LH clinches playoff berth at Ringgold
Darnell Graham
Ringgold first baseman Jordan Briscoe (5) waits for the ball as Laurel Highlands’ Hudson Novak (11) arrives safely on first base for a single in Section 4-AAA action Tuesday at Ringgold.
Laurel Highlands's third baseman Dom Peroni (14) attempts to tag Ringgold's Jordan Briscoe (5) during their Section 4-AAA baseball game Tuesday at Ringgold.
Ringgold's Chase Angotti (20) gets the force play at third base on Laurel Highlands Chad Pillar (25) during Section 4-AAA action Tuesday at Ringgold. The play resulted from a Lucas Boyle bunt.
CARROLL TWP. — Laurel Highlands wrapped up a baseball playoff berth with Tuesday’s 13-3 win at Ringgold.
The only real shocker for Class AAA’s top team, according to MSA Sports, was that it took all seven innings to secure the 10-run verdict.
Ringgold starter and loser Bo Haines held the Mustangs in check for the first four innings, allowing one run on a Garret Kopich sacrifice fly that scored courtesy runner Greg Lancaster in the second.
But the Mustangs got to and chased Haines in the fifth and scored four in that inning for a 5-1 lead. LH got three in the sixth and five in the seventh.
“Ringgold’s starting pitcher threw the ball really well,” LH coach Scott DeBerry said. “They came ready to play. I don’t think we overlooked them at all, it was just a matter of their pitcher pitching very well.”
“He’s having a heck of a year,” Ringgold coach Rob Nystrom said of Haines. “But just like so many other games, one bad inning did us in.”
Of course, Nystrom was referring to the fifth, when a fly ball to center field by Troy Kifer was misplayed and allowed two runs to score. Winning pitcher Hudson Novak followed with a double that scored another run and he came around to score on a Ringgold throwing error.
All of a sudden, a 1-1 game had become a 5-1 lead for the Mustangs.
“That play in center field kind of got us going,” DeBerry admitted. “We seemed to swing the bats a lot better after that play.”
Indeed, LH got eight of their 12 total hits after Ringgold’s first error of the game.
Kifer finished the game with four RBIs on three hits, while Novak and Dom Peroni each drove in two runs on a pair of hits, each getting a double. And the Mustangs spread the wealth around, as No. 9 batter Dan Zuchelkowski scored three runs and the two guys batting ahead of him each scored once. Leadoff man Lucas Boyle also scored three times for LH (13-1, 10-0).
Connor Garry paced the Ringgold (3-11, 2-8) offense with a pair of hits, including a double and an RBI. Zach Byczynski also had two hits for the Rams.
Novak got the pitching win, despite not pitching his best game, according to DeBerry.
“Hudson has thrown better,” DeBerry said. “He didn’t have his best stuff today, but he battled through and got outs. It’s a sign of a good pitcher when you can win without having your best stuff.”
DeBerry downplayed the fact that the Mustangs are Class AAA’s top-ranked team. LH is also ranked No. 6 in Pennsylvania by MaxPreps.
“Unfortunately, we have that target on our back,” DeBerry said. “I know it’s for the fans, but the players see it and I just hope it doesn’t affect how we play. It’s hard enough to stay grounded and focused without that stuff.
“As for MaxPreps, I don’t even know how they get their rankings. Obviously, I like flying under the radar, but at this point, that’s not going to happen.”
Not now that the Mustangs are officially in the playoffs. LH can clinch the section championship with a win at second-place Belle Vernon this evening and there is still another week of baseball to be played.
As for the Rams, they are about a year away, according to Nystrom.
“The next two years should be very good for us,” he said. “I’ve been starting two freshmen and two sophomores in most games and really only two seniors. Our JV team has been winning and I can’t wait to get those guys up here too.”
So while the future looks bright for the Rams, the future is now for the talented Mustangs.