Local roundup
Stotka leads Bulldogs past Maples Matt Stotka went 3 for 4, including a two-run home run, and drove in five runs, as Beth-Center ended its season on a high note with a 12-5 victory over Mapletown Friday in non-section action.
Stotka also scored twice, and recorded the final three outs in relief as the Bulldogs improved to 7-11. He clubbed his third home run of the season in the bottom of the sixth inning. It came with a runner on base and two outs.
Charles Bowser, the second of three B-C pitchers, earned the victory. Bowser (1-0) worked the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, and allowed four runs on three hits. He struck out seven and walked one.
Starter Sean Veatch allowed just one unearned run over the first three innings.
Mapletown starter Ashly Menear suffered the loss. Menear lasted five innings and allowed seven runs on eight hits. He walked four and struck out three.
The Maples’ Don Hilenbrant worked the sixth inning.
Mapletown scored a run in its first at bat, and Beth-Center tied the game in the bottom of the third inning.
The Bulldogs then scored three times in the bottom of the fourth inning, before Mapletown came back with two runs of its own in the top of the fifth.
But Beth-Center answered with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, and, after Mapletown scored twice in the top of the sixth, the Bulldogs put the game out of reach with five runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Beth-Center won four of the six games it played this week, and six of its last nine overall.
“It’s a shame the season’s over; we’re really starting to gel as a team and a group of men,” said B-C coach Frank Pryor. “We really have played well all week. Even against Brownsville we played well, we just didn’t get hits in a timely fashion.
“It’s been a real good run with a real good group of seniors. They deserve to be commended. Wins and losses have never really been an issue with me personally. It’s about the kids. I’m here for the kids to teach them about life. When I was at West Virginia University, my head coach, Dale Ramsberg, did the same for me. That’s where I learned it. I’m trying to teach the kids about positive decisions. You make a positive decision in sports, and that will carry over into the rest of your life.”
Beth-Center’s Nate White, E.J. McCarty and Steve Hvizda had two hits apiece, with White lacing a triple and McCarty recording a double.
For Mapletown, Menear had a pair of hits, including a two-run, two-out home run in the top of the fifth inning that pulled Mapletown to within 4-3.
Wes Loring added a double for the Maples, who end their season at 2-15.
Women’s Tennis
West Florida 5, California University of Pa. 1 – The Vulcans saw their season end in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Division II women’s championship after falling to the Argonauts Friday in a match started on Thursday but suspended by heavy rain in Central Florida.
California came into the match as the sixth-ranked team in the nation, and its 28 victories this season set a school record.
Friday’s loss snapped the Vulcans’ 15-match winning streak, and was the first for California against a Division II team this season. California’s other loss came at the hands of West Virginia University (5-4).
The Vulcans’ Inga Chilingaryan and Lisa Santoro fell in singles action, and all three Vulcan doubles teams were defeated. California’s Nina Reiswich defeated Paola Arevalo, 6-4, 6-1 for Cal’s lone win.
Fourth-ranked West Florida later defeated No. 3 Lynn to earn a berth in today’s title match vs. BYU-Hawaii.
The teams met earlier this season, with BYU-Hawaii claiming an 8-1 win.