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Lancers shut out Waynesburg Central, 7-0

By Steve Flinn for The 4 min read

McKEES ROCKS — Even though Waynesburg Central entered Wednesday’s WPIAL Class AA Baseball Tournament as a No. 14 seed, the Raiders were still in the game against third-seeded Neshannock until the sixth inning when the Lancers blew the game open for 7-0 victory at Burkett Sports Complex in Robinson Twp.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our kids for playing their butts off all season and making the playoffs,” Waynesburg head coach Kevin Pincavitch said. “We were a fourteen seed and we faced a really good team.”

The Raiders (10-5) had no answer for Neshannock pitcher Frank Frashetti, who only gave up three hits. He struck out eight and did not walk a batter. He also had two RBI.

“Obviously, (Frashetti) threw the ball well. He was probably one of the hardest pitchers we’ve seen all year,” Pincavitch said. “We were on some balls, but when you only get three hits, it’s tough to win a ball game.”

On the flip side, eight of the nine Lancer batters reached base as they had 10 hits and drew four walks off Waynesburg starter Hunter Robinson. They were also aggressive on the base paths the entire game and stole two bases.

“(Neshannock) not only run the bases well, but they put the ball in play,” Pincavitch said. “That’s the biggest key. If you put the ball in play, it makes a difference.”

In the top of the first, Robinson hit a two-out triple, but was stranded when clean-up hitter Joel Rohanna struck out.

Neshannock broke the ice in the bottom of the first after lead-off hitter Ray Scala drew a walk, stole second, and scored when designated hitter Rich Serigenese drilled a single over second base. The Lancers could have turned it into a big inning, but the Raiders’ defense came up big.

Serigenese took second base on a ground out to third by Jake Swope and tried to advance to third on the throw to first, but Raider first baseman John-Glen Davis threw him out as Robinson took the throw.

The Lancers extended their lead to 3-0 in the third inning. Serigenese led off and was hit by the pitch. He advanced to third on Jake Swope’s single to right field. Swope took second as the throw from right field missed the cutoff man. Don Colucci grounded out to second and Serigenese scored on the play. Frashetti singled to drive in Swope.

Once again, the Raiders’ defense came up big to stop a potential Lancer rally. Jason Swope took off in an attempt to steal second base. Raider catcher Brandon Turchek threw to second, but pitcher Robinson took the cutoff and threw to third to pick off Frashetti who was caught too far off the base.

“We’ve known for years that (Neshannock) will try to take extra bases,” Pincavitch said. “Our guys did a great job coming through on some of those plays.”

The Lancers pushed their lead to 4-0 in the fifth inning. Jake Swope singled, Colucci doubled him to third and Frashetti drove him in on a ground out. It was Frashetti’s second RBI of the game.

Neshannock blew the game open in the sixth inning by scoring three more runs. Jeff Sanflippo singled, Mark Clause walked, Scala was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Serigenese singled in Sanflippo and Clause. Scala scored the final run when Colton Higgins wasn’t able to cleanly field a Don Colucci chopper.

Pincavitch was sad to see his seniors, Davis, Joel Rohanna, and Colton Higgins graduating, but he has a good foundation and a lot of youth coming back next season.

“I hate to lose my three seniors, but we got a good group coming back,” Pincavitch said. “They’re hard workers and now they know what it takes.”

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