May 8, 2007 By The 8 min read

Mustangs clinch playoff berth Highlighted by Nick Erminio’s triple and two singles, Laurel Highlands clinched a playoff berth in Section 2-AAA with a 7-2 win over host Derry Monday.

With the win, the second-place Mustangs were catapulted to the top spot, as Indiana ousted Yough 3-1.

Winning pitcher Ethan Mildren was flawless for LH with a complete game, including eight strikeouts and four hits.

Bob Patton took the loss. He worked four innings, allowing five runs and six hits.

Mike Pegg lent a hand to the Mustang offense with two singles and three RBIs, while Jake Barnkart singled twice, scored two runs and drove in two.

Laurel Highlands (13-2, 9-2) plays Mount Pleasant at 4:15 p.m. today.

After the Mount Pleasant game, the Mustangs resume a suspended game against Kittanning.

Laurel Highlands takes on cross-town rival Uniontown Wednesday.

California 16, West Greene 1 – California erupted for 12 runs in the second inning en route to an easy Section 1-A three-inning win over visiting West Greene.

Currently, Cal sits atop the section at 10-2 and moves one step closer to securing a playoff spot with games against Geibel Catholic and Bentworth remaining on the schedule.

Matt Hartman nearly hit for the cycle against West Greene with a triple, double, single and five RBIs.

Teammate and winning pitcher Travis Van Olst tripled, singled and drove in two runs.

On the mound, Van Olst (3-0) hurled the one-hit complete game with three strikeouts and a walk.

The Trojan bats were in full swing as they posted 10 hits.

Ben Carson and Zack Jeney also doubled for Cal, while Waugh Carter singled twice and drove in two runs.

California improves to 16-2 and 10-2 in the section, and West Greene remains winless at 0-12 in the section and 0-15 overall.

Brownsville 13, Burgettstown 1 – Dan Harvey and P.J. Lanzi set the pace for playoff-bound Brownsville with a pair of three-run home runs en route to an easy Section 2-AA win over host Burgettstown.

The win secures no worse than a tie for the section title.

Harvey’s three-run shot came in the seven-run second inning, and Lanzi put the icing on the cake with his homer in the top of the fifth.

Harvey also singled, while Eric Landman went 3-for-3 with three singles.

Justin Gibson also tripled for the winners.

Mike Rhoads (6-1) picked up another win for the Falcons with a three-hitter. He fanned five batters and allowed no walks.

Tyler Lonchar took the loss. He worked two innings, allowed seven runs on six hits with a strikeout and three walks.

Brownsville (10-5, 9-1) takes on Charleroi at 4 p.m. today.

Burgettstown falls to 5-5 in the section.

Franklin Regional 13, Albert Gallatin 3 – With a slim chance of making the playoffs, Albert Gallatin’s hopes were dashed Monday with a home loss to Franklin Regional.

Seve Franceshelli tripled and doubled for the Panthers as they jumped out of the gate with three quick runs.

After the Colonials answered with a pair of runs in the third, Franklin Regional kicked it up a notch with five runs in the fourth and fifth innings to clinch the win.

Alex Buccilli, Joe Fornataro and Marc Cassella all doubled for Franklin Regional.

Albert Gallatin’s Elmer Engle accounted for two of AG’s three runs with a two-run homer in the third inning.

Teammate Gene Franks singled twice and scored a run.

Winning pitcher Mike Pelekanos worked three and two-thirds innings, while Mike Kubitza took the loss for AG.

Kubitza worked four innings with no strikeouts and three walks.

Albert Gallatin (2-8, 5-10) visits Penn-Trafford at 4 p.m. today.

Uniontown 8, Kittanning 7 – Ryan Turner ripped a two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning as Uniontown pulled a come-from-behind victory over visiting Kittanning in a Section 2-AAA showdown.

The Red Raiders trailed 6-4 going into the bottom of the seventh, but posted two scores in the seventh before Turner’s single gave them their fourth win this season.

The win knocked Kittanning out of the playoff picture.

Winning pitcher Brandon Rumbaugh went the distance, striking out seven for Uniontown.

Seth Rockwell doubled for Uniontown’s lone extra base hit.

Teammates Nick Apicella and Jason Guthrie each singled twice.

Uniontown (4-8) is back in action at 4 p.m. today at home against Derry.

Frazier 17, Mapletown 7 – Dave Genua doubled, singled twice and drove in five runs as Frazier upended host Mapletown in Section 1-A action.

The Maples led 6-3 going into the top of the fourth inning, but Frazier rallied for seven runs in its half of the inning and five in the seventh to secure the win.

Winning pitcher Patrick Russell came on in the fourth inning and posted one strikeout and one walk.

Ashly Menear went on record with the loss. He worked five and two-thirds innings with seven strikeouts and 10 walks.

Frank Jeffries had the hot bat for the Commodores with a two-run homer in the first inning.

Menear doubled and singled, while Don Hilenbrant doubled and singled for Frazier as teammates Craig Rebovich and Joey Kulikoski doubled.

The Commodores posted 11 total hits compared to Mapletown’s 10.

Mapletown (2-13, 2-11) visits Carmichaels at 4 p.m. Wednesday, and Frazier (8-7, 5-7) hosts Geibel Catholic also at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Charleroi 6, Beth-Center 2; Beth-Center 21, Charleroi 7 – Matt Stotka and Joe Tarley each stepped to the plate and cleared the bases with grand slams as Beth-Center cruised past Charleroi in the nightcap of a doubleheader Monday.

In the first game, Charleroi won 6-2.

In game 1, Charleroi led 3-2 through three innings, but the Cougars picked up runs late for the Section 2-AA win.

Mike Carcella nailed a two-run shot in the third inning.

Beth-Center’s Ryan Butka answered with a solo shot in the bottom of the inning.

Winning pitcher Isiah Bell fanned six batters and allowed two walks, while John Cherup came away with the loss. He worked three innings with a strikeout and five walks.

Nate White also doubled for the Bulldogs.

In the nightcap, Stotka was on fire with a bases-clearing shot in the first inning followed by a solo homer in the fifth.

Teammate Tarley cleared the bases in the fifth inning.

Todd Chisler tripled, singled and drove in four runs, while Butka also tripled and scored four runs.

Beth-Center’s Matt Bodnar also tripled.

Stotka also found time to pick up his first win on the mound for B-C.

The Bulldogs (4-10, 3-7) travel to Washington today for a 3:45 p.m. start.

Softball

Laurel Highlands 13, Uniontown 1 – Laurel Highlands took one step closer to securing a playoff spot in Section 2-AAA with a convincing win over visiting Uniontown.

The two teams square off again at 7 p.m. today at Uniontown. If the Fillies win today, they will qualify for post-season play.

Kirsty Buckley led the LH bats with a home run, followed by triples by Jackie Gaddis’ and Hannah Holchin.

Buckley also ripped two singles, while Holchin added a double, single and four RBIs.

Rebecca Williams picked up her fourth win for LH. She struck out two and walked one.

Uniontown’s Courtney Merschat was the loser. She struck out one and walked seven.

Megan Wyda doubled for LH as did Uniontown’s Caitlin Kaylock.

Tonight’s game at Uniontown is senior night for the Lady Red Raiders.

Waynesburg Central 3, Ringgold 1; Waynesburg Central 11, Ringgold 0 – Waynesburg Central clinched a playoff berth Monday with a pair of victories over Ringgold in Section 4-AAA action.

Courtney Orndoff had a banner day for the Lady Raiders. In the first game, she went 2-for-3 including a triple, and in the nightcap, she doubled twice en route to a 3-of-4 outing with six RBIs.

Lauren Minor was the winning pitcher in Game 1 with four strikeouts and two walks in seven innings of work.

Losing pitcher Amber Crompton struck out three and walked two.

Allison Johnson doubled for the Lady Raiders in the first game, while Emily Bosworth (2-for-3), Kaylie Barger (2-for-4) and Molly Henderson (2-for-3) were all multiple hitters.

Barger also drove in two runs.

In the nightcap, Waynesburg erupted for 11 runs on 19 hits, compared to just Ringgold’s two hits.

Johnson doubled twice for Waynesburg in Game 2 and drove in four runs.

Bosworth was 2-for-4 in the second game as were teammates Nikki Coleman and Barger.

Ashley Wilkinson and T.K. Kennedy singled twice.

The Lady Raiders (12-5, 9-5) play McGuffey on the road today and visit Connellsville Wednesday.

Jefferson-Morgan 6, Carmichaels 2 – Lindsay Olson doubled as Jefferson-Morgan downed section champion Carmichaels in a Section 2-A clash.

Carmichaels remains atop the section at 13-2 and 12-2, while J-M wrapped up the third playoff spot with a win over Frazier on Saturday.

Winning pitcher Emily Cottle struck out two and walked one, while Courtney Newland (13-2) hurled the loss. She fanned nine batters and allowed three walks.

The Lady Mikes host Mapletown today. Mapletown are out of the playoff scene.

Belle Vernon 9, Greensburg Central Catholic 7 – Alana Lacey doubled, singled twice and drove in three runs as Belle Vernon downed host Greensburg Central Catholic in a non-section game.

Winning pitcher Ashley Nichols (12-4) worked four innings with six hits, three strikeouts and three walks.

Kelsey Ciarimboli pitched five innings for G.C.C. She fanned seven batters and allowed nine hits and seven runs.

Jessica Zites tripled for the Lady Leopards, and Megan Chadwell doubled and singled.