur went 2 for 3 with a triple and an RBI, and pitched the final two innings for the Mikes (10-1, 5-1). Lapkowicz, who improved to 4-0, hurled the first three frames. Jamie Kowalczyk also went 2 for 3 with a double, and Colby Giles scored three runs.
Carmichaels scored four in the first, four in the second and two in the third.
The Rockets fell to 6-5 overall and 1-4 in the section.
Shade 10, Turkeyfoot 0 – Shade scored seven unearned runs in defeating Turkeyfoot Valley in a West-Pac game.
Nick Lane struck out five with no walks and allowed only a single by Chad Barkley in the fourth inning.
Seth Livengood took the loss for the Rams (5-5, 4-3) after being knocked out in the second inning. Mike Hartman finished up in relief.
Shade improved to 7-1 overall and 6-0 in the conference.
Girls softball
Carmichaels 5, Jefferson-Morgan 1 – Sarah Pavel broke a 1-1 tie with a two-run double in the fifth inning to lift Carmichaels to a Section 1-A win over visiting Jefferson-Morgan.
Coach Al McMinn’s Lady Mikes (10-1, 5-0) took a 1-0 lead in the first when Angie Lasko walked, stole second, went to third on a ground out and scored on a passed ball.
The Lady Rockets (5-6, 2-2) tied it in the fourth. Losing pitcher Kelli Waligora started the rally when she reached base after striking out as the ball got away. She stole second and scored on Balazick’s single.
Carmichaels pulled in front in the fifth when Jamie Menhart walked, Jessica McMinn singled and Pavel delivered her clutch double.
The Lady Mikes added two more runs in the sixth. Amber Willis singled amd Meghan Wood then tripled home pinch-runner Andrea Swestyn. Dottie Virgili followed with a run-scoring single.
Winning pitcher Melissa Metcalf (10-1) gave up five hits and three walks with five strikeouts. Waligora allowed eight hits and five walks with four strikeouts.
McMinn had two hits for the Lady Mikes.
McCann had a double for J-M.
Carmichaels hosts Chartiers-Houston in a key section game on Friday at 4 p.m. The Lady Mikes won the first meeting between the two, 10-6.
Beth-Center 7, Geibel Catholic 2 – Winning pitcher Chelsea Stotka struck out 14 batters and allowed only two hits, as the host Lady Bulldogs captured a Section 6-A contest.
Breanne Paletta was 2 for 4, including a double, an RBI and three runs scored. Kim Urcho added two singles and scored twice.
Beth-Center improves to 8-6 overall and 5-0 in Section 6-A.
Carrie Gessner suffered the loss, allowing 10 hits.
California 9, Brownsville 6 – Winning pitcher Allison Edwards struck out 10 and Amy Wohar tripled and singled as California beat host Brownsville in a non-section clash.
Edwards, who also tripled, walked five and gave up nine hits.
Katey Doman and Lindsay Taylor doubled for the Lady Trojans (5-7).
California used three walks, two passed balls and a single to score three runs in the first and held on from there. The Trojans led 5-3 before plating two runs in each the fourth and fifth innings to take a 9-3 advantage.
Gina Pelehac, who drove in four runs with two hits, smashed a two-out, three-run double in the seventh to pull the Lady Falcons (4-6) within two, but Edwards got Maggie Craig on a game-ending fly out.
Craig went 3 for 5, Amanda Voytovich tripled, and Amanda Mitchell and losing pitcher Lindsey Zidek both doubled for the Lady Falcons. Zidek struck out five and walked seven.
Brownsville returns to Section 7-AA play today with it hosts McGuffey at 4 p.m.
Bentworth 20, Mapletown 4 – Toni Trew went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs as Bentworth rolled past Mapletown in a six-inning, non-section game.
Jenny Johns allowed four hits and seven walks with seven strikeouts in picking up the win, and added a double with the bat.
Tara Trew and Amanda Kuranski also doubled for the Lady Bearcats (9-3).
Christina Wamsley led the Lady Maples (0-10) with two hits and two RBIs. Liz Novak walked two and struck out one in taking the loss.
Bentworth scored five runs in the first and three in the second for an 8-0 lead and never looked back.
Mapletown will take part in a tournament at Clay-Battelle on Thursday.
Boys track
Southmoreland 108, Trinity Christian 40 – All that stands between the Scotties’ fifth-consecutive Section 3-AA title and an undefeated season is Thursday’s home meet against rival Mount Pleasant after Southmoreland easily dispatched the Falcons at home.
Southmoreland (7-0, 7-0) won two of three relays and 12 of 15 individual events.
Tim Fratto was once again a steadying force for the Scotties by winning the long jump (20-1) and triple jump (42-7) and placing second in the 100. He also anchored the victorious 400 relay team.
Brian Connors took first place in the 110 high hurdles and the 200, and Larry Earnesty outran the field to win the 1,600. Connors also ran a leg in the 400 relay.
Greg Leonard won the shot put (40-11) and discus (122-7).
Waynesburg Central 124, Bentworth 14; Waynesburg Central 107, Beth-Center 37 – The Raiders overpowered the Bearcats and Bulldogs for a pair of easy Section 5-AA victories. The Raiders (7-0, 9-0) host West Greene Thursday afternoon in the section finale for a chance to win the outright section title.
Waynesburg won all but two events against Bentworth and three against Beth-Center. Frank Bryan was first in the 400 (52.4) and 800 (2:16) for the Raiders. Scott Cree had a successful day with wins in the 100 (11.3) and long jump (19-61/2). Eric Conklin was victorious in the 100 high hurdles (17.4) and pole vault (11-0).
Aaron Beck was a two-time winner for the Bulldogs. The distance runner won the 3,200 (11:59) and 1,600 (5:14). Mike Morgan won the 300 intermediate hurdles (45.66) for Beth-Center.
Girls track
Southmoreland 117, Trinity Christian 23 – The Lady Scots assured themselves of at least a share of the Section 3-AA crown with an easy win over the Lady Falcons at home. Southmoreland (7-0, 7-0) hosts Mount Pleasant Thursday afternoon in the section finale.
Dana Frund swept the throws for Southmoreland, winning the shot put (31-5), discus (94-1) and javelin (103-0). The Lady Scots won all 27 throwing points.
Southmoreland had the same success in the jumping events. Leah Zeman (long jump), Cara Petonic (triple jump) and Ally Richardson (high jump) led a 27-point sweep. Petonic won the 300 intermediate hurdles while teammate Heather Graft took first in the 100 high hurdles.
Beth Wisniewski finished ahead of the field to win the 800. Kelsey Love (3,200) and Maria Rendine (1,600) also won distance races for the Lady Scots.
Waynesburg Central 139, Bentworth 5 – The Lady Bearcats could only muster one second and two third place finishes against the Lady Raiders.
Helen Higgins won three events with first place finishes in the discus (97-7), shot put (37-5) and 200. Clarissa Mirkovich won the 1,600.
Beth-Center 80, Waynesburg Central 69 – The Lady Bulldogs received strong performances from Rebecca White, Sarah Sckena and Samantha Slagle to win a Section 5-AA meet on the road. Waynesburg Central goes to 3-4 in the section and 4-5 overall.
Slagle showed her versatility by winning the 300 intermediate hurdles (51.31), long jump (13-9) and javelin (113-5). White won the 1,600 and 3,200 while Sckena, a freshman, won the 100 and 200.
Danielle Hutchinson had second place finishes in the javelin, discus and shot put. Jennifer Carroll had second place finishes in the 100 high hurdles and 100.
Boys Tennis
Connellsville 5, Canon-McMillan 0 – The Falcons blasted the visiting Big Macs in Section 5-AAA action.
Josh Martin, Gene Cunningham and Randy Richter each won singles matches, while the duo of Troy Smith and Wade Schnorr captured a doubles match. The doubles team of Joe Teets and Scott Campbell won by forfeit.
Connellsville (11-1, 7-1) returns to action today, traveling to Trinity Wednesday for a 3:30 p.m. match.
Mount Pleasant 5, California 0 – Mount Pleasant swept all five matches in straight sets in defeating host California in a Section 1-AA match.
Jarrod Pagac put up a solid fight for the Trojans (1-6, 1-6), falling at No. 2 singles to Pat White, 6-3, 6-4. Brian Hauser beat Phillip Keefer at No. 1 singles and Pat White topped Jarrod Pagac at No. 3 singles.
In doubles action, Kurt Van Horn and Dan Wikartosky defeated Ryan Drupp and Frank Turosik, and Mike Whipkey and Jake Solomon knocked off Orval Watson and Jessica Ellsworth.
California hosts Greensburg Central Catholic at 4 p.m. today.
Men’s baseball
Waynesburg 14, Grove City 4 – Waynesburg wrapped up first place and earned the right to host the Presidents Athletic Conference tournament with a win over visiting Grove City.
The Yellow Jackets (20-14-1, 10-5) will play Bethany in the first round at 12 noon on Thursday. Westminster will play Thiel in the other matchup at 3 p.m.
Brad Baker went 3 for 5 with three RBIs for Waynesburg, and Adam Dembiski and Steve Mahler each had two hits and three runs scored.
Kevin Krescanko had two hits, a sacrifice fly and a stolen base, and Brian Gerginski had one hit, one sacrifice fly, one sacrifice bunt for the Yellow Jackets.
The score was tied 2-2 when Waynesburg pushed across three runs in the sixth as Mahler and Baker delivered RBI singles.
The Yellow Jackets erupted for seven runs in the eighth. Eric Holt began the rally with a triple and scored on Bill Tenney’s single. George Taylor bashed a two-run homer and Jason Tremblay smacked a two-run single in the frame.
Dan Coghlan picked up the win in relief of starter Matt Cross.
CCAC Boyce 6, Penn State-Fayette 5 – Ryan Gondek cracked four hits, but it wasn’t enough as Penn State-Fayette Campus fell to host CCAC Boyce in a non-conference game.
The Roaring Lions (6-9) took a 5-4 lead with a run in the top of fourth, but Boyce moved ahead with two runs in the seventh and winning pitcher Dan Green made it stand up over the final two frames.
Green (2-3) struck out six, walked one, hit two batters and gave up 11 hits in tossing a complete game for Boyce (4-11).
Fayette’s Matt Kibe also went the distance, giving up four earned runs on 10 hits with four walks and seven strikeouts.
Bob Cash homered and Jared Dettore tripled for Boyce.
Brandon Firestone doubled for the Roaring Lions, who host Penn State-New Kensington in a conference doubleheader on Saturday at 12 noon.