Apr 23, 2018 By The 5 min read

Laurel Highlands is halfway home to a section title after earning a 6-2 victory over Gateway on Saturday evening at Gateway.

The Mustangs improved to 7-0 in section and overall play, while the Gators fell to 6-2 in Section 3-AAAAA action and 7-2 overall.

Laurel Highlands jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning before Gateway cut the deficit to 2-1 with a run in the fourth. LH scored two in the fifth and sixth innings for a 6-1 advantage. The Gators scored one run in the sixth.

The Mustangs scored 74 runs in their first five games before Albert Gallatin hold them to seven on Wednesday.

Laurel Highlands sophomore left hander Andino Vecchiolla earned the win to improve to 3-0 with a 0.88 ERA. He allowed two earned runs on six hits in six innings with seven strikeouts and one walk. Teammate Mason McManus pitched a perfect seven with one strikeout.

The Mustangs’ Tan Erminio had two doubles, scored a run and had one RBI. Laurel Highlands’ Josh Burns, Chad Petrush and Ian Edenfield each had a hit and RBI. Edenfield had one stolen base.

Laurel Highlands didn’t commit any errors while Gateway made two.

Albert Gallatin 8, McKeesport 5 — Albert Gallatin trailed McKeesport briefly in the first inning, but exploded for seven runs in the second on its way to an 8-5 Section 3-AAAAA victory on Saturday at McKeesport.

The Colonials (3-3, 4-5) held a 7-3 lead after the Tigers (0-5, 0-6) scored two runs in their half of the second. McKeesport added another run in the third for a 7-4 Albert Gallatin advantage.

The Colonials scored a run in the sixth before the Tigers added one run in the seventh.

Albert Gallatin’s Adam Simon had two singles, and an RBI. Teammate Mike Coll tripled and had one RBI.

The Colonials’ Nate Bricker, Jace Capellini, Steve Angel and Willie Palmer each had a base hit.

Bricker, Simons and Colby Uphold had two stolen bases apiece.

Chandler Goodwin picked up the win after allowing four runs (two earned) on three hits in four innings. He had four strikeouts and walked four in throwing 78 pitches (48 strikes). Palmer pitched two innings and Bricker closed things out to earn the save.

Belle Vernon 3, Uniontown 2 — Uniontown had twice as many hits as Belle Vernon, but three unearned runs doomed the Red Raiders in a 3-2 setback to the Leopards on Saturday at John DiVirgilio Field in Section 3-AAAA play.

Uniontown (4-4, 6-5) held a 1-0 lead in the third inning, but Belle Vernon (6-1, 6-1) came back with two in the sixth for a 3-1 advantage before the Red Raiders added a run in the seventh.

Uniontown starting pitcher Brandon Swaney took the loss after allowing three runs (none earned) on four hits in six innings. He had two strikeouts and no walks.

Joe Sabolek picked up the win after giving up two earned runs on eight hits in seven. He had four strikeouts and didn’t walk a batter.

The Leopards’ Garrett Greco had two hits, while Sabolek and Jake Rathway had Belle Vernon’s other two hits. Logan Seliga knocked in one run.

The Red Raiders’ Kaine Frye had two hits and an RBI. Teammate Brandon Bell had two hits and scored one run.

Uniontown looks to get back on track when it hosts West Mifflin (6-2, 9-3) this evening at 7 p.m. at Hutchinson Field.

Belle Vernon hosts South Park (2-5, 7-6) tonight at 7 p.m.

California 7, Bentworth 5 — Bentworth’s late rally wasn’t enough in a 7-5 Section 1-AA setback to California on Saturday at Bentworth.

The Trojans (5-2, 5-3) took a 3-0 lead after the second inning and pushed their lead to 6-0 with one run in the third and two in the fifth.

The Bearcats (0-7, 1-8) scored three in the sixth to cut the deficit in half before California added a run in the seventh for a 7-3 advantage. Bentworth added two more in the seventh, but the Trojans’ Payton Conte was able to close things out for the save.

Jacob Swartz picked up the win.

Conte had three hits and three RBIs. Teammate Nathan Zemany had double and RBI.

California hosts Chartiers-Houston (4-3, 5-4) today at 4:30 p.m.

The Bearcats host Fort Cherry (5-2, 5-2) this afternoon at 4 p.m.

Mapletown 13, Geibel Catholic 0 — Mapletown scored nine first-inning runs en route to a 13-0 Section 2-A victory over Geibel Catholic on Saturday at Mapletown.

The Maples (2-4, 2-6) added a run in the third and three in the fourth. The Gators (0-5, 0-6) had four hits.

Mapletown’s Lance Stevenson had four hits, and teammate Dylan Rush had three, including a triple. The Maples’ Brandon Bogden had three hits and two RBIs.

Mapletown’s Chuck Lash, Brandon Donley, Noah Haines and Lane Powell had two hits.

Geibel Catholic’s Isaiah Krizner had two hits, including a double.

High school softball

Greater Latrobe 3, Yough 0 — Greater Latrobe held Yough to five singles and scored three in the fourth inning for a 3-0 non-section win on Saturday at Latrobe.

The Lady Cougars’ Kierra Waywood allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits in six innings. She had five strikeouts and walked two.

Yough returns to Section 2-AAAA play on Tuesday when its hosts West Mifflin (4-3, 7-4) at 4 p.m.