Lady Rockets earn clutch win over C-H
Maddie Ludrosky fired a no-hitter and Camryn Dugan drove in the game’s only run as host Jefferson-Morgan nipped first-place Chartiers-Houston, 1-0, in a Section 1-A softball battle on Friday.
The win pulls the Lady Rockets (8-2, 6-1) even in the loss column with the Lady Bucs (12-2, 7-1) atop the section standings.
“This was just an outstanding softball game, well played by both teams,” J-M coach Tony Barbetta said. “This is a great win for our program.”
Ludrosky struck out 12 and walked one in twirling her gem.
Losing pitcher Kaitlyn Dittrich only allowed one hit, but that was all J-M needed.
The game was scoreless in the bottom of the sixth when Morgan Gamble reached on an infield error. Reagan Rush, who had three hits off Dittrich in their first meeting which C-H won 4-2, was asked to bunt by Barbetta and she did just that, sacrificing Gamble to second.
Dugan followed with a long single to right-center field to bring in Gamble. Ludrosky capped her no-hitter with a scoreless seventh to wrap up the win.
Beth-Center 12, Waynesburg Central 8 — Abby Gustovich went 3-for-4 with a home run and a double and was the winning pitcher as Beth-Center jumped out to a 10-0 lead then held on for a Section 2-AA win.
Chelsea Snyder and Anna Davida also homered for the Lady Bulldogs.
Beth-Center (4-6, 4-6) scored seven runs in the third to take the lead for good. The Lady Raiders scored four times in the fifth to pull within 12-5 and tacked on three more in the seventh before Gustovich, who struck out four and walked two, finally shut the door.
Hannah Gibbons had three hits, including a home run, for Waynesburg (4-9, 3-5). Brooke Moore doubled and singled and Tara Staley also doubled for the Lady Raiders.
Brooke Meek took the loss. She struck out three and walked two.
Belle Vernon 7, Thomas Jefferson 4 — Belle Vernon rode a five-run fourth inning to a Section 3-AAA victory over visiting Thomas Jefferson.
The victory moved the Lady Leopards (12-2, 7-1) into first place ahead of Trinity, which lost at Elizabeth-Forward.
Nicole Ashcraft had three hits and three RBIs and Megan Christner had two hits and an RBI for Belle Vernon. Sarah Simsic and Kaitlyn Faiola both doubled and singled and Emily Frederick had one hit and an RBI.
Bailey Parshall earned the win.
Megan Fitzgerald had two hits, including a double, and an RBI and Lyndsey Kalup had three hits for the Lady Jaguars (6-6, 4-4). Bayli Moon, Alysa Fairman and Rachael Bowers had two singles apiece. Losing pitcher Laci Lautner had a single and an RBI.
Penn-Trafford 15, Albert Gallatin 3 — Hannah Dobernic homered twice in going 4-for-4 with four RBIs and Nicole Smith through a no-hitter as Penn-Trafford knocked off visiting Albert Gallatin in a five-inning Section 1-AAAA game.
Smith struck out nine but walked five, including three with the bases loaded to account for all the Lady Colonials’ (3-6, 3-5) runs.
Megan Little also went 4-for-4 for the Warriors (9-3, 6-3) with a pair of doubles. Megan Mirasti tripled and Cassie Surmacz doubled for P-T.
Losing pitcher Deanna DeLorenzo started for AG with reliever Sydney French finishing up.
Frazier 9, Greensburg Central Catholic 4 — Frazier broke a 4-4 tie with two runs in each the fifth and sixth innings to pull away from host Greensburg Central Catholic in a Section 2-A game.
Monica Joseph homered twice and doubled for the first-place, unbeaten Lady Commodores (9-0, 8-0). Winning pitcher Paige Hotz tossed a six-hitter.
Frazier scored two runs in the second and fourth before the Lady Centurions (6-3, 4-3) tied it with four in the bottom of the fourth, only to have the Lady Commodores surge back in front again.
Nikki Adisey took the loss.
Connellsville 12, Kiski 0 — Emily Kesler fired a one-hitter with eight strikeouts and no walks as Connellsville steamrolled Kiski in a five-inning Section 1-AAAA game.
Kelsi Burkholder and Joelle Rosky both doubled for the Lady Falcons (5-6, 3-6).
Connellsville blew open a scoreless game with five runs in the third and six in the fourth.
Erin Weaver took the loss for Kiski (0-10, 0-10).
Greensburg Salem 14, Laurel Highlands 11 — Greensburg Salem out-slugged Laurel Highlands in a Section 4-AAA game.
The Lady Lions improved to 6-6 overall and 5-5 in the section. The Fillies fall to 0-10 overall and 0-8 in the section.
Saturday Softball Games
Brownsville 10, Beth-Center 6 — Brownsville rode a five-run fourth inning to a 10-6 win over Beth-Center in Section 2-AA softball action Saturday.
Tiffany Markovitch (11 strikeouts and two walks) got the pitching win for Brownsville (5-6, 5-5), while Abby Gustovitch took the loss for BC (4-7).
Cheyenne Wasko doubled to open the fourth. Shelby Settles struck out, but was safe at first on a poor throw and Wasko scored to tie the score, 2-2. Marissa Liston singled in Settles before Abby Vaughn bunted and the ball was again thrown away and scored Listen, with Vaughn taking third. Alexis Zosky squeeze bunted to score Vaughn. Hannah Batovsky singled, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on one of two Allie Lint doubles.
Gustovich had a double for BC.
Latrobe 3, Albert Gallatin 2 — Albert Gallatin took Latrobe to eight innings Saturday, but the Lady Wildcats prevailed on an RBI single by Jess Tatone in the top of the eighth.
Winning pitcher Meredith Carr then got three outs to end the game. She struck out 14 and walked only one, while losing pitcher Sydney French fanned six and walked three.
Deanna DeLorenzo doubled and singled for the Lady Colonials (3-7, 3-6), while Karley Kovatch did the same for Latrobe (7-4, 5-3). Jenna Adams hit a solo home run for Latrobe in the top of the fourth inning.
Baseball
Friday’s Games
Brownsville 19, Washington 5 — Brownsville made sure to show the first showdown with Washington wasn’t a fluke.
One day after blasting the visiting Prexies, 11-0, to take over sole possession of first place in Section 2-AA, the Falcons traveled to Washington and pounded out another lopsided win on Friday. Both games were halted in the fifth inning under the 10-run rule.
Brownsville’s Shane Roebuck knocked in seven runs with three hits, including a fifth-inning grand slam, his fourth home run of the season. Kenny Ryan smacked a two-run homer and two doubles in going 5-for-5 with three RBIs.
The Falcons also got four hits from Tyler Herman and doubles from Zach Bashour, Cory Lent and Travis Bevard.
Brownsville erupted for seven runs in the first. After the Prexies answered with four in the bottom of the inning, the Falcons put up five more in the second to go up 12-4 and never looked back.
Lent allowed five hits and two walks with one strikeout to earn the win.
Losing pitcher Jonathan Spina doubled for Washington and Jordan West tripled.
California 11, Jefferson-Morgan 1 — Aaron Previsky drove in five runs with a home run and a double as California rolled over host Jefferson-Morgan in a five-inning Section 1-A game.
Nate Luketich went 3-for-3 with a double and Louden Conte had two hits and three runs scored for the first-place Trojans (12-1, 6-0).
Winning pitcher Chris Swart combined with Drake Johnson on a three-hitter.
The Rockets fall to 4-7 overall and 3-4 in the section.
Derry 8, Southmoreland 4 — Derry scored seven runs in the first inning and went on to defeat host Southmoreland in a key Section 2-AAA game.
The victory gives the Trojans (4-7, 4-3) sole possession of third place. The teams were tied for third going into the game. The top three teams in each section qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.
The Scotties (6-7, 3-4) battled back with three runs in the second to pull within four but could get no closer.
Kevin Richards and Mark Farmer each doubled for Southmoreland. Michael Baird was the losing pitcher.
Ryan Maloy had three hits, including a triple, for Derry. Josh Bauer was the winning pitcher with Alex Ulery notching the save.
Latrobe 4, Albert Gallatin 2 — Seth Holler and Doug Cengia each homered and singled as Latrobe scored two late runs to beat host Albert Gallatin in a Section 2-AAAA game.
Losing pitcher Nate Torbich tossed a complete game, allowing six hits and no walks with six strikeouts, and also homered in the second inning to give the Colonials (3-8, 0-7) a 1-0 lead.
R.J. Hlatky had two hits for AG.
The Wildcats (8-7, 3-3) scored twice to go up 2-1 in the fourth. The Colonials pulled even in the fifth when Joey Embacher singled, was bunted to second by Paul Dunham and scored on Nick Groover’s two-out single.
Latrobe scored once in the sixth and once in the seventh to set the final score. Zach Kokoska doubled for the Wildcats. Winning pitcher Jarred Kollar went the distance on a six-hitter with no walks and 10 strikeouts.
Connellsville 2, Penn-Trafford 0 — Brock Bonadio’s two-run homer provided the only runs of the game as Connellsville shut down host Penn-Trafford in an important Section 2-AAAA game.
Jim Malone pitched a two-hitter with one walk and five strikeouts for the Falcons (8-5, 3-3), who jumped over the Warriors (6-5, 3-4) into a third-place tie with Latrobe.
Losing pitcher Jake Laing gave him his only runs in the third inning when John Przybylinski singled and Bonadio hit his homer one out later.
Penn-Trafford’s biggest threat occurred in the fourth when they loaded the bases with two outs before Malone induced an inning-ending fly out.
Waynesburg Central 4, Frazier 2 — Waynesburg Central fended off Frazier for a Section2-AA victory.
Joel Rohanna and Hunter Robinson each hit a pair of doubles and Nick Fox also doubled for the Raiders (6-4, 5-3) who are in third place in the section.
Winning pitcher Terry Victor walked none and struck out six.
Frazier took a 1-0 lead in the fourth before Waynesburg came back with two in the fifth and one in the sixth to grab the lead for good.
Logan Muzina had two of the Commodores’ (0-10, 0-7) five hits. Losing pitcher Cody Morris walked four and struck out three.
South Park 3, Belle Vernon 2 — Josh Wagner’s two-out single in the bottom of the eighth brought in Brian Yoest from third with the winning run as South Park outlasted Belle Vernon in a Section 4-AAA clash.
The Eagles (7-7, 5-3) scored twice in the first on a passed ball and an RBI single by Wagner.
The Leopards (3-6, 3-5) tied it in the top of the second when Jordan Zilka singled and Mike Fine doubled to put runners at second and third. Ben Cole followed with a run-scoring ground out and Matt Benicky hit a sacrifice fly to make it 2-2.
It stayed that way until the eighth when two walks and a ground out that advanced the runners set the stage for Wagner, who grounded a hit up the middle.
Zilka had two hits for Belle Vernon.
Both pitchers went the distance.
Losing pitcher Jacob Calloway surrendered four hits and four walks with 14 strikeouts.
Uniontown 7, West Mifflin 5 — Uniontown scored all its runs in the second and third innings to hand visiting West Mifflin its first Section 4-AAA loss.
The Red Raiders (3-10, 3-7) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third, then countered two runs by the Titans (9-3, 7-1) in the fourth with four of their own in the bottom of the inning and hung from there.
Daniel Howard had three hits and an RBI for West Mifflin. Ryan Bytzura took the loss.
Laurel Highlands 6, Ringgold 2 — Laurel Highlands snapped a 1-1 tie with a five-run third inning on its way to a Section 4-AAA win over host Ringgold.
The win kept the Mustangs (5-6, 5-2) in second place in the section.
Robert Bricker was the winning pitcher. Conor Maciejewski took the loss.
The Rams fall to 2-6 overall and 2-5 in the section.
Jeannette 12, Geibel Catholic 0 — Zack Altieri had three hits, including a home run, and three Jeannette pitchers combined on a five-inning no-hitter as the Jayhawks (6-4, 4-3) blanked host Geibel Catholic in a Section 2-A game.
Jimmy Malik, who struck out five and walked one, and Mike Pompei, who struck out three, tossed two innings apiece. Trey Cunningham closed it out, striking out one.
Matt Mammarella took the loss for the Gators (0-9, 0-5).
Bentworth 11, Mapletown 0 — Bentworth slammed Mapletown in a five-inning Section 1-A game.
The Bearcats (8-2, 5-1) remain alone in second place. The Maples fall to 0-9 overall and 0-7 in the section.
Charleroi 7, Beth-Center 5 — Charleroi defeated visiting Beth-Center in a Section 2-AA game.
The Cougars improve to 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the section. The Bulldogs fall to 3-6 and 2-5.
Saturday Baseball
Laurel Highlands 1, South Park 0 — Laurel Highlands managed only one run, but Zach Uhazie and the Mustang defense made it stand up for a 1-0 win over South Park in Section 4-AAA baseball Saturday.
Uhazie scattered five hits in this complete-game shutout. He finished with five strikeouts and three walks, as LH improved to 6-6overall, 6-2 in section games. South Park fell to 6-7, 5-4.
The Mustangs got their run in the fourth inning, when Dom Peroni singled and advanced to second on an error on the throw. Mitch Gauden grounded out to shortstop, with Peroni taking third. Richie Pish doubled to right field to score Peroni.
Troy Kifer also doubled for LH. Kyle Thompson took the loss for South Park.
Waynesburg Central 6, Brownsville 1 — Freshman Trey Rohanna did something not many pitchers have managed this season when he limited Brownsville to five singles in a 6-1 Waynesburg Central win over the Falcons in Section 2-AA action Saturday at CONSOL Energy Park.
Rohanna pitched five innings before Brownsville loaded the bases in the sixth on a single and two walks. Hunter Robinson came on in relief and got comebacker to the mound for a force at home, struck out the No. 8 hitter, and got the ninth batter to hit a one-hopper to shortstop for the last out of the sixth.
The big hitter for the Raiders (7-4, 6-3) was No. 9 hitter Ryan Braun, who was 2-for-3 with 3 RBIs. He had an RBI single in the second inning and drove in two with a sixth-inning single.
Brownsville lost for the first time in 10 section games. Greg Stiner took the pitching loss for the Falcons (11-2, 9-1).
Jefferson-Morgan 7, Clay-Battelle 2 — Sophomore catcher Isaac Dean drove in three runs and was 3-for-4 to lead Jefferson-Morgan to a non-section win over Clay-Battelle at CONSOL Energy Park.
Gage Clark got the pitching win for the Rockets (5-7) by limiting Clay-Battelle to five hits, while John Lemley took the loss for the CeeBees. Joe Headlee doubled for JM and Stephen Cropper tripled for Clay-Battelle.
Boys Tennis
California 3, Thomas Jefferson 2 — California’s No. 1 doubles team of Austin Sutch and Michael Christopher rallied from a 3-0 deficit in the second set to pull out a second straight 6-4 win and give the Trojans a 3-2 Section 1-AA victory over visiting Thomas Jefferson in boys tennis action on Friday.
The Trojans won two of the three singles matches as John Monroe handled Jake Stock at No. 1, 6-0, 6-2, and Mario Tiberie swept by Bryan Ochs at No. 3, 6-2, 6-2.
The Jaguars took No. 2 singles with Cam Sarber beating Josh Wohar, 6-3, 6-2.
Thomas Jefferson’s No. 2 doubles team of Fred D’Asenzo and Todd Hedrick proved to be too much for Spencer Doman and Bryce Hite, 6-0, 6-0.
That left it up to the final match and Sutch and Christopher came through against Connor O’Leary and Jake Radovic with Christopher serving to close out the victory on Senior Day for California.