Local roundup
Lady Trojans get first softball victory of season Amy Wohar’s two-run triple gave California the lead, and the Lady Trojans held off Avella, 4-3, Wednesday to pick up their first win of the season.
Trailing 2-1, California sophomore Laurel McCrory led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a single, her first career hit. Two outs later, Katie Doman worked a full count off losing pitcher Dianne Bedillion before drawing a walk.
Wohar then laced her triple, bringing home McCrory with the tying run and Doman with the go-ahead score. Wohar also scored on the play to make it 4-2 when the ball was thrown in wildly from the outfield.
“The triple and Doman’s walk were the game’s turning point,” said California fourth-year coach George Zarlino. “I knew if Katie could get on base, we had three good hitters coming up.”
Avella (2-1) then threw a scare into the hosts in the top of the seventh inning. With two outs, Melissa Giagich, Ashley Collett and Ashley Clemmans singled to make it 4-3 and set the table for Jessica Dubin, who had already singled twice.
Winning pitcher Alison Edwards induced Durbin to pop up the ball short of third base, and McCrory then made a diving, game-ending catch.
“It was a nice win for our girls,” Zarlino said. “They were 0-3 and getting a little down. But they put the bat on the ball better today. Alison Edwards had been struggling a little in our first three games, but she came around today. Our defense did as well.”
Edwards tossed a complete game, striking out four without walking a batter. Bedillion struck out nine and walked one.
After Avella took a 2-0 first-inning lead with a pair of unearned runs, California got a run back in the third inning when Jessica Lowe reached base on an error, stole second and scored when Doman singled to right field.
California (1-3) hosts Jefferson-Morgan Friday.
Belle Vernon 7, Peters Township 4 – Megan Flower worked five innings and allowed one run on three hits as the Lady Leopards picked up a non-section win at home.
Flower struck out three and walked one, as Belle Vernon improved to 1-0.
Ashley Merella and Corey Baron each pitched an inning as well.
Trailing 1-0, the Lady Leopards scored twice in the first inning and added three more in the second to take control of the game.
Belle Vernon’s Ashton Neil smacked a triple, while Elyse Biddle, Brooke Panepinto, Jillian Kunka, Nicole Pearce and Flower all had singles.
Kim Murphy suffered the loss, allowing all seven runs on six hits in six innings of work. She walked five and struck out five.
Boys track & field
Laurel Highlands 115, Derry 35 – Matt Humbert broke his own school record in the 110 high hurdles with a time 15.3 seconds as Laurel Highlands rolled to an easy Section 2-AAA opening win over host Derry.
Humbert also took home first place finishes in the 300 intermediate hurdles (45.0) and was also a part of the winning team in the 400 relay team (45.9) along with Alex Bota, Tony Patitucci, and Tim Wardell.
Patitucci also took home first place finishes in the javelin (146-11) and the long jump (18-7).
Ben Shinsky, Jay Cronin, Dave Sumego and Larry Brink finished in first place in the 3,200 meter relay with a time of 9:05. Brink was also part of the winning team of Jack Macioce, Steve Bobish and Chris Manges in the 1,600 meter relay.
Laurel Highlands is off to a 2-0 start with the win and their next meet will be on April 3 against Elizabeth-Forward.
Southmoreland 126, South Allegheny 24 – The Scotties took the first step to a fifth consecutive Section 3-AA with an easy road victory.
Tim Fratto was part of 20 points for Southmoreland (1-0, 1-0) with first place finishes in the long jump (20-1), triple jump (43-91/2), 100 (11.3) and as the anchor of the 400 relay. Larry Earnesty won the 1,600 (5:01) and Don Powell won the 110 high hurdles in 16.8 seconds.
Southmoreland won first places in all but the shot put, high jump and discus, sweeping seven of the individual events.
Girls track & field
Laurel Highlands 1081/2, Derry 411/2 – The Fillies had an easy time of it in their Section 2-AAA opener at Derry, taking first place in all but three events.
Mikie Monaghan won the 1,600 (5:34) and 800 (2:31), and was on the victorious 3,200 and 1,600 relays.
Diane Gmiter was a two-time winner in the shot put (37-9) and the javelin (105-9) as was Janelle Durany in the long jump (13-9) and triple jump (29-61/2). Other individual winners included Emily Bota (100), Danielle LaPresta (400), Deena Blanc (300 intermediate hurdles), Tyrissa Betters (high jump) and Amber Fuller (discus).
The Fillies improve to 2-0 overall.
Southmoreland 1111/2, South Allegheny 381/2 – The Lady Scots had no problem on the road, easily winning their Section 3-AA opener.
Dana Frund set a school record in the shot put with a throw of 32 feet, 73/4 inches. Frund also won the discus with a throw of 90-9.
Cara Petonic was victorious in the 100 high hurdles with Maria Rendine winning the 1,600 and 3,200. Beth Wisniewski picked up key points by winning the 800. The Lady Scots (1-0, 1-0) swept six individual events and won all three relays.
Boys tennis
Connellsville 5, Trinity 0 – The Connellsville boys tennis team remained undefeated as they blanked visiting Trinity in a section 5-AAA match-up.
Josh Martin kicked things off for the Falcons in the No. 1 singles match with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Jim Ramey. Gene Cunningham won the No. 2 singles match over David Leasure (6-3, 6-2).
“I thought we did pretty well today,” said head coach Don Campbell. “It’s early in the season and I think we’re playing well for this early in the season.”
In doubles action, Matt Ratai and Steve Haines defeated Trinity’s Travis Ellwood and Orrin Heath (6-0, 6-2) and the team of Kyle Lilley and Troy Smith defeated Russ Hanes and Wisley Wong (6-1, 6-0).
“We hope to pick it up in the season because the competition will get more difficult,” said Campbell.
The Falcons will visit Norwin on Friday in non-section at 3:30 p.m.
Women’s Tennis
California University of Pa. 6, Ohio Dominican College 3 – After dropping the No. 1 and 2 singles, the Vulcans rebounded to win four singles matches and two of three in doubles play in a non-conference win at Ohio Dominican.
Olga Gonzalez and Linda Escobedo dropped singles matches, and No. 1 and 2, respectively, but Kylie Corsi came through at No. 3 with a 6-0, 6-2 win over Chrissy Skiminko. Catalina Martinez followed with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Jamie Debuf and Renee James topped Abby Hornak, 6-2, 6-0 to give the visitors a 3-2 led.
California’s Daniella Zavalos closed singles play with a win by default.
In doubles action, Gonzalez and Escubedo teamed to top Christina Hamich and Becky Kane, 8-6, and Corsi and Martinez defeated Skiminko and Debuf, 8-6 to make it 6-3.
Ohio Dominican’s Hornak and Annie Givvenick picked up a win over James and Zavalas, 9-7, at No. 3 doubles.
California improves to 9-5 and returns to action with a road match at Baldwin Wallace.