Westmoreland WPIAL baseball playoff preview capsules: Games of May 29-30, 2018
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Tuesday, May 29, 2018 | 8:08 AM
Class 4A
Consolation game
No. 8 Greensburg Salem (13-6) vs. No. 10 Hopewell (13-10)
4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Washington & Jefferson
Coaches: Bill Wisniewski, Greensburg Salem; Mike Shuleski, Hopewell
Players to watch: Matt Wicker, Greensburg Salem (Jr., INF/P); Joey Rock, Hopewell (Sr., P)
Extra bases: After dropping a 7-3 decision to Ringgold in the semifinals, Greensburg Salem looks to rebound with a spot in the PIAA playoffs on the line. The Golden Lions upset top-seeded Blackhawk, 1-0, in 9 innings in the quarterfinals behind Wicker's six strikeouts in 6 1⁄3 innings. Jonathan Borbonus doubled home Dejauhn Hertzog in the top of the ninth for the winning run. Wicker leads the team with a .491 batting average, 19 RBIs and three homers. He has 58 strikeouts in 41 2⁄3 innings pitched. Junior shortstop Jack Oberdorf has 10 doubles. … Hopewell is in the consolation game for the second consecutive season after to South Fayette, 1-0, in the semifinals. Rock pitched a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts in the Vikings' 1-0 victory over Deer Lakes in the consolation game last year. Rock has not been as dominant this postseason as he was during his 19-inning shutout streak a season ago, but the Ohio commit is still one of the top pitchers in the WPIAL. Hopewell upset Knoch in the quarterfinals for the second year in a row. Hopewell lost to South Park in the state quarterfinals last year. The winner advances to play the District 10 champ in the first round of states.
Class A
Consolation game
No. 3 Greensburg Central Catholic (13-6) vs. No. 5 Jeannette (13-4)
4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Washington & Jefferson
Coaches: Dennis Reist, Greensburg Central Catholic; Marcus Clarkson, Jeannette
Players to watch: Bryce Kurpiel, Greensburg Central Catholic (Jr., 1B); Tre Cunningham, Jeannette (Jr., P/INF)
Extra bases: The Section 2 rivals meet again in the postseason after Jeannette topped Greensburg Central Catholic, 7-3, in eight innings in the WPIAL final last year. The teams split in the regular season with Jeannette winning 15-7 in the first meeting and the Centurions winning 9-2 on May 8 to clinch the section title. … Greensburg Central Catholic had its 3-year run of WPIAL finals appearances ended with a 6-1 loss to Union in the semifinals. The Centurions are seeking a fourth consecutive trip to the state tournament. They lost to Clarion, 1-0, in the state semifinals last year. Kurpiel is hitting over .600 for the season with 20 RBIs. Pitchers Antonio Cavallo and Bruce Leonard have had strong seasons. … Jeannette's reign as WPIAL champion ended with a 6-0 semifinal loss to Vincentian Academy. The Jayhawks have never won a state playoff game. Cunningham has been strong this postseason. He dominated Leechburg, tossing a one-hitter with 11 strikeouts in a 2-0 win and followed with a 10-strikeout performance against Quigley in the quarterfinals. Cunningham also doubled, tripled and drove in the winning run against Quigley. Tyler Elliot and Seth Howard bring speed to the top of the Jayhawks batting order. The winner plays the District 9 champ in the PIAA first round.
— Jerin Steele
Tags: Greensburg C.C., Greensburg Salem, Hopewell, Jeannette
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