Local roundup
Beth-Center rallies for 12-11 win over Charleroi Comebacks are becoming a habit for Beth-Center’s baseball team.
So far, coach Frank Pryor isn’t complaining.
The Bulldogs rallied for a victory for the second day in a row, scoring five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning Wednesday for a come-from-behind 12-11 victory over visiting Charleroi in Section 2-AA action.
Todd Chisler’s single to centerfield brought home Steve Hvizda with the winning run, completing Beth-Center’s second comeback in as many games.
On Tuesday, the Bulldogs trailed Brownsville, 7-1, before tying the game with two runs in the sixth inning and winning the game with a pair of runs in the seventh.
Against Charleroi, B-C trailed 4-0, 8-3 and 11-7 before staging the last-inning rally.
“The kids never quit,” Pryor said. “We’re playing with a lot of injuries right now. My two best pitchers have elbow problems and my starting right fielder isn’t playing.
“We’re playing a lot of young kids and they have answered the bell. To be honest, it’s been a lot of fun.”
Trailing by four runs and down to its final three outs, Beth-Center scored five times on Matt Stay’s two-run home run, John Lowden’s bases-loaded walk, Ryan Butka’s fielder’s choice ground ball and Chisler’s game-winning single.
Stay’s home run was his second of the young season and brought home Mike McCoy.
Beth-Center’s Nathan White went deep for the first time this year, with his two-run shot in the bottom of the fifth inning also plating McCoy and cutting Beth-Center’s deficit to 9-7.
Hvizda had three hits, including two doubles, and drove in three runs, while White knocked in three runs on a pair of hits.
Joe Tarley added two hits, including a double, and Chisler also chipped in two hits.
Matt Bodnar (1-1) picked up the win, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits in working the seventh inning.
Matt Stotka started and worked two innings, allowed four runs on five hits with one walk and one strikeout. Chisler then went two innings, allowed four runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk.
Derek Papakie was the Bulldogs’ third pitcher, working a pair of innings and allowing one run (unearned) on two hits. Papakie struck out one.
Justin Deutsch suffered the loss in relief of Zack Neil. Neil went the first six innings, allowing seven runs on eight hits with four walks and six strikeouts.
Deutsch was tagged for five runs on three hits in the bottom of the seventh inning.
For Charleroi, Tris Chacko had four hits, including a double, while Colton Ramsdale tripled and doubled, and Deutsch and Neil both had two hits, one of Neil’s going for three bases.
Beth-Center improves to 3-4 overall and 3-0 in Section 2-AA, while Charleroi falls to 4-4 overall and 2-2 in section play.
The Bulldogs host Waynesburg Central today at 1 p.m.
Mapletown 8, California 2 – The Maples won for the first time in Section 2-A, erupting for six third-inning runs against the host Trojans.
Winning pitcher Jesse Boord drove in two runs with a single, Nick Popernack added an RBI-single and three runs scored on a pair of errors in Mapletown’s big inning.
Boord picked up the win, tossing a complete game four-hitter. He struck out five and walked just one batter.
Ben Carson started and suffered the loss, working 2 1/3 innings. He allowed six runs (five earned), seven hits, struck out two and walked three.
Matt Hartman, Travis VanOlst and Mike Galis also pitched for California.
Boord and Popernack had two hits apiece for Mapletown, which won for the first time in three Section 2-A games. Popernack’s inside-the-park home run in the top of the fifth inning gave the Maples a 7-0 lead.
Calfornia (4-4, 2-1) scored twice in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Mapletown added an insurance run in its final at bat.
Hartman had California’s lone extra-base hit, a double.
The Trojans travel to Carmichaels today at 3 p.m. for a key Section 2-A game.
Geibel Catholic 12, West Greene 2 – Dean Lewandowski homered, and John Maczko scattered six hits over six innings as the Gators breezed past the Pioneers in Section 1-A action.
Maczko (2-0) struck out three and walked two, as the game was called after six innings because of the 10-run rule.
Mario Fragello had a two-run double and Brandan Constantino a two-run single in the top of the first inning as Geibel (3-5, 1-3) took a 5-0 lead.
Lewandowski’s two-run shot with one out in the top of the second inning brought home Sam Manna, and after West Greene scored a run in the bottom half of the second, Geibel made it 9-1 on an error and Maczko’s fielder’s choice ground ball an inning later.
The Gators scored runs on an error, Brandon Noonan’s fielder’s choice and a Constantino single single in their final at bat.
Constantino wound up with three hits.
“We made all the plays we had to and didn’t allow an unearned run,” said Geibel Catholic coach Mark Riggin. “John threw strikes and we made the plays behind him.”
Troy Smith suffered the loss, starting and lasting just 1/3 of an inning. He allowed two hits, three walks and five runs (four earned).
Geibel travels to Mapletown today at 1 p.m. for a makeup Section 2-AA game.
Brownsville 13, Southmoreland 4 – Mike Rhodes drove in three runs with a pair of doubles and Nick Eadie tossed a complete game as Brownsville hammered Southmoreland in a Section 2-AA game at Redstone Field.
The Scotties pushed across a pair of runs in the first, but coach Skooter Roebuck’s Falcons came back with two of their own in the bottom of the frame and two more in the second to go ahead for good.
Brownsville (3-6, 2-1) led 5-3 before scoring four runs in the fourth and another in the fifth for a commanding 10-3 advantage and cruised home from there.
Eadie allowed seven hits and one walk with one strikeout, and had three of the Falcons’ 17 hits.
Neil Novak and Mike Mihalsky each had three hits and two RBIs for Brownsville. Justin Gibson also drove in two runs. Dave Notvotney doubled and singled, Nick Jellots also had two hits, and Matt Szuch tripled.
Dave Hyde knocked in a pair of runs with a double and a single for the coach Brian Hyde’s Scotties (1-5, 1-2). Justin Schwartz, who was knocked from the mound in the fourth inning, took the loss.
The Falcons are in action again at noon Saturday when the host Laurel Highlands in a non-section game.
In games where no details were reported to the Herald-Standard:
Derry 8, Laurel Highlands 5 – The Trojans kept the Mustangs winless in Section 2-AAA action.
Laurel Highlands has lost five straight and falls to 1-6 overall and 0-4 in section play.
Norwin 11, Uniontown 0 – The Knights shut down the Red Raiders in Section 2-AAAA action.
Uniontown has lost four straight after opening the season 2-1-1. The Red Raiders fall to 2-6-1 overall and 0-4 in Section 2-AAAA.
McGuffey 4, Belle Vernon 2 – The Highlands doubled up the host Leopards in Section 4-AAA action.
Belle Vernon (2-6, 1-2) were coming off a 15-3 win over West Mifflin Tuesday.
Girls Softball
Beth-Center 11, California 0 – Sophomore Geri Whitman struck out 20 hitters and hurled her second no-hitter this season, as the Lady Bulldogs shut out the Lady Trojans in Section 1-A action.
The only batter to reach base against Whitman was Amanda McCula, who led off the bottom of the first inning with a walk.
“It was a great effort on her part,” said B-C coach Frank Mazeppa. “She walked the leadoff batter and that was it.”
Whitman tossed a no-hitter earlier this season against Castle Rock, Ky.
At the plate, Whitman helped herself with a double and two RBIs, while Leyland Soloman and Amanda Bolin both had two hits.
Beth-Center’s Amanda Higinbotham tripled, while Courtney Kurowski and Catilyn Bowen added two-base hits.
Liz Shaw suffered the loss, allowing eight hits with five strikeouts and four walks over seven innings.
Beth-Center (3-3, 1-0) returns home today, hosting defending WPIAL Class AA champion Waynesburg Central in an exhibition at 1 p.m.
Jefferson-Morgan 3, Carmichaels 0 – Sophomore Emily Cottle tossed her first no-hitter, as the Lady Rockets blanked the Lady Mikes in Section 2-A action.
Cottle (5-4) went seven innings, struck out eight and walked two.
“She did a nice job,” said J-M coach Scott Moore. “She’s getting a little more confident. It’s nice to see her have a nice game like that.”
Carmichaels’ Courtney Newland suffered the loss, allowing six hits while striking out eight and walking two.
Jefferson-Morgan (6-5, 2-1) took a 1-0 second-inning lead when Ashley Naylor’s single brought home Ashley Phillips.
The Lady Rockets made it 3-0 an inning later when Lindsay Olson singled in Erin Barbetta and later scored on a throwing error.
Jefferson-Morgan returns to action Monday, traveling to California at 2 p.m.
West Greene 2, Avella 1 – The Lady Pioneers followed one of their biggest wins in recent history with another victory, as they edged the Lady Eagles in Section 2-A action.
Kayla Hildreth and Sarah Burns reached base on errors to begin the bottom of the seventh inning. After two sacrifice attempts failed to advance the runners, Kayla Burns dropped a game-winning single into right field.
Rebecca Burns (4-1) tossed a complete game five-hitter, striking out eight and walking just one. She helped her own cause with a pair of hits.
West Greene (6-2, 3-0) took a 1-0 lead in its first at bat when Rebecca Burns singled, stole second and scored on Rachel Burns’ double.
Avella tied the game with a run in the top of the second inning.
“Avella is a good team,” said West Greene coach Bill Simms. “They had won a big game over Jefferson-Morgan and I was worried my kids would be flat after a huge win against Chartiers-Houston Tuesday.”
West Greene defeated Chartiers-Houston, the defending WPIAL Class A champions, 2-1, Monday.
“We’re trying to build on every positive we can,” Simms said. “I don’t want the win over Chartiers-Houston to be our season highlight. I have a veteran group of some seniors and a nice mix of freshman who have played a lot of games the past couple years.
“I think we’re riding high right now and I think we have to get refocused.”
Chelsey Brownlee went the distance and suffered the loss, allowing four hits with four strikeouts.
West Greene has a makeup game scheduled at home today against Hundred at 5 p.m.
Southmoreland 14, Derry 0 – Ashley Sullenberger tossed a two-hit shutout and was 4 for 4 with 3 RBIs as host Southmoreland notched its first win of the season in impressive fashion over Section 2-AAA foe Derry.
Sullenberger and Gina Hart both doubled in an eight-run first inning, and the Lady Scotties (1-4, 1-2) pushed across six more in the second.
Sullenberger, who also tripled, struck out four and walked none.
Nikki King had two hits and three RBIs for Southmoreland, Hart drove in three runs and Amanda Leonard knocked in two.
Jocelyn Pynos was the losing pitcher for the Lady Trojans (1-7, 0-2).
Southmoreland doesn’t hit the diamond again until next Wednesday when it travels to Laurel Highlands for a 4 p.m. section clash.
Frazier 12, Monessen 2 – Jessica Barcelo tossed a complete game three-hitter and Jackie Higbee homered twice as the Lady Commodores topped the Lady Greyhounds in Section 1-A action.
Barcelo (2-2) struck out six and walked two, as Frazier improved to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in Section 1-A.
Higbee drove in four runs, while Kristen Miller was 4 for 4, including a triple. Miller reached base five times.
The Lady Commodores’ Marissa Pasquale and Katie Oldham added doubles.
Frazier jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead, added a run in the second inning and three more in the third inning.
Carly Cocciolone suffered the loss.
The Lady Commodores return to action Monday, traveling to California for a 2 p.m. game.
In games where no details were reported to the Herald-Standard:
Franklin Regional 8, Laurel Highlands 2 – The Fillies dropped a Section 2-AAA game at the Lady Panthers.
Laurel Highland falls to 1-4 overall and 1-2 in Section 2-AAA.
Thomas Jefferson 8, Uniontown 0 – The Lady Raiders were shut out by the Lady Jaguars in a Section 4-AAA contest.
Uniontown (2-5, 0-2) lost for the third straight game.
Bentworth 6, Geibel Catholic 5 – The Lady Gators were nipped by the Lady Bearcats in a Section 2-A contest.
The loss snaps a four-game Geibel winning streak and drops the Lady Gators to 4-2 overall and 1-1 in section play.
Brownsville, Charleroi – A Section 2-AA match-up between the Lady Falcons and Lady Cougars postponed.
Boys Tennis
Connellsville 5, West Mifflin 0 – The Falcons did not drop a set in a Section 5-AAA sweep of the the visiting Titans.
At No. 1 singles, Scott Campbell shut out Andy Bednar, while Brandon Stafford picked up a 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 at No. 2 singles. In the final singles match, Blake Michaux defeated Craig Savolskis, 6-3, 6-4.
In No. 1 doubles action, Storm Grimm and Dave Witt teamed to defeat Mike Bell and Pete Gentile, 6-4, 6-2, while at No. 2 doubles, Jon Ambrisco and Chris Coffman knocked off Tony Keller and Randy Marchalletta, 6-0, 6-2.
Connellsville improves to 4-3 overall and 3-0 in Section 5-AAA.
“I think the nice weather brought out the best tennis in us,” said Connellsville coach Don Campbell. “I thought we played very well, especially our singles players.”
The Falcons return to action Monday, traveling to Mount Pleasant for an exhibition match at 3:30 p.m.
Men’s Baseball
Grove City 5, Waynesburg 4 – Bryan Pierott’s bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 11th inning brought home Ben Wilson with the winning run as the Wolverines edged the Yellow Jackets in Presidents’ Athletic Conference action.
Wilson drew a leadoff walk off losing pitcher Adam Sattler to start the bottom of the 11th inning and after an error and bunt single, the bases were loaded. Wilson then scored the winning run when Pierott’s ground ball made it through the left side of the infield.
Grove City (15-5, 7-3) rallied from a 4-1 deficit, tying the game with three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. After the Wolverines’ first four batters reached base, Wilson delivered a bases-clearing double to tie the game.
Brian Gerginski and Brandon Steele had three hits apiece for Waynesburg (11-11-1, 3-4).
The Yellow Jackets took a 1-0 lead when Grove City balked home a run in the top of the second inning. Waynesburg made it 2-0 on Ryan Group’s RBI-single in the fifth.
The Wolverines cut their deficit in half in the bottom of the sixth inning Bryan Pierrot singled to lead. With one out, Grove City loaded the bases before Ray Martz’s sacrifice fly brought home Pierrot to make it 2-1.
Waynesburg College made it 3-1 in the top of the seventh when Gerginski doubled and scored on a wild pitch.
The Yellow Jackets added to their lead when Steele singled home Gerginski from third base.
Reliever Justin Miller picked up the victory, tossing two scoreless innings.
Ryan Carr started and worked the first eight innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on 11 hits.
Waynesburg’s Matt Popiokowski started and worked 7 1/3 innings, allowing one run on three hits. He walked six and struck out two.
Brad Griffith recorded the final two outs of the seventh inning, and Landon Sinclair followed with two scoreless innings.
Gerginski was 3 for 5 with two runs scored, while Steele went 3 for 4 with an RBI and run scored.
Pierrot went 2 for 6 and scored a run.
Waynesburg and Grove City continue their three-game set today with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Madison Field.
Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus 14, Penn College 5 – Jamie Kowalczyk reached base six times and Bob Madison tossed a complete game eight-hitter as the Roaring Lions picked up a PSUAC victory Tuesday night.
Kowalczyk was 4 for 4, walked and was hit by a pitch. He also stole two bases and scored three runs as Penn State-Fayette improved to 5-9 overall and 3-3 this spring.
Madison (1-3) allowed five runs (two earned), struck out five, walked two and hit four batters.
The Roaring Lions’ Phil Gratchic had two hits, including a double, and drove in four runs, while John Pochran knocked in three runs on a pair of singles.
Rich Schliehauf had two hits for the winners, including a double, and drove in two runs, while Jared Early tripled and scored three runs.
Penn State-Fayette returns to action today, traveling to Saint Vincent for a 3 p.m. contest.
Men’s Tennis
Waynesburg 8, Bethany 1 – The visiting Yellow Jackets dropped just one set in breezing past the Bison in Presidents’ Athletic Conference action Tuesday.
Bryan McAnulty defeated John McLane, 6-2, 6-2 at No. 1 singles, while Joe Koch blanked Joe McLane at No. 2 singles. At No. 3 singles, Kevin Houseknect defeated Brian Cerullo, 7-5, 6-2, while Drew Slater topped Jason Brun at No. 4 singles, 6-0, 6-1.
In the day’s most contested match-up, Waynesburg’s David Hayes edged Will Porter, 6-7 (6), 7-5, 10-8, while Dustin Cozad defeated Robert Lowe at No. 6 singles, 6-0, 7-6 (3).
Waynesburg won three doubles matches by scores of 8-5, 8-3 and 8-0.
Westminster 5, Washington & Jefferson 4 – The Titans swept the doubles competition, with Connellsville graduate Gene Cunningham teaming with Stefan Hadricky to top Matt Riddle and Shaleen Patel, 8-1.
Cunningham was defeated in singles action, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4 by Riddle.
College softball
Waynesburg 4-12, Thiel 3-0 – Autumn Minor and Dilanne Bedillion combined on a six-inning, three-hit shutout as Waynesburg completed a doubleheader sweep over visiting Thiel in PAC action on Tuesday.
Minor, who led Waynesburg Central to the WPIAL Class AA title last year, allowed two hits and no walks while striking out nine in five innings, and also had a two-run single.
Melissa Schrecengost had four hits, and Kristyn Klueg had two hits and three RBIs for the Lady Jackets (6-10, 2-0).
Waynesburg rallied for three runs in the bottom of the seventh in the first game with Schrecengost singling in one run and scoring the game-winner on an error.
Amanda Snoke gave up one earned run on six hits to earn the complete-game win. She walked none and struck out six.
Schrecengost, Klueg and Katie Slaughter had two hits apiece for the Lady Jackets.
W & J 4-5, Bethany 2-4 – Washington & Jefferson swept a doubleheader at Bethany for the first time in a decade to improve to 14-11 overall and 2-2 in the PAC.
Carmichaels graduate Melissa Metcalt, a sophomore third baseman, scored the tying run in the first game.
Track and Field
Carnegie Mellon Invitational – Waynesburg College picked up eight victories Tuesday, led by senior Ivan Hawkins’ three individual victories.
Hawkins claimed the 100 meters (11.12) and qualified for the ECACs in the process. His mark of 22.30 topped the field in the 200 meters and was an ECAC qualifier and his winning jump of 6.62 meters in the ling jump was also an ECAC qualifying mark.
The 4×100 relay team of Eric Daniels, Nick Emley, Hawkins and Dominick Hunter teamed for a first place and an ECAC berth with a time of 43.08.
Belle Vernon graduate and Waynesburg sophomore Nick Staffieri claimed first place in the high jump with a makr of 1.80, while teammate Dan Ross captured the javelin with a toss of 46.20 meters.
In women’s action, Michelle Propst won the 1,500 meters with a time of 5:05.04 and was second in the 800 meters with a mark of 2:29.96.
Amie Loughman captured the javelin with a throw of 31.13 meters, while the Yellow Jackets’ Tonya Lewis was second with a toss of 27.89.