Local roundup
Trojans tighten grip on first place with 1-0 win over Mikes Zack Jeney ripped a one-out single in the bottom of the eighth after seven scoreless innings to give the California boys baseball team a 1-0 win over visiting Carmichaels in Section 1-A action Monday.
With the win, the Trojans have a two-game lead over Carmichaels and Geibel Catholic in the section and sit comfortably in first place.
“Both teams played well defensively and both teams got great pitching performances today,” said Carmichaels coach Dave Bates. “We had opportunities to score, and so did they, but both pitchers did a good job of working out of jams.”
Jeney also had a banner day on the mound with eight solid innings, 15 strikeouts and three walks, for his eighth victory on the season.
Joby Lapkowicz started the game for Carmichaels. He worked seven innings, fanned 11 batters and allowed one walk.
Bob Virgili came on in relief in the top of the eighth and hit leadoff batter Jason Britton.
Matt Hartman stepped to the plate and popped out to the shortstop, followed by J.D. Hawk’s single to left, which put runners on first and second with one out.
Jeney ripped a ground single to left field and scored Britton from second.
California stranded runners on base in the third and fifth innings and Carmichaels left men on in the bottom of the second.
“It was a great game by both teams,” said Bates. “It was a shame someone had to lose.”
California is back in Section 1-A action Wednesday at home against Geibel Catholic.
Carmichaels falls to 7-3 in the section and 11-3 overall.
Latrobe 11, Uniontown 9 – Latrobe exploded for seven runs in the top of the fourth inning, then held off the Red Raiders for the Section 2-AAAA victory.
Wes Newmeyer picked up the win, working six innings.
Cory Sawka suffered the loss, starting and working four innings. He allowed eight runs on nine hits.
Ryan Kennedy worked the next two innings, and Nick Apicella closed out the game for Uniontown, which drops to 5-9-1 overall and 1-7 in Section 2-AAAA.
Matt George, Ryan Robowski, Apicella, Rich Stevenson and Nathan Fike each had two hits for the Red Raiders, with Fike collecting a triple and double.
Uniontown returns to action Wednesday, traveling to Hempfield.
Laurel Highlands 12, Greensburg Salem 8 – Rich Kolear doubled, singled, scored three runs and drove in two as Laurel Highlands outlasted host Greensburg Salem in eight innings in Section 2-AAA action.
The Mustang bats were in full swing with teammate Zack Dascenzo doubled, singled and drove in three runs and Josh Riddell ripped a bases loaded single in the eighth that drove in two runs.
It didn’t end there as Mike Pegg, Cory Borland and winning pitcher Tyler Palermo each singled twice.
On the mound, Palermo came on in the fifth inning and struck out three.
Borland worked the first four innings and fanned six batters.
The Mustangs (4-6, 5-11) play Mount Pleasant Wednesday.
Bentworth 5, West Greene 2 – Buck Raber went 3-for-3, highlighted by a double, but fell short in Section 1-A action to host Bentworth.
Teammate Keith Watson also doubled.
Ryan Anderson kept the Pioneers at bay with five strikeouts and no walks over three innings.
Tyler Smith went on the books as the losing pitcher. He worked five innings, struck out four and allowed three walks.
The Pioneers (4-11) play Hundred (W.Va.) today at 5 p.m.
Frazier 7, Jefferson-Morgan 2 – Frazier erupted for six runs in the bottom of the seventh, and from that point on, it was smooth sailing as they rolled past Jefferson-Morgan in a Section 1-A contest.
In addition to his winning performance on the mound, Berklovich drove in two runs, as did teammate Tony Battaglini, who also doubled.
Joe Kulikoski also doubled for the Commodores.
Matt Barbetta had the lone extra base hit for the Rockets with a double. He also singled.
Losing pitcher Josh Lawrence struck out one and walked two.
Southmoreland 6, Waynesburg Central 2 – David Hyde went 3-for-3 with three singles and went the distance for Southmoreland in Section 2-AA action.
Hyde hurled the three-hitter over seven innings and struck out seven.
Troy Cree went on record as the losing pitcher. He worked five innings, allowed five runs and three walks.
At the plate, Cree tripled while teammates Nick Stewart and Brandon Rumbaugh doubled.
The Scotties are back in action Wednesday at home against Washington.
Softball
Thomas Jefferson 20, Uniontown 0 – It was a rough day at the office for the Uniontown girls softball team as Thomas Jefferson erupted for 11 runs in the fourth inning en route to a shutout victory in Section 4-AAA.
Kristen Veseleny, Leah Brickner and Lauren Withers each homered for TJ.
Monica Ziemski hurled the two-hitter, while Davidiene Jobes went the distance with no strikeouts, six walks and one hit batter.
The Lady Red Raiders (0-8, 2-13) looks to put on in the win column today against cross-town rival Laurel Highlands in non-section action.
Belle Vernon 3, McGuffey 2 – Belle Vernon picked up scores in the third and fifth innings en route to a Section 4-AAA victory over McGuffey.
Sarah Jolley paced the Lady Leopards with a double and single.
Alana Lacey singled twice and drove in a run and Kayla Nuccetelli and singled twice.
Ashley Merella picked up another victory on the mound for Belle Vernon with 13 strikeouts, four hits and two runs (none of which were earned).
Ashley Cantarali went home with the loss. She worked six innings, allowed seven hits, six strikeouts and walked two.
Belle Vernon (11-4, 6-2) travels to West Mifflin Wednesday in a section clash.
Frazier 10, Monessen 0 – Michelle Shanaberger had two hits and Kristen Miller added a three-run home run as the Lady Commdores blanked the Lady Greyhounds in Section 1-A action.
Winning pitcher Jessica Barcelo (6-4) worked five innings, allowed just two hits and struck out eight.
The game was called after five innings because of the 10-run rule.
Marissa Pasquale chipped in two hits.
Carly Cocciolone suffered the loss, working four innings and allowing seven hits and eight walks.
Frazier (7-4, 4-3) returns to action Wednesday, hosting Beth-Center at 4 p.m.
Mount Pleasant 7, Laurel Highlands 6 – Chelsea Nutter scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly as Mount Pleasant outlasted Laurel Highlands in girls Section 2-AAA action Monday.
Grace Ritenour tripled for the Lady Vikings, while Lenise Hauser and Amanda Ritenour each added two singles.
The Fillies picked up scores in the fourth, fifth, sixth and eighth innings highlighted by Kirsty Buckley’s three singles and three RBI’s.
Megan Wyda doubled twice, Jackie Gaddis once and Ashley Haragos added two singles.
Winning pitcher Jane Kromer fanned eight batters and allowed one walk and Stephanie Martin posted two strikeouts and a walk for LH.
Uniontown visits LH today in a makeup game starting at 4 p.m.
Bentworth 14, Geibel Catholic 11 – Miranda Myers and Stephanie Wytovich doubled for Bentworth, as they won the Section 1-A slugfest at Geibel Catholic.
Both teams combined for 29 hits, 13 in favor of Bentworth and 16 for the Lady Gators.
Despite the loss, Geibel’s Mia White tripled and singled.
Sabrina Szabo and Abbie Renze each had three hits, while Carrie Gessner and Beth Novotny each singled twice.
Alyssa Zrimsek struck out for and allowed all 16 Lady Gator hits.
Gessner struck out two and allowed no walks for Geibel.
The Lady Gators (7-7, 3-5) are back in action at Monessen Wednesday.
Beth-Center 4, California 0 – Geri Whitman recorded her fifth no-hitter this season, highlighted with 17 strikeouts as Beth-Center blanked California in Section 1-A action Monday.
Teammate Amanda Higinbotham went 4-for-4 with a home run in the fifth inning, a triple, two runs scored and an RBI for the Lady Bulldogs.
Losing pitcher Liza Shaw also went the distance striking out six and allowing seven walks and six hits.
Beth-Center (8-0, 9-4) looks to add another one to the win column Wednesday at Frazier.
West Greene 10, Avella 3 – Chelsey Jones and Kayla Hildreth drilled two home runs en route to a Section 2-A victory over Avella.
Jones, who went 2-for-4 with two RBI’s, slapped a solo shot in the fourth inning, followed by Hildreth’s three-run blast in the fifth.
Teammate Alyson Clark went 3-for-3 with and RBI.
Rebecca Burns (9-2) continues her domination on the mound with a two-hitter, 12 strikeouts and a walk.
Chelsea Brownlee fanned five Lady Pioneer batters and allowed one walk.
Section-leader West Greene (12-4, 7-1) plays Carmichaels at home Wednesday starting at 4 p.m.
Chartiers-Houston 16, Mapletown 0 – It was a rough day at the office for the Mapletown girls softball team as they dropped to 0-8 in Section 2-A with a shutout loss to Chartiers-Houston.
The Lady Buccaneers picked up seven first-inning runs and never looked back as they made quick work of the Lady Maples in four innings.
Michelle Greenawalt fanned four batters and allowed no walks for Chartiers and Ashley Chory walked seven and allowed no walks for Mapletown (0-8).
Sheryl Dinardo doubled for Chartiers and Brittany Jones tripled.