Four-run third key in Uniontown Legion victory
Uniontown Legion used a four-run third inning and held on for a 6-2 victory over Belle Vernon on Thursday at John DiVirgilio Sports Complex in Rostraver Township.
Uniontown (13-7-1) opened the scoring in the top of the third inning when it loaded the bases on singles by Luke Gresh and Eahn Stevenson, and a walk to Barrett Shuba, before Noah Lion’s base hit to left field scored Gresh and Shuba for a 2-0 lead.
Stevenson scored on Sevi Vecchiolla’s groundout to third base and Lion raced home when Parker Hoff reached on an error for a 4-0 advantage.
The visitors extended their lead to 6-0 in the fifth when Stevenson doubled to left field and scored on Lion’s triple to left. Lion crossed home plate on Vecchiolla’s groundout to shortstop.
Nick Fleszar started for Uniontown and pitched 3 ⅔ scoreless innings on four hits. He had nine strikeouts and walked two. Fleszar turned the ball over to Brayden Hinzy in the fourth inning with two outs. Hinzy finished the final 3 ⅓ innings, and allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits with two strikeouts and three walks.
Hinzy earned the pitching victory because Fleszar didn’t complete four innings, but both were key factors in Uniontown’s victory.
Jaxson Bozek and Austin Hoffman had two hits apiece for Belle Vernon (11-3). Bozek had a run-scoring double in the bottom of the fifth inning. Hoffman scored in the fifth when Lukas Lander reached on an error.
Wednesday’s results
Belle Vernon 5, Charleroi 4 — Belle Vernon built up a three-run lead after five innings and fought off a Charleroi rally at John DiVirgilio Sports Complex.
Hoffman had three hits, including a run-scoring single in the bottom of the third. Teammate Nate Grimm had an RBI double in the third to tie the game at 2-2.
Grimm added a two-run single in the fifth for a 4-2 advantage. The home team added a third run in the frame on Ian Porter’s sacrifice bunt.
Hunter Fulmer earned the pitching victory after allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits over six innings. He had seven strikeouts and walked two. JB Crovak struck out all three batters he faced in the seventh for the save.
Connellsville 13, Uniontown 3 — A nine-run fourth inning propelled Connellsville to a five-inning victory over Uniontown at Thomas E. Sankovich Field on the campus of Connellsville Area High School.
Connellsville (13-0) drew five walks with the bases loaded to drive in runs during the fourth, as Grayden Gillott, Chase Sankovich, Alex VanSickle, Matthew Firestone and Keegan Lott worked free passes.
Teammate Kace Shearer had a two-run single in the fourth. Jonathan Kelly laid down a sacrifice bunt for an RBI and Mason Miller hit a sacrifice fly. Shearer tripled for a three-hit day.
Ethan Porreca earned the win on the mound after yielding one earned run on one hit over three innings with five strikeouts and three walks. Miller finished the final two innings for the home team.
Shuba singled and drove in all three of Uniontown’s runs.