WPIAL Baseball Playoff Recaps for Wednesday, May 15th

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, May 15, 2013 | 10:41 PM

The turn-around from the First Round to the Quarterfinals was a quick one for all but one WPIAL baseball playoff team. 63 teams cut to 32 on Monday, then 32 shrunk to 16 48 hours later. But now the Final Four is set in each classification with the Semifinals set for next week. Here are recaps from all 16 games played on Quarterfinals Wednesday in the WPIAL Baseball Playoffs.

A special thanks to Mark Schaas, Randy Gore, Sam Hall, Mark Uriah, Jason Tennant, Josh Rowntree, Bob Gregg, Lee Mohn, Mike Azadian, Don Rebel, Bob Orkwis, Adam Hoerner and Bob Barrickman for their help on these recaps.

 WPIAL CLASS AAAA Quarterfinals:

Seneca Valley Raiders 2 – Bethel Park Black Hawks 0 
The 2 time defending champion Seneca Valley Raiders moved into the Semifinals Wednesday afternoon defeating Bethel Park 2-0.  Seneca Valley had the first round bye while Bethel Park was coming off a 6-3 victory Monday.  Seneca Valley got a strong pitching performance from Connor Coward.  Coward surrendered only 1 hit for the complete game shutout.  Bethel Park only had 1 runner reach 2nd base for the game.  Coward would strike out 6 on the day.  Seneca Valley would score all they need in the 3rd inning when Gianpaul Gonzalez hit a 2 out 2 run single in the 3rd inning for the games only runs.  Bethel Park's pitcher Tyler Grasshoff surrendered 7 hits while striking out 4.  Seneca Valley will now move on to the Semifinals next week to play their old section foe Pine Richland.

Pine-Richland Rams 4 – Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings 3 in 8 Innings 
J.T. Riley’s seeing-eye single to right field scored Daane Berezo with the winning run in the bottom of the 8^th inning in this WPIAL Class AAAA Quarterfinal matchup at North Allegheny High school. Berezo drew a leadoff walk to start the inning off of Vikings relief pitcher Garret Vrbanic. After Shane Heim sacrificed Berezo to second base, Shea Sullivan was intentionally walked. Vrbanic struck out Jack Hudak but Riley hit a ground ball past a diving M.P, Buckley and Luca Farina’s throw to the plate was late as Berezo slid home to give the Rams the 4-3 win. Pine-Richland led throughout the game, getting a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning for a 2-0 lead. David Laylock was struck on the helmet to start the inning and after Berezo drew a walk off of Central starter Matt Stoessel, a wild pitch put runners at second & third with one out. Heim grounded out to score Laylock and Sullivan hit a two-out double to bring home Berezo. Catcher Sabatino DiNardo picked up the first of his two hits to lead off the second for the Vikings. Courtesy runner Nate Fichtner would eventually score the first run for Central Catholic on P.J. DeMeo’s RBI single. Sullivan walked, stole second and scored on Zac Hunkele’s base hit to give Pine-Richland a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. That lead looked like it was going to hold up as Rams starting pitcher Jamie Switalski seemed in control. Pine-Richland loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning with one-out, but with the infield in Pittsburgh Central got a force out at the plate and when Heim was called for interfering with DiNardo’s throw to first, the inning was over. Vrbanic led off the top of the seventh for the Vikings but Switalski retired DeMeo and Frank Vozza and Central Catholic was down to its final out. But designated hitter Dom DeRenzo smashed a ball to the wall over the head of Heim in straight away centerfield to score Vrbanic, and when Berezo’s relay throw to third went over the Hudak’s head and out of play, Central Catholic had tied the game at 3-3 which set up extra innings and Riley’s heroics for the Rams. Riley finished 2-for-3 for Pine-Richland as did Sullivan. Berezo drew two walks and scored a pair of runs in the win for the Rams. In addition to Dinardo, DeMeo had two hits in a losing effort for Central Catholic. Vrbanic, who picked up a save in Central Catholic’s first round win over Penn-Trafford, took the loss for the 5^th seeded Vikings. Switalski was the complete game winner for Pine-Richland, allowing 8-hits and two earned runs in while striking out 5 and walking no one in eight innings. Pittsburgh Central Catholic finished the 2013 campaign with a record of (17-5). Pine-Richland (17-4), seeded 4^th in the Quad-A tournament, moves on to the semifinals for the first time since 201o when the Rams won the WPIAL Title. The Rams will face former section foe Seneca Valley in the semifinals. The top seeded Raiders, the two-time defending WPIAL Quad-A Champions, defeated Bethel Park 2-0 to reach the round of four for the 3^rd straight season. The Raiders lost to Pine-Richland in s slugfest 14-11 in a non-section game on April 3^rd earlier this season.

North Allegheny Tigers 5 – Plum Mustangs 0 
North Allegheny pitchers Mitch Machi and James Meeker combined for a seven-hit shutout on Wednesday afternoon as the Tigers defeated the Plum Mustangs, 5-0, in the Class AAAA WPIAL Quarterfinals from Matulevic Field. Machi sidestepped his way through numerous jams to blank the Mustangs through five innings and improve to 5-0 on the season. Meeker earned his first save of the season with two innings of clean relief, striking out three. Plum’s inability to squeeze bunt in the second and third innings helped the Tigers escape two major threats and hold a 1-0 lead heading into the fifth. With Machi and the Tigers defense controlling the Plum lineup, North Allegheny started to pull away from the Mustangs down the home stretch. In the fifth inning, Jimmy Divosevic scored Matt Waugaman with an RBI single to improve the lead to 2-0. The Tigers added on in the sixth inning when Brandon Bergstrom trotted home on a Plum error to stretch the lead to 3-0. North Allegheny capped the scoring in the seventh inning on back-to-back squeeze bunt RBI’s by Zach Woloszyk and Machi to put the game away, 5-0. On the mound for Plum, starter Alex Kiriloff tossed six innings, allowing three runs on eight hits, dropping his record to 3-2 on the year. With the victory, North Allegheny improves to 18-4 on the season and advances to the WPIAL semifinals. Plum’s season ends with a record of 15-7.  

Hempfield Spartans 7 – Canon-McMillan Big Macs 3 
At North Allegheny High School in WPIAL AAAA Quarterfinal playoff action the number three seed Hempfield Spartans beat the number six seed the Canon McMillan Big Macs 7-3. They scored a total of 4 runs in the first three innings and never looked back, taking advantage of Big Mac errors and walks. They never trailed and put the game away in the 7th inning.  A Joey Defloria 2 out walk then a Greg Martin RBI double gave the Spartans a 1-0 first inning lead, a Nolan Beresford leadoff walk an error and a RBI ground out by Bryan Tomasko would put Hempfield up 2-0. The Big Macs would plate 2 runs in the third inning to tie the game, a lead off HR by Teagan Pichnic a Frank Fortunato single and an RBI single by Jared Beach got them even. Canon Mac had a runner thrown out at home or they would have led going into the 4th.  In the bottom of the 4th Hempfield used two straight lead off walks and a 2 RBI single by Martin to take the lead at 4-2. Martin started the game for the Spartans and went 4 innings for the win giving up two runs on 5 hits, he walked 2 and struck out 3. Tyler Tubbs would come on to throw the final three to get the save giving up a run on 1 hit walking 1 and striking out 3.  Canon Mac would have a chance in the 4th inning loading the bases but leadoff hitter Frank Fortunato struck out looking. They would score though in the 5th on a Kevin Forrester single and an error on the Hempfield third baseman to make the score 4-3. In this 5th inning the Big Macs would have another runner thrown out at home. Two Outfielod assists by Hempfield may have saved the day in this game. In the 6th ining with two outs and a runner on 3rd base Fortunato again would look at a called strike three to end the inning and leave anpther runner on base.  The Spartans scored a single run in the 5th on a Nathan Mureye single and an RBI fielders-choice by Marc Demillio to get back the 2 run lead to make it 5-3. In the bottom of the 6th the Spartans would tack on two more runs on a walk, and three singles to make the final 7-3.  Hempfield improves to 19-3 and moves on to the semifinals against North Allegheny next week on a date and time to be determind. Mureye went 2 for 4 with 2 singles, Martin went 3 for 4 with 2 singles, a double and 3 RBI to lead the Spartans.  Canon Mac ends their season at 12-8. Beach reached base three times on a single , a walk, and a hit batter, Forrester reached on a single and a walk, and Pichnic also reached base three times on a HR, hit batter and error to lead the Big Macs.

WPIAL CLASS AAA Quarterfinals:

South Park Eagles 6 – Thomas Jefferson Jaguars 0 
For the second-straight playoff game, #1 South Park (22-0) was nearly untouchable, running away with a 6-0 Quarterfinal victory over section rival #9 Thomas Jefferson (13-9) on Wednesday at Burkett Sports Complex in Robinson. After blanking Yough 10-0 in the 1st round and with Randy Dobnak allowing just one hit, Nick Yobbi picked right up where Dobnak left off. Yobbi, a South Carolina Aiken recruit, threw a complete game, 3-hitter, striking out 5 batters and walking just one. Early on though, the story looked to be the sensational performance from Jaguars' pitcher Braden Flinn. A regular JV player, Flinn was thrown into the starting role due to a lack of arms on the varsity staff after Thomas Jefferson's 11 inning, 5-4 opening round win over Indiana in which both top starters were used by the Jaguars. It was the first varsity action of Flinn's career, according to Jaguars' coach Kevin Gryboski. The sophomore retired 11 of the first 14 batters he faced, but the 5th inning was his downfall. After an error and single put Shane Fetsko and Greg Pantuso on base, Dobnak would crush a ball over the left field fence, putting South Park up 3-0. They would add another in the inning on an RBI single by Yobbi and two more in the 6th inning on a 2-run home run by Pantuso off of Thomas Jefferson reliever Eric Fairman. Pantuso finished 2-for-3 with the home run, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Yobbi only allowed four base runners in the game, with just one reaching 2nd base. South Park will now face #5 Keystone Oaks (16-4) in the WPIAL AAA Semifinals at a site and time to be determined. Flinn finished with 5-plus innings pitched, allowing 5 hits and 4 earned runs, while striking out and walking two batters respectively.   

Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles 4 – Chartiers Valley Colts 3 
Keystone Oaks batted around in the fourth, scoring four runs as the Golden Eagles downed Chartiers Valley, 4-3.  The two teams split their regular season matchups, the home team winning both times.  The Colts had plenty of opportunities to score, and plated single runs in three different innings, but nine runs left on in a one-run loss will sting for a while as will the knowledge that the potential tying run was thrown out at the plate for the second out in the top of the seventh.  The Golden Eagles opened their big inning with a sharp single up the middle by Ryan Ribeau.  Winning pitcher Taylor Lehman followed with a double to right, moving Ribeau to third.  Nick Riggle grounded to short, scoring Ribeau and moving Lehman to third.  John Beveridge walked, went to second on Ben Canty's run-scoring single.  Eric Fawcett sacrificed the runners ahead one base and Ryan Rosato drove in both with a single to left.  Chartiers Valley (17-5) scored the game's first run an inning earlier.  Tanner Garis singled and went to third on Cole Horew's basehit.  Matt Mulvihill grounded into a doubleplay, allowing Garis to race home.  In the Colts' sixth, Jon Kletzli singled after one out and moved to third on a double by Josh LaPiana.  Pinch-hitter Chris Salerno battled at the plate, then ripped a shot into and out of the glove of third-baseman Brandon Gresh.  The ball landed just a few feet away but left him with no play and the bases filled.  Beveridge relieved Lehman and walked Jimmy Palmer, forcing in a run.  But a comebacker and a force play at second ended the threat with KO holding to a 4-2 lead.  In the final inning, Cole Horew singled and went to second when Mulvihill walked.  Jake Horew ran for Mulvihill at first.  Dom Castello failed in a bunt attempt, then popped out in the infield.  Kletzli doubled to the base of the fence in rightcenter, scoring Cole Horew.  Jared Skolnicki snagged the ball of the track, threw to Ryan Rosato near second and the relay to the plate was in time to retire Jake Horew.  A strikeout ended the rally and the game.  Lehman was the winner for Keystone Oaks (17-4), allowing two runs and nine hits over 5-1/3 innings.  Beveridge earned a save, working the final 1-1/3 innings and stranding the tying and/or go-ahead runs in the sixth and seventh.  Josh LaPiana took the loss, nearly all the damage he suffered happened in the 4-run fourth. LaPiana gave up all four runs on seven hits, four walks and one hit batter over 4-1/3 innings. Castello pitched the final 1-2/3 frames and retired five of the seven batters, not allowing a hit.  Lehman was the only Keystone Oaks player with two hits.  Chartiers Valley got two hits from Garis, Cole Horew, Kletzli and LaPiana.  The Colts had hits in every inning but scored in only three frames.  CV played 15 innings in this year's two playoff rounds, scored runs in only five of them, single runs in each.

Hopewell Vikings 13 – Blackhawk Cougars 3
Blackhawk scored three runs before an out was recorded in the bottom of the first inning but didn’t score again the rest of the game as the Cougars lost to Hopewell, 13-3 in the WPIAL AAA baseball quarterfinals.  In the contest played at Burkett Athletic Complex in Robinson Township, Joe Campagna hit a double to bring home a run before Brendan McKay hit a towering 2-run homer to give Blackhawk the early 3-1 lead.  But, Viking starter Stefan Mrkonja settled down to pitch four scoreless innings and picked up the victory.  First baseman Tim Hughes paced the Hopewell offense with two hits and three RBI.  The Vikings sent 12 batters to the plate in the fourth inning when they scored seven runs.  Cody Bain took the loss for Blackhawk and he was followed by four more Cougars on the mound.   It was the third win in as many tries for Hopewell over its Section 1 rival this season.  The Vikings will take a 19-5 record into the semifinals against West Allegheny.  The Indians handed Hopewell its only section setback this year.  Defending WPIAL champion Blackhawk saw its season end at 10-7.

West Allegheny Indians 4 – Trinity Hillers 2 
West Allegheny scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning, and that was all sophomore pitcher Colin Claus needed, as the Indians downed Trinity 4-2 Wednesday in the quarter-finals of the WPIAL baseball playoffs. Shea Baumont and Brenden Scanlon each hit sacrifice flies in the three-run West A first inning, and Joe Kvederis added an rbi single. The Indians added an unearned run in the 4^th.  Claus tossed a complete game for the win, striking out 10. The Hillers got RBI singles from Cory Humphries in the 3^rd and Ryan Moon in the 7^th.  Trinity (10-9) had opportunities with back-to-back singles to start the 6^th and 7^th innings, but Nick Riotto was out trying to advance to third on a wild pitch in the 6^th. Claus then struck out the next 2 batters. In the 7^th, Claus induced a double-play ball before surrendering Moon’s rbi single, then got Zach Cain to ground out, ending the game. The Indians (17-5) advance to the WPIAL semi-finals with the victory.

WPIAL CLASS AA Quarterfinals:

Quaker Valley Quakers 6 – Freeport Yellowjackets 1 
It wasn't pretty, but style points mean nothing in the WPIAL baseball postseason. Only wins matter, and Quaker Valley has been perfect this season when it comes to earning the big 'W'. Trailing 1-0 in the 4th inning, the Quakers scored five runs with only one ball hit out of the infield as they improved to 20-0 this season with a 6-1 victory over the Freeport Yellowjackets Wednesday afternoon at Fox Chapel High School. Quaker Valley ace Jake Pilewicz got off to a shaky start when after two outs in the first inning, Levi Negley singled to left, Matt Swartz walked, Damon Smith was hit by a pitch and Luke Mariotti walked to force in the games first run. Negley's single would be the last hit for Freeport and the walk to Marriotti would be the Yellowjackets last baserunner until an error with two outs in the 7th innings ended a string of 18 batters in a row retired.  Freeport starter Ethan McCormick matched Pilewicz through the first three innings, but he hit a big old Quakers wall in the fourth inning. McCormick walked two of the first three batters he faced in the fourth, then Matt Delie hit what would be the only ball to leave the infield in the inning, a single to center field that tied the game at 1-1. Two more walks forced home the go-ahead run and ended the day for McCormick as Robbie Miller came on in relief with the bases loaded and one out. An infield single by Clayton Bouchard, another bases loaded walk to Nelson Westwood and an infield single by Pilewicz scored three more runs, which was more than enough. Quaker valley added another run in the 7th when courtesy runner Roberto Gibson, running for Pilewicz who had doubled, scored on a Miller wild pitch. Pilewicz allowed one earned run on one hit, 3 walks (all in the first) and 5 strikeouts in the complete game victory. Freeport's season ends at 12-4 while the unbeaten Quakers advance to the Class AA Semifinals where they will face Deer Lakes next week.

Deer Lakes Lancers 4 – Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions 3 
Maybe 2013 really will be The Year of the Deer. Deer Lakes continue to find ways to win close games as they beat Greensburg Central Catholic Monday 4-3 at Fox Chapel High School for their second straight one-run victory in the postseason. The Centurions scored first off Lancers starter Todd Coleman in the 2nd inning when Andrew Lipniskis walked, Tommy Pellis singled and Matt Oleyar walked to load the bases. Cole Reese then chopped one to second baseman Jimmy Feil who tried to tag Oleyar but was ruled safe on the tag and thre throw to first by the umpires. but after discussing the play, the umps ruled the tag was made and it turned into an RBI fielders choice for Reese. With runners at the corners and two out, Lancers head coach Jon Pedrosky ordered an intentional walk of GCC leadoff hitter Garrett Brooks, who came into the game hitting .610. The strategy paid off when Colin Liberatore hit into a fielders choice to end the inning. Later, Pedrosky walked Brooks again, this time with runners at first and second with two out and again Coleman induced Liberatore into an inning ending fielders choice. "I was not going to let Garrett Brooks beat us today," Pedrosky would later say about the two against the grain decisions. The Lancers tied the game in the 4th when Josh Plocki walked with two out, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Jimmy Feil despite a great diving attempt in center field by Eddie Kilkeary. Deer lakes took the lead for good in the 6th when Coleman walked and Adam Fredley singled with one out. After GCC starter Sean Bialecki struck out Zach Hudicek, Josh Plocki ripped a triple over the head of Centurions right fielder Cole Reese to make it 3-1. Plocki then scored on a wild pitch in what would be a much need fourth run for Deer Lakes. It stayed 4-1 until the bottom of the 7th when Coleman walked Corey Marshall and Kilkeary singled to center. After a strike out and a fly out, Matt Oleyar kept the Centurions hopes alive with a double to right to score two runs and cut the lead to 4-3. However reese grounded out to short and the Lancers are Final Four bound. Coleman went the distance, allowing 3 earned runs on 8 hits with 4 walks and 6 strike outs. he now has a win and a save this postseason as Deer Lakes improves to 17-3 and will face top-seed Quaker Valley in the Semifinals next week.. The season ends for Greensburg Central Catholic with a final mark of 12-6.

Beaver Bobcats 6 – Laurel Spartans 0 
Senior Austin Logan tossed the game of his life to pace the Bobcats into the semifinals for the first time since Beaver won the 2008 Class AA championship. Logan set a career high with 17 strikeouts and allowed just two hits to get the shutout at Pullman Park. It was the third win for Beaver over Laurel this season, the first two came in the ultra-competitive Section 5 race.  Logan retired the first twelve batters he faced with nine k’s before R.J. Stewart broke up the perfect game with a fifth inning leadoff single, he struck out the side in four of the seven innings. Logan said he was able to hit his location tonight, with great command of the fastball, he said he is not a strikeout pitcher, that he has had success getting ahead of hitters but not being able to finish with a k. He said the confidence started to build after punching out eight of the first nine he faced. Head coach Bruce Herstine called Logan’s performance one of the best he has ever seen in his tenure at Beaver. The Bobcats left the bases loaded in the second, they scored their first run in the third, Logan led off with a double then was brought home by Radford recruit Austin Ross with a double and a 1-0 lead. Beaver blew the game open in the fifth, sending ten men to the plate and scoring five runs, the key hit was a Jordan Yates two run single. Back to back run scoring singles by Matt Rose and Jon Hill chased Laurel starter and losing pitcher Jake Dando from the game. Coach Herstine said his players seem to click in the fourth and fifth innings, the Bobcats pounded out nine hits on the night. The focus shifted back to Logan, he struck out the side in the sixth and Dando to lead off the seventh. George Washington recruit Brandon Ritchie singled with one out. Logan would walk his only two batters of the game to load the bases but fanned Joe Dantico to end the game. Nick Hineman and Matt Ross each had two hits for the Bobcats, who have won six consecutive games and go to 15-5 on the season. Coach Herstine said he is so happy for his team, especially the seniors, including his son Ben, who is the starting catcher. He has been with this group of kids since they were five years old and to make it to the semis and maybe beyond is so special. The Bobcats are also the last team alive from Section 5 and will try to keep the streak alive, the last three Class AA champions have come from the section. The season ends for Laurel at 10-8, but Coach Erie Verdi has now had his team into the quarterfinals for five consecutive years. 

Shady Side Academy Indians 2 – Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers 1 
Jake Kleindl doubled to rightcenter, driving in two runs and giving Shady Side Academy a walk-off, 2-1 win over Chartiers-Houston. The two-base hit was the just the fourth of the game for SSA, and the only one for extra bases.  With Chartiers-Houston leading 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh, Chuckie Scales was hit by a pitch with one out, stole second and, following a walk to Chris Sawicki, went to third on a flyout.  Sawicki stole second on the first pitch to Kleindl.  The right-handed hitter was hitless in three at bats.  Losing pitcher Alec Ferrari fell behind 2-1 and brought a curve ball that Kleindl drove the other way, plating Scales and Sawicki, winning the game.  Ferrari had allowed only three singles but walked five, dodging several earlier scoring opportunities.  Shady Side Academy (14-7) loaded the bases with one out in the fourth, but Ferrari struck out the next two to end the threat. The Indians also put runners at second and third with two out in  the second.  Again, a strike closed it down.  Chartiers-Houston (12-8) took the 1-0 lead two batters into the game.  Doug Dinardo doubled to rightcenter and scored on Kaleb Susko's bad-hop groundball single up the middle.  Winning pitcher Coleman Strohm retired 16 of the next 17 batters before the Bucs got two singles in the sixth.  Strohm allowed one run on five hits, walked two and struck out nine.  Ferrari was charged with two runs on four hits, six walks, a hit batter and eight strikeouts.

WPIAL CLASS A Quarterfinals:

Serra Catholic Eagles 10 – Bishop Canevin Crusaders 1 
Serra Catholic (18-1, 10-0) put up five runs in the first inning of its WPIAL Class A Quarterfinal matchup with Section 2 rival Bishop Canevin (8-6, 7-3), and it definitely set the tone for a 10-1 victory. In that first inning, Parker Janosko would start the scoring from third on a wild pitch from Crusaders’ starter Cameron Kohan. Chad Hazaga would single home Brandon Coddington for what would prove to be the winning run, and then Hazaga would score himself as John Fazio reached first thanks to an error on the shortstop. Dave Glumach’s triple would close out the early flourish by scoring Fazio and Dan Popovich. The Eagles added to the lead with an RBI double from Dave Glumac which scored Coddington in the second. Bishop Canevin got on the board in the fourth when Zach Cortese blasted a double which nearly got out of the park at the left field wall, but it was enough to score relief pitcher Mitch Tauffer. Serra Catholic would answer right back in the bottom half of that inning, though, as Wayne Hydak’s single plated Coddington along with pinch-runner Noah Kinsner. The Eagles closed out the scoring in the fifth inning on two unearned runs as reliever Sam Smallhoover issued two free passes with the bases loaded, bringing home Coddington and Kugler. Tip your cap to Tauffer, who struck out six over three full innings of relief. Hazaga pitched a complete game for the Eagles, striking out three. Serra Catholic will now face Western Beaver in the Semifinals next week.

Western Beaver Golden Beavers 6 – Carmichaels Mighty Mikes 1 
The Western Beaver Golden Beavers used 5 late runs to pull away for a 6-1 win over Carmichaels at Chartiers Valley High School to advance to the WPIAL Class-A Quarterfinals.  The first five innings were tight, and both starting pitchers, Josh Mundell for the Mikes and Nick Miller for Western Beaver, started great.  Mundell retired the first 6 batters he faced and allowed only one baserunner in the first three innings when Cody Acon led off the third with a single.   Miller allowed only 2 baserunners in the first three innings, issuing 2 walks in the second.  Both teams would scratch out runs in the fourth inning.  The Golden Beavers' Robert DiMaggio came up with a 1-out single, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch.  He would score the game's first run on a sacrifice fly by Steve Menich.  The Mighty Mikes answered in the bottom half of the fourth with a lot of small ball.  Ryan Zalar led off with a walk and Mike Blasinsky followed with a single, the Mikes' first hit off of Miller.   Zalar and Blasinsky's courtesy runner, Reed Long, would both advance on a sacrifice bunt by clean-up hitter Tommy Shoaf.  The Mikes bunted back-to-back when Ty Cole squeezed home Zalar from third to tie the game.  The Golden Beavers had a chance to take the lead in fifth when Steve Robison led off with a walk, and just like DiMaggio the inning before, stole second and advance to third on a wild pitch.  However with the runner at third and nobody out, Mundell was able to get two groundouts to third and a strikeout to keep Western Beaver off the board.  Carmichaels also had a runner in scoring position in the fifth when Tyler Shoaf led off with a walk and was sacrificed to second.  He was then caught in a rundown between second and third on a pickoff move by Miller and the threat was over.  After getting out of the jam in the fifth, Mundell nearly came up with a better escape in the sixth, but the Golden Beavers finally broke through.  With runners at the corners and one out, Carmichaels intentionally walked Menich to load the bases.  Mundell then struck out John Petrosky looking and was one out away from once again holding the Golden Beavers off the scoreboard.  That big strikeout though led to a huge letdown when Robison walked on  4 pitches to give Western Beaver the lead.  Mundell was relieved by Cory Fuller after the walk and Acon came through with a huge 2-run single to give the Golden Beavers a 4-1 lead.  Western Beaver added two more insurance runs in the seventh when Menich doubled in two more.  He would end the game with 3 RBI.  The winning pitcher was Miller, who went the distance, striking out 5.  He allowed only two hits, both by Blasinsky, but walked 7.  The loss went to Mundell with 5 strikeouts and 4 walks.  He allowed only 3 hits in his 5.2 innings. Western Beaver will play top-seeded Serra Catholic in the Semifinals.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers 5 – Union Scotties 1 
The Chargers picked up their 17^th consecutive win in advancing to the semifinals for the second straight year. Preston Falascino struck out ten and scattered five hits for the complete game victory. The Chargers had an opportunity to blow the game open early, as Union starter Carrington Bell was wild, walking four over the first two innings but Bell was able to strike out the side in the first and got two k’s in the second to keep the game scoreless. OLSH scored in the top of the third. Falascino singled with one out, after a Jason Lanoy walk, Tristen Snyder singled to shallow left field to plate Falascino and put OLSH up 1-0. Union missed out on an opportunity in the bottom of the inning with runners on the corners and two outs, John Hilke tried to score on a wild pitch and was tagged out by Falascino. The Chargers scored two more in the fourth, Dan Bechek’s triple to the 385 foot sign in left center field, brought home Noah Shaheen and Santino Platt. The Scotties scored their run in the bottom of the inning with two outs. Bell reached on an infield single and Drew Robinson doubled to the same left center gap. OLSH scored in the sixth, Falascino helped his cause by doubling home Platt, the Chargers also scored in the seventh. Shaheen with a sac fly to left to bring home the fifth run. Union had opportunities in both the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth, the Scotties had runners at the corners and no one out and did not score, Falascino got two ground outs to second sandwiching a strikeout of Wayne Seamans. In the sixth, Union had the bases loaded with one out, but John Hilke hit into an inning ending 4-6-3 double play. OLSH is now 18-2 overall. Platt, Falascino, Snyder and Tim Mulvey each had two hits. Union ends the season at 13-6. Bell took the loss, going the distance. He allowed eleven hits and five walks but struck out nine. Robinson was the only Scottie with two hits.

California Trojans 6 – Riverview Raiders 4 
The California Trojans advanced to the semi-finals with a 6-4 win over Riverview Wednesday afternoon at West Mifflin middle school. Cal pitcher Brian Fisher battled through six and two-thirds innings to get the win for the Trojans. Fisher allowed four runs on six hits walked five and struck out six in the win. The Trojans put a pair of runs on the board in the first as Riverview starter Anthony Malky struggled with his control on an incredibly windy day. Malky walked nine, and allowed six runs on eight hits while striking out six in six innings of work to take the loss. California took advantage of the free passes as five of their six runs scored, reached base by way of getting the base on balls. Josh Luko, Aaron Previsky, Ronnie Baron, Louden Conte, and Brian Fisher eached picked up single rbis on the day for California. Tied at three California plated single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings then hels on in the seventh as the Raiders tried to rally. After two quick outs Malky drew a walk from Fisher then scored on a Jake Paradise triple. One of thre hits on the afternoon for Paradise. California head coach Don Hartman relieved Fisher with freshman Louden Conte who got a pop fly to end the ball game. The Trojans improve to 17-4 with the win and move on to the semi-finals to face the OLSH Chargers. With the loss the Raiders fell to 15-3 on the year.