May 10, 2018 By The 2 min read

Hempfield 6, Laurel Highlands 5 – Laurel Highlands took an early lead in the first inning, but Hempfield rallied for a 6-5 walk-off victory over the Mustangs on Wednesday in non-section play at Hempfield.

The Spartans, who won the Section 2 title out of Class 6A, finished their regular season at 15-5, while the Section 3-AAAAA champion Mustangs fell to 15-3. The two find out their playoff fate today when the WPIAL announces the playoff brackets. Both teams should be in line for a bye in the first round.

Laurel Highlands jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but Hempfield scored three runs in the second to cut the deficit to one. Coach Scott DeBerry’s team added a run in the third before the Spartans scored one in the bottom of the inning and one in the sixth. The home teams scored one run in the bottom of the seventh.

The Mustangs had five players with multi-hits in Ian Edenfield, Nate Zimcosky, Mason McManus, Travis Sankovich and Josh Burns. LH outhit the Spartans, 11-10. Edenfield had his team’s lone extra-base hit, a double, and one RBI. McManus, Zimcosky, Rich Mehall and Chad Petrush had one RBI apiece.

Andino Vecchiolla suffered his first loss of the season in surrendering six runs (five earned) on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings pitched. The left-handed sophomore had two strikeouts, walked one and threw 87 pitches.

Jake Anderson came on in relief in the third and picked up the win. He didn’t allow a run on five hits in four innings. He had three strikeouts and walked one in throwing 58 pitches.