California comes up short against Thomas Jefferson
California hosted its first girls flag football game Wednesday night on Booster Field at Trojan Stadium in Coal Center.
The Lady Trojans battled but came up short on a cold night to Thomas Jefferson, 32-18.
The Jaguars’ Victoria Clark and Marissa DeSimone were the catalysts for the visitors, as the duo accounted for all of TJ’s touchdowns.
California is in its first season of flag football, and despite being inexperienced, came up with some clutch plays, including Lila Mitchell’s interception return for a touchdown. Mitchell, a 6-0 freshman who plays four sports, also pulled in a reception for a score from Hayley Gibson, who also tossed a scoring strike to Isabella McVicker.
The Lady Trojans are back on home turf Monday when they host Mount Lebanon at 6 p.m.
Thomas Jefferson visits Upper St. Clair on Monday at 7 p.m.
BASEBALL
LATROBE 6, CONNELLSVILLE 2 — The Wildcats took advantage of four errors by the Falcons in a non-section victory at Latrobe.
Connellsville (0-1) opened the scoring in the top of the second inning when Gradin Hodge singled to left field, and with one out, advanced to third on Caden Matthews’ double to centerfield.
Latrobe starting pitcher Cole Short forced a popup to second base before Keegan Lott’s double to right field plated two runs for the early lead.
The Wildcats (3-0) tied the game in the bottom of the frame with two runs on three hits.
Noah Noel led off the inning with a solo home run to left field before Grady Ruffner singled. The Falcons recorded the next two outs, but Ruffner scored on Luke Bulebosh’s double to left field.
Latrobe took the lead for good with two runs in the fourth, which were aided by two Connellsville errors.
Noel and Ruffner reached on back-to-back errors and both scored on Joey Crimboli’s double to left field for a 4-2 advantage.
The Falcons were able to get out of the inning without any further damage despite having runners on second and third with two outs after a walk and third error in the frame.
The Wildcats scored a third unearned run in the fifth when Ruffner reached on an error and scored on Crimboli’s double to left field for a 5-2 cushion.
Connellsville threatened in the sixth when Hodge led off with a single to left field and Jayden Mickens had a base hit to centerfield, but Latrobe recorded back-to-back strikeouts and got out of danger when Mickens was forced out at second on a fielder’s choice.
The Wildcats added a run in the bottom of the inning when Bulebosh walked, advanced to second and third on a bunt before scoring on a sacrifice flyout to centerfield.
Chris Johnson singled for the Falcons, who will look to get back on track this afternoon at German-Masontown Park against Albert Gallatin (). The first pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.