WPIAL Baseball Playoff Recaps for Tuesday, May 21st

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, May 21, 2013 | 11:11 PM

Does good pitching beat good hitting? It certainly did on a warm and sunny Tuesday. There were eight WPIAL baseball games. Five ended in shutouts and the combined score of the losers in the other three games was three…one run each. Here is a look back at the day of the pitcher in District 7 with recaps from all eight Final Four contests.

A special thanks goes out to Mark Schaas, Josh Rowntree, Lee Mohn, Steve Nagler, Don Rebel and Mike Azadian for their help on these recaps.

WPIAL CLASS AAAA Semifinals:

Seneca Valley Raiders 6 – Pine-Richland Rams 0 
The Raiders will play for a third consecutive WPIAL title with the win at Pullman Park. Connor Coward pitched a complete game four hitter, fanning eight and went 2 for 2 at the plate, including a triple. The Raiders pounded out 12 hits off of Pine Richland starter and loser Marcus Colella. Seneca Valley led off the game taking a 1-0 lead, Carson Kessler’s two out single to right scored John Brittner. The Raiders added to the lead in the fourth, scoring three runs after two outs. Coward singled, Alex Hajduk doubled home courtesy runner Vince Augustine. Jon Dorogy singled to center, the throw home was in plenty of time to get Hajduk but catcher Joey Professori dropped the ball, allowing the run the score. Brad Gresock followed with a single to plate Dorogy and give Coward a 4-0 lead. Pine Richland’s best chance to score came in the fourth, David Laylock led off with a double, but Coward was able to strand him at third base. Kessler hit a homer down the left field line to lead off the fifth, Pine Richland would strand another runner, J.T. Riley doubled with two outs in the fifth but could not score. Coward’s triple came to lead off the sixth, Hajduk’s sac fly to center brought the pitcher home and ended the scoring. The Raiders got three hits from Dorogy, Kessler and Coward had two each. Kessler and Hajduk each drove home two runs. Seneca Valley is now 18-3 on the season, the Raiders advance to play North Allegheny for a third time in the WPIAL championship game next week, the Raiders won both meetings this season by identical 3-2 scores. Coach Eric Semega said that this season has been a total team effort that a different player has been able to step up each game. The Raiders battled some injuries early in the season but won 15 straight before falling to Montour in the regular season finale, Seneca Valley has won two straight entering the WPIAL title game. With the win, the Raiders also qualify for the PIAA playoffs. Seneca Valley will try and become the third team to win three or more consecutive WPIAL baseball titles, the former Allegheny School did it in 1917-22 and Pine Richland in 2004-06. Pine Richland got doubles from Laylock and Riley. Colella went the distance, he fanned five. The Rams end the season at 17-5.

North Allegheny Tigers 3 – Hempfield Spartans 0 
The North Allegheny Tigers advanced to the WPIAL finals Tuesday afternoon winning a pitcher's duel defeating Hempield 3-0.  Mitch Macci and Zack Martinelli did battle for the Tigers and Spartans and each pitcher were very good.  Machi pitched the 2 hit shutout and Martinelli gave up 6 hits and 3 runs.  North Allegheny scored the only run they needed in the bottom of the first inning when Brandon Bergstom walked to lead off the inning.  He was sacrifced to second by James Meeker and with two outs was driven in by Jimmy Divosevic.  Hempfield threatened in the third inning with two outs Nathan Mori walked and Joey Defloria reached on an error.  They both moved up 90 feet after a balk but Machi got Greg Martin to fly out to end the inning.  The Tigers would add the insurance runs they needed in the bottom of the sixth inning.  James Meeker led off with a single was sacrificed to second then a clutch two out single by Justin Datillo scored Meeker then J.T. Zeitler followed with another single to make the score 3-0.  Hempfield stranded 8 runners thanks to three walks and three errors but could not come up with the big hit.  North Allegheny will now move on to play section rival Seneca Valley for the WPIAL championship while Hempfield will take on Pine Richland for the number three seed in the upcoming PIAA tournament.

WPIAL CLASS AAA Semifinals:

South Park Eagles 1 – Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles 0 
The theme of the day was great pitching and nowhere was that more evident than at the Boyce-Mayview Complex Tuesday afternoon as the South Park Eagles blanked the Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles 1-0 in a WPIAL Class AAA Semifinals contest. The only run of the game was scored in the bottom of the first inning when Jake Bywalski led off with a single to right field and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He remained there as Keystone Oaks senior lefty Jared Skolnicki struck out Justin Dilla and Carter Grote, however Nick Yobbi bounced a single to right field and Bywalski beat a strong throw to the plate by Taylor Lehman for the 1-0 South Park lead. Those two singles would be the Eagles only hits off the Kent State recruit the rest of the game. Randy Dobnak got the start for South Park and was equally brilliant, allowing only an infield chopper over the mound by Nick Riggle for KO in his five innings of work with two walks and eight strike outs. Bywalski came in and pitched the scoreless sixth inning and got the first two outs in the seventh, however a line drive single to center by Walt Hepner forced South Park head coach Steve Bucci to go to Nick Yobbi, who most thought would get the start. Yobbi’s first pitch bounced to the back stop and allowed the tying run in Hepner to move to second base. However Ben Canty grounded back to Yobbi for the final out in an 80 minute pitching masterpiece by both teams. The trio of Dobnak (the winner), Bywalski (the hold) and Yobbi (the save) combined to allow no runs, two hits, three walks and nine strike outs. Meanwhile Skolnicki allowed just the one run in six innings of work on only two hits, one walk, one hit batter and eleven strike outs. Keystone Oaks falls to 17-5 and will face West Allegheny next week in the Class AAA Consolation game for a berth in the PIAA state playoffs at a site and time to be determined. South Park improves to 23-0 and will try to continue its perfect season on either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week at CONSOL Energy Park in Washington against the Hopewell Vikings. 

Hopewell Vikings 4 – West Allegheny Indians 0 
For the second time in as many postseason games, the Hopewell Vikings (20-3) had to defeat a worthy section foe to advance. On this night, the Vikings were able to avenge a home 4-3 loss to the Indians three weeks ago to move on to the WPIAL Class AAA Championship game. That game will feature #2 seed Hopewell taking on #1 seed South Park. Senior Viking starting pitcher Clayton Covalt was outstanding in shutting out West Allegheny. The right-hander scattered four hits and fanned 6 Indians en route to the 4-0 shutout victory. Covalt factored into the offensive output as well as he doubled home the first Viking run of the game in the 3rd inning. Arion Sepp and Logan Johnston singled ahead of Covalt and Sepp score when Covalt doubled into the left field corner against Indian starter Tyler Amadure. It was the last hitter Amadure would face. The Vikings would add three insurance runs in the bottom of the 4th inning. Joe Kunzman led off the inning with a sharp single into center field. After a fielders choice by Austin Mike, Ryan Cox followed with a base hit sending courtesy runner Adam Murray to third. Murray would then score on an RBI single by Sepp, who ended up with three hits on the evening. Cox then stole 3B and came around to score when catcher Brandon Pouch's throw sailed into left field allowing Cox to score the 3rd Hopewell run. A wild pitch by Indian reliever Colin Claus scored Sepp from 3rd base to round out the Viking scoring. Anthony Carter, Brendan Scanlon, Mike Cummings and Joe Kvederis had singles against Covalt but only Carter advanced past 1st base on the night for West Allegheny. The Indians' season ends with a record of 17-6, having lost two of 3 meetings with Hopewell on the year. 

WPIAL CLASS AA Semifinals:

Quaker Valley Quakers 4 – Deer Lakes Lancers 0 
Quaker Valley Senior Clayton Bouchard went 2-for-2 with an triple, RBI, a run scored, a walk, two stolen bases and even made multiple diving catches in left field, lifting the top-seeded Quakers (21-0) to a 4-0 Semifinal win over #4 Deer Lakes (17-4) on Tuesday at Fox Chapel High School. Jake Pilewicz pitched his second-straight complete game in these playoffs, allowing just 4 hits, while striking out 7 batters and walking just 1. Bouchard led off the bottom of the 1st inning with a walk and then scored on an RBI triple by Nelson Westwood. Westwood would then score as the relay throw from Lancers' shortstop Kevin Begley would go out of play, giving Quaker Valley a 2-0 lead after one inning of play. The Quakers would add on in the 2nd inning, as Christian Miller would reach on an error, steal second and score on an RBI single by Bouchard, giving Quaker Valley a 3-0 lead. In the 6th inning, Shane Emery would reach on a bunt single and score on an RBI triple by Matt Delie, giving Quaker Valley the eventual 4-0 final score. Adam Fredley picks up the loss for Deer Lakes, giving up 2 earned runs (3 total runs allowed) on 5 hits and 4 walks in 4.1 innings of work. Quaker Valley, which missed the playoffs the previous six seasons, moves into the WPIAL AA Championship game next week. They will meet #2 Beaver on either Tuesday or Wednesday at Consol Energy Park in Washington, PA. They Quakers will be searching for their first baseball Championship since 1984. Deer Lakes will face #14 Shady Side Academy in the WPIAL AA Consolation Game and will need to win in order to advance to the PIAA AA Playoffs. 
Note: The game had a 10-minute delay in the bottom of the 1st inning when Bouchard stole 2nd base and tore the base off the moorings.

Beaver Bobcats 8 – Shady Side Academy Indians 1 
The Bobcats will play for their first WPIAL title since 2008 with the victory over the Indians at Pullman Park. Senior Austin Ross scattered four hits to get the win and went 3 for 4 at the plate to pace the Bobcats to the title game. Beaver led 1-0 in the bottom of the first, Austin Logan singled, stole second and came home on Ross’ single. Shady Side Academy tied the game in the second on Chuck Calabrese fly out to center, bringing home Evan Eisner. It was all Beaver the rest of the way, the Bobcats got two in the fourth inning on run scoring singles by Jordan Yates and Jon Hill. Beaver blew the game open in the fifth with four runs, taking advantage of three Shady Side errors and a two run single by Jalen Lawson. Ben Herstine singled home the final Bobcat run in the sixth. Ross set down six batters in a row and allowed only four baserunners in the last five innings, he struck out six. Ross said his curveball was working well today and had good command of both of his pitches, he credited his defense, especially second baseman Alex Rowse, who made two outstanding plays behind Ross. Herstine, Nick Hineman, Yates and Lucas Shceidlemantle each had two hits for Beaver, the Bobcats pounded out 15 for the game. Coach Bruce Herstine said that he is so proud of his team and is grateful for the opportunity to play again for a WPIAL title, coming out of such a tough Section 5, which has produced the last three Class AA champions. Beaver has now won seven straight games and are guaranteed a berth in the state playoffs, the Bobcats are now 16-3. Paul McCullough took the loss for the Indians, going four innings, he allowed five runs on ten hits, he did strikeout seven. The Indians are now 14-8 overall, they will play in the consolation game next week to determine who will represent the WPIAL as the third team from the district in the state playoffs. 

WPIAL CLASS A Semifinals:

Western Beaver Golden Beavers 5 – Serra Catholic Eagles 1 
At North Allegheny High School in single A semifinal action the number one seed goes down as the Serra Catholic Eagles were defeated by the number 5 seed the Western Beaver Golden Beavers by a score of 5-1. Western scored a single run in the first ad Tracey Brozich walked, reached second after a pickoff attempt was thrown away, then scored on an error. They would leave the based loaded as Serra Starter Wayne Hydak walked 4 batters and was replace by Chad Hazaga. Neither pitcher had lost a game all year as they came in a combined 16-0. The Golden Beavers would plate a run in the 3rd after Ribett DiMaggio reached on an error, then Steve Robison reached on catcher’s interference. Cody Acon's single made it 2-0. On the mound for Western was Nick Miller. He has been a starter since his freshman year. The Juinior was stellar on The mound getting his 8th win on the year. He went 6 innings, gave up 5 hits, 6 walks, and struck out 14. His assortment of curveballs, fork ball, and sneaky fastball kept Serra off their game. Miller pitched out of trouble every inning but 2, the second when he struck out the side, and third when the Eagles scored on a walk, passed ball and 2 ground outs. He left the bases loaded in Thr 7th, left 2 men on in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 6th. Western plated two runs to go up 4-0 integrity 4th inning. An Sustin Allison leadoff walk, then with one out 4 straight singles gave them all the runs they needed. Miller went 2/4 with a double and single, and an RBI. DiMaggio was on base 3 times scoring scrub and getting 1 RBI. Steve Menich reached base three times and had an RBI single. With the Golden Beavers up 4-1 they would get an insurance run in the 5th as Miller doubled in Robert Ranon who walked to lead the inning off. Serra falls to 18-2 and will play in a consolation game for the right to make the state playoffs next week versus California. Western Beaver improves to 17-2 and will face Our Lady Of Sacred Heart next week at Consol Energy Field. They are in the finals again for the first time since 2000 when the won the title at Three Rivers Stadium.

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers 2 – California Trojans 1
Senior Preston Falascino went the distance and chipped in on offense as well to lead the Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers past he California Trojans 2-1 Tuesday afternoon at the Burkett Complex in Robinson Township. The Slippery Rock recruit struck out seven Trojans to pick up the victory while also driving in the winning run. Falascino had two hits and broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning with a sac fly. The Chargers improve to 19-2 and will face Western beaver in the WPIAL Class A championship game in search of the school’s first ever WPIAL baseball title. California is denied a repeat trip to the finals and falls to 17-5. The Trojans will face Serra Catholic in the Consolation game with a spot in the state playoffs up for grabs.