Greensburg Salem “comes up clutch” in quarterfinal upset
By:
Tuesday, May 22, 2018 | 3:49 PM
As the droning deadpan of eight scoreless innings stretched into nine, Greensburg Salem’s confidence seemed to grow.
The Golden Lions absorbed every blow they were dealt from No. 1 seed Blackhawk, working out of jams and brushing aside head-shaking strikeouts before finally setting the table for a classic upset that not only shook up the Class 4A bracket, but also extended their season.
“Two pitchers are going inning for inning,” Greensburg Salem coach Bill Wisniewski said. “As the game went on, you knew it would be someone coming up clutch.”
The Golden Lions pulled arguably the biggest stunner in their program’s history with a 1-0, nine-inning victory over defending WPIAL champion Blackhawk Monday night in a quarterfinal game at Seneca Valley.
“It’s the biggest win I have been a part of,” Wisniewski said. “I know ‘Stu’ was looking down on us today.”
Wisniewski was referring to the late and well-respected former coach of the Golden Lions, Jim Stewart, who died of cancer in 2015.
Wisniewski said before the playoffs that Stewart would have appreciated this team’s effort and character.
He certainly hadn’t coached a team that went this far in the WPIAL postseason. It’s been at least three decades since the Golden Lions made the semifinals.
The team jumped on board with the hashtag #BlackhawkDown on social media.
Best student section in baseball! #GSProud pic.twitter.com/Qh6BxvjDh9
— GbgSalemAthletics (@GS_SportsUpdate) May 21, 2018
DOWN GOES #1!! #GSProud pic.twitter.com/tarj9QMZmw
— GbgSalemAthletics (@GS_SportsUpdate) May 21, 2018
“I’m so happy for these kids,” Wisniewski said. “They battled all day and stuck with it against a dominant pitcher. Wicker matched him.”
Blackhawk ace Michael Turconi, a Wake Forest recruit, struck out 14 and allowed just two hits in 81⁄3 innings against Greensburg Salem (13-5).
Blackhawk (16-2) had runners in scoring position four times before extras, but starter Matt Wicker and his defense escaped each time unscathed and undaunted.
A key defensive gem came in the sixth when junior leftfielder Dajuahn Hertzog made an over-the-shoulder grab of a deep fly ball to end a Blackhawk threat with a runner at second.
Rosenberg got a pair of flyouts in the eighth with two men on in the eighth.
In such a tight pitcher’s duel, one run was plenty.
Hertzog walked to start the ninth for the Lions and stole second. With two outs, senior Jon Borbonus drove one to center to score Hertzog.
Rosenberg worked out of the home half of the ninth to save the victory. He struck out his final batter.
“We’re super excited about this win,” Greensburg Salem shortstop Jack Oberdorf said. “Wins like this are great for the program. Wick and Andrew pitched great, and Johnny with the clutch hit. Now we just keep trying to advance. I wouldn’t want to play with any other group of guys.”
Wicker and Rosenberg combined on a four-hitter.
Huge shoutout to @GshsSection and all of the faculty that made it out! Big win and could not of done it without you guys.??? #BlackHawkDown
— Andrew Rosenberg (@Arose__6) May 21, 2018
The Golden Lions’ game against No. 4 Ringgold (15-3) was postponed Tuesday night. They are scheduled to play in the semifinals at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Washington & Jefferson’s Ross Memorial Park.
Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.
Tags: Greensburg Salem
More High School Baseball
• Hampton trio to play Division I baseball next season• GCC baseball coach Reist organizes fundraiser for team, less-privileged children
• Rivals from North Allegheny, Pine-Richland to join forces at Penn State
• Shaler Area’s Rispoli commits to play baseball at Dayton
• Hampton selects Long as new baseball coach
