Red Raiders rally for walk-off win
Lane Smiley took one for the team as Uniontown earned a walk-off win over Albert Gallatin on Tuesday night at Bailey Park in Section 2-4A action.
The Red Raiders rallied from a two-run deficit to edge their Fayette County rivals, 3-2.
Uniontown (2-2, 2-2) trailed 2-0 after five innings before it scored one run in the sixth and two in the seventh, which culminated in Smiley being hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded, and Lucas Payton touched home plate for the winning run.
Chandler Myers opened the seventh for the home team with a single to centerfield before courtesy runner Dominic Petrovich advanced to third on Jameson Carter’s pinch-hit single to right field.
Carter stole second uncontested and Petrovich scored the game-tying run when Payton reached on an error.
The Colonials (0-4, 0-5) buckled down and forced Carter out at home and Kaiden Brady recorded a strikeout for the second out.
Brayden Hinzy was intentionally walked before Smiley was plunked on a 1-0 count. Albert Gallatin’s coaching staff questioned if Smiley was actually hit with the pitch but to no avail, and the Red Raiders celebrated a hard-fought victory.
Elim Martin earned the win on the mound, as he entered the game in the fourth inning and pitched 3 ⅔ scoreless innings on one hit. He struck out six and didn’t walk a batter. Myers started and yielded two earned runs on three hits over 3 ⅓ innings. He struck out one and didn’t issue a base on balls.
Despite taking the loss, Brady had a quality outing in allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits over 6 ⅔ innings. He had nine strikeouts and walked one in throwing 98 pitches (67 strikes).
The Colonials scored their two runs in the top of the fourth inning. Kaynon Sutton reached on an infield single with one out before advancing to third on Ben Lilley’s double to centerfield.
Following Lilley’s double, Martin relieved Chandler and forced Mason Usher into a groundout at second base, but Sutton scored on the out for a 1-0 lead. Martin recorded a strikeout, but the throw to first base needed to be completed for the out, and Brady hustled down the line to reach first before the ball was caught and Albert Gallatin scored for a 2-0 advantage.
Uniontown scored one run in the sixth to cut the deficit to 2-1 when Shane Kelly reached on an error, stole second and scored on Hinzy’s line drive to centerfield. Hinzy and Kelly had two of the Red Raiders’ five hits. Caleb Bartock also singled for the home team.
The Colonials’ Kayden Perez doubled in the seventh, and teammate Billy Craig singled in the third.
ELIZABETH FORWARD 8, LAUREL HIGHLANDS 5 — The Mustangs scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Warriors hung on for a victory in Section 2-4A play at Laurel Highlands.
Elizabeth Forward, who improved to 4-0 in the section and 6-0 overall, scored one run in the second and six in the third for a 7-0 lead before Laurel Highlands (0-2, 0-5) scored a run in the bottom of the third frame. The Warriors scored their final run in the fifth.
The Mustangs had an 11-4 advantage in hits, as Nick Crouch, Noah Lion, Aiden Milsom, Ramaree Morgan and Michael Smith each had two hits. Lion doubled for the game’s lone extra-base hit.
Morgan led the home team in runs batted in with two. Crouch, Milsom and Smith had one RBI apiece.
Jack Crovak had two hits for Elizabeth Forward. JB Crovak, Nate Grimm, Brayden Kollar, Kameron Little and Daniel Spence each drove in a run for the visitors.
Grimm allowed four earned runs on nine hits over six innings for the win on the mound. He struck out six and walked one.
MONTOUR 8, CONNELLSVILLE 0 — Mike Ivanoff threw a one-hitter in the Spartans’ victory in Section 4-5A play at the Burkett Complex in Robinson Twp.
Ivanoff struck out six and walked four over seven innings. He threw 102 pitches (60 strikes). Gradin Hodge broke up the no-hitter with a single to left field in the fourth.
Tyler Puffer led Montour (2-0, 4-2) with three hits, including a double, and two RBIs. Teammates Zander Stern and Dalton Young each had two singles and drove in a run.
The Spartans’ Matteo Weber tripled.
Connellsville dropped to 0-2 in the section and 2-4 overall.
AQUINAS ACADEMY 10, GEIBEL CATHOLIC 1 — Luke Crawford kept the Gators’ offense in check to help the Crusaders to a non-section victory at Aquinas Academy.
Crawford allowed one earned run on two hits over 5 ⅔ innings. He struck out 10 and didn’t issue a walk.
Aquinas Academy only had four hits, but two were for extra bases, as Ian Patterson doubled and Andrew Giancola tripled. The Crusaders drew nine walks and benefited from six errors.
Eahn Stevenson had two of Geibel’s three hits, including a triple. Michael Novotny doubled in the fourth inning.
Stevenson hit his triple in the first inning, and scored on a wild pitch.
MOUNT PLEASANT 8, DEER LAKES 0 — Bobby Smithnosky pitched a one-hit shutout as the Vikings swept their season series with the Lancers in Section 3-3A play at Mount Pleasant’s baseball field.
Smithnosky completed seven innings with 100 pitches (58 strikes). He had seven strikeouts and walked two.
Smithnosky got in on the hitting action with two hits, including a double, and he drove in one run. Teammate Ian Shipley also doubled. He had two hits and two RBIs.
The Vikings’ Santino Marne singled and drove in two runs. Carter Unger had two singles and an RBI.
Mount Pleasant improved to 2-2 in the section and 4-4 overall.
AVELLA 19, MAPLETOWN 1 — Bryce Wright drove in six runs and the Eagles cruised to a Section 1-1A victory at Mapletown.
Wright had three hits, including a double, and scored twice. Teammate Jorden Moore doubled, had an RBI and scored three runs.
Chas Rush had two hits and two RBIs for Avella (4-0, 5-1).
Noah Kimberland singled and drove in two runs for the visitors.
Brayden Fuller earned the pitching win by allowing one earned run on four hits over three innings. He struck out five and walked one. The game ended following the third frame due to the 15-run rule.
SOFTBALL
FRAZIER 8, BROWNSVILLE 7 — The Lady Commodores and Lady Falcons battled back-and-forth in a Section 4-2A at Brownsville, but Frazier was able to squeeze out the victory.
The Lady Commodores (1-1, 3-3) scored three runs in the top of the first inning, but the Lady Falcons (1-1, 3-2) countered with three of their own in the bottom of the second.
Frazier scored one run in the fourth and three in the fifth for a 7-3 lead. Brownsville added three in the bottom of the fifth to cut the deficit to 7-6. Both scored a run in the sixth.
The Lady Commodores’ Emme Travalena hit a two-run homer in the first. Teammate Grace Polkabla had two doubles and drove in a run.
Emma Essington contributed with two singles and two RBIs for the visitors. Zoey Zurenski added two base hits.
Ava Clark had three hits (two doubles) and drove in two for the Lady Falcons. Teammates Lyla Gill and Blair added two baggers.
Brownsville’s Jordyn Davis doubled, singled and drove two. Lena Rechichar chipped in with two singles.
Addison Hiles earned the win in the circle with nine strikeouts and no walks. Clark had 10 strikes and four walks.
CARMICHAELS 11, MAPLETOWN 0 — Bailey Barnyak struck out 15 of the 16 batters she faced in pitching a no-hitter for the Lady Mikes in a Section 2-1A victory at Mapletown.
The lone mark on Barnyak’s line was a walk to Emma Zalar.
The game was called after five innings due to the 10-run rule.
Barnyak had one hit and drove in two runs.
Carmichaels’ Jocelyn Carter hit a two-run home run in the fifth frame. She added a single and drove in three.
The Lady Mikes’ Kenlee Machesky contributed with a pair of doubles and RBIs.
Payton Plavi and Carys McConnell had two hits apiece for Carmichaels (1-0, 3-2). McConnell scored three runs.
WEST GREENE 14, MONESSEN 2 — The Lady Pioneers’ Caitlin Whyte earned her first varsity pitching victory in a non-section triumph over the Lady Greyhounds at Center Township Park in Rogersville.
Whyte, a ninth grader, had five strikeouts and three walks in a game that ended after five innings due to the 10-run rule.
Whyte helped herself with two hits and an RBI.
Sammi Zimmerman led West Greene (1-0, 4-2) in RBIs with four. She hit a three-run homer in the second inning, and added two more singles. Teammate Emmaline Beazell tripled and drove in three. She also added two base hits.
Kendra Tharp contributed to the Lady Pioneers’ offensive output with a triple, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Grace Clingenpeel led the Monessen with two hits and one run scored.
ELIZABETH FORWARD 8, UNIONTOWN 0 — The Lady Warriors took control of the Section 2-4A contest with a five-run fifth inning to down the Lady Red Raiders and remain undefeated in section play.
Elizabeth Forward (4-0, 5-1) was led by junior and University of Virginia commit Berlyn Holibaugh, who pitched a seven-hit shutout with two strikeouts and no walks.
Holibaugh had two hits, including a double, and drove in a run. Teammate Samantha Malek doubled and singled.
Morgan Telegdy and Sophia Pasinsky had a single and two RBIs apiece for the Lady Warriors.
Uniontown’s Sadie Savage and Juliet White each chipped in with two hits, but the Lady Red Raiders (1-2, 3-2) couldn’t get their offense going.
BALDWIN 9, ALBERT GALLATIN 0 — The Lady Highlanders scored four runs in the first inning, and that was all the offense Camryn Temme needed in a Section 4-5A triumph over the Lady Colonials at Baldwin High School.
Temme pitched a three-hit shutout over seven innings with eight strikeouts and one walk.
Avery Herrington doubled and had two RBIs for Baldwin (4-0, 6-1).
Jordan Gerendash had three singles and drove in two for the home team. She also scored three runs. Teammate Reese Temme had two base hits and an RBI.
Albert Gallatin’s Jenna Myers had seven strikeouts and walked one. Kylee Augustine, Mackenzie Chapman and Ellie Seese each singled for the Lady Colonials.
BELLE VERNON 16, RINGGOLD 12 — Bella Willams hit a grand slam and drove in seven runs to help the Lady Leopards defeat the Lady Rams in a high-scoring affair during Section 2-4A play.
Teammate Ava Jones was 4 for 5 with a triple. Belle Vernon’s Addy Newman and Kaylee Sypolt had three hits apiece. Sypolt had two RBIs and Newman drove in one.
The Lady Leopards’ Sydney Callaway and Paisley Hibner each had two hits and an RBI.
Belle Vernon’s Mailey Hayes had one hit and drove in two runs.
Lucia Fonzi had two doubles and four RBIs for Ringgold (0-4, 0-4). Teammate Addy Allen was 2 for 4 with two runs batted in.
The Lady Leopards improved to 2-2 in section play and 4-3 overall.
BOYS TENNIS
MOUNT PLEASANT 4, BURRELL 1 — The Vikings swept singles play to defeat the Buccaneers in Section 1-2A play.
The Vikings only lost eight games in three section matches, as Austyn Gross opened up at No. 1 singles with a 6-1, 6-1 victory. Luke Hauser completed a straight-sets victory over Nathan Bigenho at No. 2 singles, but the match was more competitive with Hauser winning, 6-3, 6-2.
Nico Pisula clinched the team victory for Mount Pleasant with a 6-0, 6-1 triumph.
Burrell avoided the shutout at No. 1 doubles with Gavin Lucot and William York teaming up to down Logan Hause and Austin Duvall, 6-3, 7-6 (3).
The Vikings took No. 2 doubles in three sets, as Derrick Smith and Owen Spires rallied to defeat Chase Atkinson and Corey Bose, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4.