Local roundup
Rockets cruise as Section 1 heats up Things are starting to get interesting in Section 1-A.
Very interesting.
Leading 6-1 when its game with California was suspended April 26, Jefferson-Morgan picked up where it left off and added five more runs Tuesday in cruising to an 11-2 victory over the Trojans in Section 1-A action.
The victory moves the Rockets to 10-5 overall, but more importantly, 7-3 in Section 1-A.
Bentworth, a 5-4 winner over Carmichaels Tuesday, leads the section with an 8-2 mark. California is tied with Jefferson-Morgan for second place, a game back, and Carmichaels and Geibel Catholic are tied at 5-3.
The top three teams qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.
“This week we have five games,” said J-M coach John Curtis. “We told the kids this week is your season. We’re either going to continue to play after next week or we’re going to bow out on May 9 when our regular season ends.”
Jefferson-Morgan has won five of its past six section games and has average 13 runs during the stretch. It made the most of nine hits against California, jumping out to a 6-1 lead before the game was suspended on April 26, and then scoring five more runs on Tuesday.
The Rockets took a 6-1 lead over California and ace left-hander Zack Jeney a week ago after scoring five runs in the top of the third inning.
Jeney wasn’t around Tuesday, after tossing a complete game two-hitter against Carmichaels Monday. When the game was resumed, Jefferson-Morgan scored four runs off California’s Travis VanOlst, and another off Ben Carson before Dustin Martinak finally stopped the bleeding with two innings of scoreless relief.
Mike Mox started the game back in April, and finished it Tuesday. He allowed a total of five hits, struck out eight and walked six.
Jefferson-Morgan scored a run in the top of the first inning when Ryan White walked, stole second and scored when Dave Montibeller’s grounder wasn’t handled for an error.
California answered with a run of its own in its first at bat when Mike Galis drew a one-out walk, stole second, advanced to third base on a wild pitch and scored when Matt Hartman singled.
The Rockets blew the game open in the top of the third inning. Montibeller reached on an error, Justin Falcon walked and Jarrod Moskola doubled in both runners for a 3-1 J-M lead. After Noah Pust walked, he and Moskola moved up a base on a passed ball and scored on Ryan Edwards’ two-run single.
The final run of the inning came around when Edwards scored on a fielders choice.
The game was then suspended in the bottom of the third inning.
When it resumed Tuesday, Jefferson-Morgan added a pair of fourth-inning runs when with one out, Falcon doubled and Moskola followed with a triple. Moskola later scored when Edwards singled and J-M led 8-1.
California pushed home a run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Brandon Rossi stroked a one-out single and stole second. Then, after two walks, Wade Stinnett’s fielder’s choice brought home Rossi.
In the fifth inning, Jefferson-Morgan’s Josh Harshman led off with a single and Travis Watson walked. White sacrificed both runners ahead, and after Montibeller struck out, Falcon belted a three-run home run to seal the win.
“We’ve hit the ball very well the last two days,” Curtis said. “It’s been warm and that helps. The pitchers have been doing their jobs as well. It’s been a group effort. We have to continue it against Mapletown tomorrow.
“Every game is now a playoff game.”
Edwards finished with three hits and three RBIs, while Falcon had two hits and three RBIs and Moskola drove in two runs on two hits.
For California, Ross was 2 for 3 and was also hit by a pitch.
Jeney’s final line read as follows: three innings, six runs (one earned), four hits with seven strikeouts.
Bentworth 5, Carmichaels 4 – The Mikes suffered a heart-breaking Section 1-A loss, falling by one run to the Bearcats even though three Carmichaels pitchers combined to allow just one hit.
Leading 4-3, Carmichaels’ third pitcher, Chuck Gasti, walked the bases loaded with two outs. Gasti then appeared to get out of the jam when he got a Bentworth batter to hit a comebacker, but Gasti was beat to first base by the runner, allowing the tying and eventual winning run to score.
Joby Lapkowicz started and worked 3 and 1/3 innings, allowing three runs. Bentworth scored three times in the bottom of the first inning on a walk, two Carmichaels errors and Lincoln Gibson’s single, the Bearcats’ lone hit.
Tom Musgrove worked 1 2/3 innings for Carmichaels before Gasti finished up.
With the game tied at 3, the Mikes took the lead in the top of the seventh inning when Lapkowicz doubled and later scored on Tim Voithofer’s single.
Voithofer had the hot bat for the Mikes, going 3 for 4 with three RBIs, while Ethan Virgili added two doubles.
Derek Jansante started and worked the first six innings for Bentworth, and winning pitcher Ryan Anderson recorded the final three outs.
Carmichaels drops to 6-5 overall and 5-3 in section play, while Bentworth improves to 11-2 overall and 8-2 in section play.
Uniontown 13, Mount Pleasant 0 – The Red Raiders just needed a little bit of home cooking to get their baseball season back on track.
Uniontown, playing on its home field at Wharton Park for the first time in over a month, clobbered Mount Pleasant in five innings in Section 2-AAA action.
Cory Over went 3 for 3 with a double and two RBIs, and Brandon Rumbaugh tossed a four-hitter for coach Rob Kezmarsky’s squad.
The victory snapped a six-game losing streak, all on the road, for Uniontown (4-7, 3-5). It was the Red Raiders’ first section home game of the season.
“We almost forgot what this field looked like,” Kezmarsky said. “It’s nice to play at home, and it’s good to see the kids bounce back after a heart-breaking loss against Derry.”
The Red Raiders scored two runs in the top of the eighth to take a 4-2 lead against the Trojans on Monday, but gave up three runs in the bottom of the inning. Uniontown would be tied with third-place Derry in the loss column had it hung on to win that game. Instead, the Red Raiders trail the Trojans, who lost at Laurel Highlands 11-6 today, by two games for the final playoff spot.
“To see our team respond so well after a game like that is a tribute to our kids,” Kezmarsky said. “It would’ve been easy to have been discouraged after a loss like that.”
Uniontown jumped on the Vikings (1-10, 1-7) for two runs in the first inning and seven in the second to go up 9-0. The Red Raiders pushed across four more runs in the fourth, then Rumbaugh pitched a scoreless fifth to end the game according to the 10-run rule.
Justin Guthrie tripled and singled, Mike Dvorchak doubled and singled, and Ryne Turner and Nick Apicella both also had two hits for Uniontown. Guthrie, Apicella and Dvorchak drove in two runs apiece.
Rumbaugh walked two and struck out five.
“Everybody was productive today for us,” Kezmarsky said.
The Red Raiders have six section games remaining, all at home.
“Anything can happen,” Kezmarsky said. “The kids are playing with a lot of effort. If we go on a nice little streak a home, we’ll be right back in the race.”
Losing pitcher Rick Bradley also pitched a complete game.
Uniontown hosts Indiana today at Wharton Park.
Latrobe 6, Albert Gallatin 4 – The Colonials tried their best to rally, but just fell short in a Section 2-AAAA game against the visiting Wildcats.
At one point, Latrobe (6-6, 4-5) led 5-1, but Albert Gallatin scored twice in the bottom of the fifth inning to pull to within 5-3. The Wildcats added a run in the top of the sixth inning, and Albert Gallatin answered with a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning.
Trailing 6-3, Albert Gallatin’s Charlie Lawrence led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a single. Colin Packroni then reached on an error, and with one out, A.J. Barnas delivered a pinch-hit single to load the bases.
Winning pitcher Brian Hantz walked Logan Howard to force in a run, but got Jon Angel to fly out to shallow right field for the inning’s second out.
Albert Gallatin’s Gene Franks then lined a shot that was grabbed for the final out when Latrobe shortstop dove to his right to make the catch.
“That was our chance right there,” said AG coach Sean Chory. “If that ball gets through, the game would have been tied.”
Hantz went the distance, scattering seven hits. He struck out five and walked one. Of the four runs he allowed, three were earned.
Mike Kubitza started and suffered the loss, starting and working into the seventh inning. Kubitza allowed six runs (two earned) on 10 hits. He struck out eight and walked one.
Albert Gallatin committed four errors.
“Our defense let us down today,” Chory said. “We didn’t’ get the timely hit and Latrobe made the plays.”
Latrobe took a 1-0 first-inning lead, but AG tied the game when Franks brought home Howard on a groundout in the bottom of the first inning. Howard had reached base on catcher’s interference and advance to third on Angel’s double.
Trailing 5-1, the Colonials scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Troy Volansky led off the frame with a double, and with two outs, Angel brought him home with an RBI-single. After a single by Franks, Angel scored when Kubitza singled.
Leadoff hitter Brent Heckel paced Latrobe with three singles and three runs scored, and Andrew Oshnock added two hits, including a double, and three RBIs.
Albert Gallatin drops to 5-7 overall and 2-6 in Section 2-AAAA.
Frazier 18, West Greene 1 – The Commodores made quick work of the visiting Pioneers in this Section 1-A contest.
Frazier (6-6, 3-6) scored six runs in the bottom of the first inning, five more in the second and ended the game with seven runs in the third.
The game was called after three innings because of the 15-run, three-inning rule.
Frazier has been on a roller coaster ride the past two days. On Monday, Jefferson-Morgan swept a doubleheader from the Commodores by a combined score of 34-7.
“Today was a lot better than yesterday,” said Frazier coach John Phillips. “We made plays today and we hit the ball. It’s nice to come back and hit the ball.”
The Commodores finished with 12 hits, including two each by Joe Kulikoski, Justin Berklovich and Craig Rebovich.
Kulikoski had the biggest blow, ending the game when he smacked a walk-off grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the third inning. It was Kulikoski’s third home run of the season.
Corey Martin, Jim Traynor and Matt Shaporka added doubles.
Dave Genua started, worked two innings and picked up the win. Genua (2-1) allowed just one hit, no runs and struck out two. Patrick Russell pitched the third inning and gave up one run on two hits. He also struck out three.
Frazier is in the middle of a busy week. Today, it travels to West Greene, then visits California Thursday and Carmichaels Friday.
“I’m trying to save my pitching arms,” Phillips said. “We have a lot ahead of us this week.”
Girls Softball
Laurel Highlands 8, Franklin Regional 6 – After suffering a tough loss to Section 2-AAA leader Greensburg Salem Monday, the visiting Fillies rebounded with a key section victory over Franklin Regional.
Laurel Highlands jumped out to a 7-1 lead, then held on after Franklin Regional rallied with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
The victory moves the Fillies to 8-6 overall and 6-3 in Section 2-AAA, and gives them a one-game lead over Yough for the section’s third and final playoff berth. Greensburg Salem leads the section at 9-0, followed by Franklin Regional at 9-2.
Stephanie Martin (31) picked up the victory, scattering nine hits over seven innings. Martin struck out two and didn’t walk a batter.
Laurel Highlands scored four runs in its first at bat on the strength of RBI-singles from Chelsea Grimm, Hannah Holchin, Megan Wyda and Kirsty Buckley.
The Fillies added three more an inning later after Ashley Haragos drove in a pair with a single and Rebecca Williams walked with the bases loaded.
Clinging to a 7-6 lead, LH added an insurance run on Haragos’ seventh-inning RBI-single.
Janet Smith suffered the loss, allowing seven hits and eight runs over seven innings. Smith struck out nine and walked two.
For Franklin Regional, Alissia Falcone doubled twice and tripled, and Ashley Dolan and Amy Vrcek also doubled.
Laurel Highlands returns to action Thursday with a key game against Yough. The Fillies host the game, which also marks Senior Day.
Beth-Center 5, Burgettstown 1 – The Lady Bulldogs’ Geri Whitman hurled her second one-hitter in as many days, this time handcuffing the host Lady Blue Devils in a Section 2-AA contest.
On Monday, Whitman held Charleroi to one hit in the first game of a doubleheader, which Beth-Center swept by a combined score of 29-0.
West Greene 12, Mapletown 2 – Rachel Burns allowed just four hits, and Sarah Burns went 4 for 4 with five RBIs as the Lady Pioneers remained in the hunt for the Section 2-A title with a dominating performance over the Lady Maples.
West Greene improves to 10-4 overall and 9-3 in Section 2-A, just one and one-half games behind first-place Carmichaels. Both teams have already clinched playoff berths.
The Lady Pioneers have three section games remaining. They host Frazier Thursday, entertain Carmichaels Friday in a game that will likely decide the section title and face Jefferson-Morgan next Tuesday at California University of Pa.’s Roadman Park.
West Greene has split its first two games with Carmichaels, losing its season opener, 5-3, before posting a 5-1 victory April 24. That game marked the Lady Mikes’ lone loss this season.
“I think we’re sitting pretty good right now,” said coach Bill Simms. “We have three big games left. If we win out, we still have a shot to win the section.”
Rachel Burns (10-4) went the distance, striking out two and walking four.
“She’s a grinder out there,” Simms said. “She’s feeling a little bit tired now because she’s our horse out there on the mound. She gives us a chance to win every time she goes out. Against Mapletown, she did everything we asked her to do. She kept the ball down and kept the ball in play. Most of her walks came in certain situations where she was trying to pitch around some of Mapletown’s top hitters.”
Along with Sarah Burns’ four hits, two of which were doubles, Maggie Fike added two hits and Katie Horr chipped in three RBIs.
Miranda Shipley suffered the loss, starting and lasting three innings. She allowed eight runs on seven hits with three walks. Kaitlyn Novak worked the final 1 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on four hits with one walk.
The game was called with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning because of the 10-run rule.
Penn-Trafford 4, Albert Gallatin 3 – The Lady Warriors broke a 1-1 tie with three runs in the top of the fifth inning, then held off the Lady Colonials for the Section 1-AAAA win.
Albert Gallatin (5-8, 4-8) rallied with two runs in their final at bat, but fell short of tying the game.
Jennifer Lewellen paced the Lady Colonials with four hits in four at bats, but also suffered the loss. She scattered eight hits, struck out two and walked one.
Kelly Lemmon earned the victory, allowing eight hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
Jessica Lint added two hits for AG, including a triple.
Jefferson-Morgan 11, Geibel Catholic 1 – The Lady Rockets’ Emily Cottle tossed a complete game three-hitter, and was backed by a 10-hit attack as J-M won easily in Section 2-A action.
After spotting Geibel a run in the top of the first inning, Jefferson-Morgan scored twice in the bottom of the second and once more in the third to take a 3-1 lead.
The Lady Rockets blew the game open with four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, before scoring twice in each of the fifth and sixth innings.
“We’re starting to hit the ball better,” said J-M coach Scott Moore. “We dug ourselves a hole (at the start of the season) that we’re trying to get out of. We lost some games early by one or two runs and we’re fighting to get in the playoffs.
“The kids are doing a nice job right now. They know what needs to be done.”
The victory lifts Jefferson-Morgan to .500, both overall (6-6) and in Section 2-A (5-5). The Lady Rockets currently occupy third place, one game ahead of Frazier (5-7).
Cottle (5-4) tossed the complete game, striking out eight and walking one.
Jefferson-Morgan’s Heather Herbert three-run home run was the big blow of the four-run fourth, and Herbert also scored three runs. Lindsey Olson added a pair of hits, including a double, and scored three times.
Cottle and Ashley Naylor had two RBIs each.
Chelsie Lasasky suffered the loss, allowing all 11 runs (seven earned) while striking out eight and walking one.
Geibel Catholic committed seven errors. The Lady Gators remain winless (0-12, 0-11).
Elizabeth-Forward 2, Waynesburg Central 0 – Lady Raiders’ freshman Emily Bosworth hurled a gem in her high school debut, but the Lady Warriors’ Lindsey Smith was just as sharp as E-F blanked Waynesburg in Section 4-AAA action.
Elizabeth-Forward (12-1, 11-1) won for the ninth straight game after scoring an unearned run in the top of the fifth inning, and adding some insurance when Hillary Holets led off the seventh inning with a solo home run.
Bosworth allowed just three hits, struck out seven and didn’t walk a batter.
“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Waynesburg coach Lou Giachetti. “She was outstanding. Emily was strong the whole game.”
The victory cements Elizabeth-Forward’s spot atop Section 4-AAA, with Belle Vernon two games back. Waynesburg is currently in third place with a 6-5 mark, and basically controls its own destiny as far as the playoffs go.
The Lady Raiders host West Mifflin today, then play host to fourth-place Ringgold in a key doubleheader Monday. Waynesburg closes out the regular season at McGuffey next Tuesday.
After starting the season 7-0, Waynesburg has lost five its past seven games, including three straight. On Monday, Belle Vernon defeated the Lady Raiders, 9-1.
“We had a tough game (Tuesday) after getting beat by Belle Vernon, 9-1,” Giachetti said. “My kids showed what they’re made of. Elizabeth-Forward is ranked second in the WPIAL, but they’re probably the top team. I’m real proud of how my kids responded.
“To lose five regular-season games is kind of different for us. Class AAA is pretty tough and so is this section. Somebody is not going to make the playoffs in this section and they will be a pretty good team. It’s all in our hands now.”
Kaylie Barger paced Waynesburg with two hits.
Smith picked up the win, allowing just four hits.
Boys Tennis
Latrobe 5, Connellsville 0 – Latrobe breezed past Connellsville in a Section 1-AAA match.
Micheala Kissel, Mark Wes and and Chase Staub picked up singles victories, while the doubles teams of Jeff Sisson-Bryan Joseph and Bobby Rogers-Greg Scacela also won.
Kissel defeated Connellsville’s Dave Witt, 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles, while Wes posted a 6-0, 6-2 win over Blake Michaux. At No. 3 singles, Staub topped the Falcons’ Chris Coffman, 6-3, 6-2.
Sisson and Joseph posted a 7-5, 6-4 victory over Andy Trump and Tom Hann, while Rogers and Scacela defeated Nick Nagy and Adam Kesler, 6-1, 6-2.
Connellsville closes its regular season at 2-10 overall and 2-10 in section play.
“The weather plagued us this year, and my mom passed away two weeks before the season started so I was going through some personal problems,” said first-year Connellsville coach Bill Ricks.
“I take some of the blame for not having enough practices, but if it wasn’t raining, it was too cold. We don’t have the indoor facilities to go out and compete with some of the other schools.”
Ricks took over the team after assisting Don Campbell for the past 20 years.
“We need some more practice. When we go out there and compete against teams who belong to racquet clubs, it’s tough. But our guys didn’t do too bad. Now, it’s up to our guys who want to play next year to go out and improve their game during the summer.
“Weather is always a factor for us because the season starts in March and we can’t get outside. You can only do so much in the gym. But we just have to hang in there. It takes time to bring the kids up.”