Neshannock Shows No Mercy In Pounding Char-Houston in WPIAL Class A Finals 11-1

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 | 12:00 AM

The second trip was better for the Neshannock Lancers, who were no-hit in last years title game against Serra Catholic. 2011 was a better experience as Tuesday night at Consol Energy Park, Neshannock won the WPIAL Class A title with an 11-1 victory over the Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers in six innings. Alex Strittmatter pitched a gem, allowing just one run in the top of the first inning and retired the last eleven batters he faced. Chris Tsangaris and Joe Cioffi each had three hits and scored three times from the top of the Neshannock lineup, the Lancers pounded out 13 hits.Anthony Van Eman drove in three runs, Cioffi drove in two runs as did John Sansone.

Char-Houston jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Dylan Pounds scored on a Scott Betts single with two outs. Neshannock answered as Tsangaris singled, stole second and third and scored on a throwing error by Betts. The Lancers took the lead for good in the second, Ryan Giangiuli was hit by a pitch, Ernie Burkes entered as a courtesy runner for the catcher, he stole second and then scored on a delayed double steal as John Conglose stole second.

Neshannock blew the game open in the third, Joe Cioffi doubled, Sansone was intentionally walked, Strittmatter bunted the runners up, and Anthony Van Eman doubled home two. Giangiuli doubled home Van Eman to put Neshannock up 5-1, that ended the day for Pounds, the starting pitcher for the Bucs. Josh Counihan came on in relief, he got the final out.

Four more runs were scored by the Lancers in the fourth, on five consecutive singles, putting Neshannock up 9-1. In the sixth, Tsangaris, Cioffi and Sansone all singled to start the inning. Counihan was able to get two ground balls with the infield in, but with the bases still loaded, Giangiuli worked the count full and drew a walk to end the game.

Strittmatter was the winning pitcher, fanning seven. He said that everything was working well tonight. He hopes to get the start in the opening round of the state playoffs on Monday. The Lancers are now 21-1 overall, head coach Mike Kirkwood said its never easy in the championship game. Kirkwood has been the head coach for all four of Neshannocks WPIAL title runs, in 1991, 2002 and 2004. He credited the defense, especially right fielder Alex Welker for running down two fly balls, that would likely go un-noticed in the box score.

For Char-Houston, the Bucs fall to 13-6 overall. Pounds was the losing pitcher, going 2.2 innings giving up 5 runs on 4 hits, he also hit two batters. Counihan pitched 3.2 innings, he allowed 6 runs on 7 hits.

Both teams are in the PIAA playoffs. The District 6 title game is on Wednesday at Blair County Ballpark between Bishop Carroll and Bishop McCort. Char-Houston gets the winner of that game, Neshannock gets the loser. The first round of the state playoffs is on Monday.

CHARTIERS-HOUSTON : 1 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – x = 1
NESHANNOCK : 1 – 1 – 3 – 4 – 0 – 2 – x = 11

Tags: Chartiers-Houston