Central Catholic baseball sweeps season series over Seneca Valley

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, April 23, 2018 | 11:12 PM

The line between top and bottom in Section 1-6A baseball is so thin, NFL referee Gene Steratore could use the standings to see if the football is touching the lead stick for a first down. Coming into Monday, four teams were tied for first place, and only two games separated all six teams.

However, as tight as the race is, there was a large chasm between two of the tied teams for first place Monday as Central Catholic rolled past Seneca Valley, 11-1, in six innings at La Roche College.

“I certainly didn't expect that,” Central Catholic coach Pat Walsh. “Everything is so tight in this section. That hardly ever happens.”

The Vikings (8-4, 4-2) and Raiders (8-5, 3-3) had played four straight one-run games over the last couple of years before Central Catholic blanked Seneca Valley, 6-0, in their first meeting this year.

The gap grew quickly in the second clash as Central Catholic jumped on top in the first inning when Brandon Gelpi singled home Vinnie Rauso, who had been hit by a pitch by Seneca Valley starter Cory Greiner.

Control struggles haunted Greiner, who entered the game with a 1.40 ERA. In the second, Brandon Boyce singled and while trying to lay down a bunt, Austin Vigliotti walked. After a Tyler Casciato bunt, Rauso singled home two to make it 3-0.

Two more Vikings' runs chased Greiner in the third when with two outs, Eiiro Ogagan walked and scored on a triple by Boyce, who then scored on Vigliotti's single to make it 5-0.

A balk by reliever Brett Steinl scored Josh Egan to make it 6-0 in the fifth before Seneca Valley finally scored an unearned run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Mark Trotta that scored Anthony Cinicola.

The Vikings capped the game with five runs in the sixth, ending the contest with a two-run walk-off home run by Vigliotti.

Marshall McGraw continued his dominating season by allowing an unearned run in six innings with two hits, four walks and two strikeouts.

“Marshall is our top pitcher,” Walsh said. “He was dominant against them in the first game, giving up only one hit and striking out 10. He didn't have his best stuff today, but it shows what kind of pitcher he has become when he can still win even when he isn't overpowering.”

With Butler losing Monday, Central Catholic remains at least tied for first place in Section 1-6A, pending the outcome of the Shaler-North Allegheny game. That matchup was suspended in the 15th inning with each team scoreless. The Vikings are one game ahead of both Butler (6-4, 3-3) and Seneca Valley.

Don Rebel is a TribLive High School Sports Network broadcaster and staff writer. Reach him at drebel@tribweb.com.

Tags: Central Catholic, Seneca Valley