Hampton upends No. 5 Leopards, 7-1
Hampton and Belle Vernon each had six hits and drew three walks in their WPIAL Class 4A first-round playoff game on Monday at Gateway High School.
The 12th-seeded Talbots played cleaner in the field, though, committing just one error to four along with a run-scoring balk by the No. 5 Leopards, and made better use of their baserunners in upending Belle Vernon, 7-1.
Both teams scored a run in the second inning but Hampton followed that with two runs in each the third, fourth and fifth innings.
Cole Motchenbaugh had a single and two RBIs, Colin Custer doubled, singled and knocked in one run and Eric Carson contributed a double and an RBI for the Talbots (13-8), who also got hits from Chad Moore.
Three Hampton pitchers held down the Leopards’ offense. Custer started on the mound for the Talbots and gave up one run on four hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Zach Virbitsky, who was credited with the win, followed with two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk with three strikeouts.
Drew Bucci earned the save from there, surrendering just one hit and no walks with one strikeout over the final three innings.
Belle Vernon’s lone run came in the second inning when Jordan Jerome smacked a two-out triple and scored on Jaden Johnson’s single.
Jerome also doubled for the Leopards (14-6) whose only other hits were singles by AJ Watson, Connor Bergman and Zach Plymire.
Belle Vernon starting pitcher Ian Porter gave up six runs (four earned) on three hits and three walks with one strikeout in four innings in taking the loss.
Camden Matusik followed and gave up one run on three hits with no walks and one strikeout in two innings. Maddox Ceccarellil pitched a scoreless seventh with two strikeouts and one hit batter.
Hampton took the lead for good by manufacturing two runs in the third inning. Carson and Brody Bruce-Fritz both walked to start the rally and Chad Moore bunted the runners up. Parker Valentine and Motchenbaugh each followed with run-scoring grounders for a 3-1 advantage.