Newhouse shines as Laurel Highlands shuts out Uniontown
HOPWOOD – Laurel Highlands’ Mike Newhouse felt great during his warm up Wednesday. Seven innings later, Mustangs coach Tom Landman felt even better.
Newhouse allowed just four hits, struck out seven and helped his own cause with a two-run double, as Laurel Highlands blanked Uniontown, 8-0, in Section 2-AAA action at Hutchinson Field.
Nick Erminio, Carmen Congelio and Mason Tupta had two hits each, as the Mustangs extended their winning streak to five games.
Newhouse (3-0) was untouchable early, retiring Uniontown’s first eight batters. He struck out the side in the top of the second inning, and nearly pulled off the trick without missing the strikezone.
Facing Uniontown’s Mason Fordyce and ahead in the count 0-2, Newhouse misfired for the first time in the inning – after throwing eight consecutive strikes.
“You can never have enough pitching,” Landman said. “You need to have at least three good starters for when the games start to get backed up because of the weather.
“Mike brought his ‘A’ game today. He told the coaching staff he felt really good during his warm up and then he went out and took control of the game.”
Uniontown had just one runner advance past second base, and never had more than one hit in any inning. Allen Zieglar (0-1) started and took the loss, and lasted just two innings. He allowed four hits, four runs (three earned), struck out two and walked a pair.
The Red Raiders were hoping to feed off momentum they gained Tuesday after defeating Kittanning in extra innings for their first victory this season.
“We played a great game Tuesday, but today it didn’t seem like anything went our way,” said Uniontown coach Rob Kezmarsky. “In my opinion, LH is the best team in the section.
“(Newhouse) did an excellent job, and it was unfortunate for Zieglar and Fordyce that a couple of balls seemed to find their way in there. Against Kittanning, we played spectacular defense, but today nothing seemed to go our way.”
Laurel Highlands (8-3, 5-1) scored the only run it would need when Erminio doubled to lead off the bottom of the first inning and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
The Mustangs added three more runs an inning later when Mason Tupta singled in Congelio and Erminio followed with a two-run base hit.
“We took advantage of some scoring opportunities early in the ballgame,” Landman said. “Uniontown was coming into the game sky-high after beating Kittanning, and I told our kids before the game that we had to try to jump on them in the first couple of innings.”
Laurel Highlands padded its lead with four more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Zach Dascenzo doubled to lead off the frame and scored on John Boskovich’s single, and with two outs, Newhouse brought home Boskovich and Congelio with a double.
After a passed ball moved Newhouse to third base, Tupta laced an RBI-double into right-centerfield.
The loss drops Uniontown to 1-6 overall and 1-5 in Section 2-AAA. The Red Raiders return to action Saturday, hosting Ringgold at noon.
Laurel Highlands hits the diamond again today, traveling to Mount Pleasant at 4 p.m.