Westmoreland PIAA baseball capsules: Games for Thursday, June 8, 2023

By: Paul Schofield
Wednesday, June 7, 2023 | 5:29 PM

Purchase Photo Options

PIAA baseball playoffs

Class 5A

First round

Penn-Trafford (16-6) vs. Shaler (20-4)

2 p.m. Tuesday at Gateway

District seeds: Penn-Trafford 7-3; Shaler 7-1

Winner plays: Winner of 7-2 Bethel Park (18-5) vs. 12-1 Monsignor Bonner (16-7) on Monday in semifinals (time, site TBD)

Coaches: Lou Cortazzo, Penn-Trafford; Brian Junker, Shaler

Players to watch: Ian Temple, Penn-Trafford; Miguel Hugas, Shaler

Extra bases: Penn-Trafford defeated Central Mountain, 8-5, in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs. The Wildcats were ranked No. 1 in the state. Penn-Trafford’s top pitchers, seniors Nolan Marasti and Ryan Grabowski, combined to shut down Central Mountain’s potent offense. Both plan to attend Patrick and Henry Junior College. Junior catcher Temple had three hits, including a home run, for the Warriors. Sophomore shortstop Brayden Stone and Grabowski are the leading hitters with a .367 average. Brody Hoffman is hitting .345 with 14 runs scored, 20 hits, 16 RBIs and seven doubles. Shaler, the WPIAL champion, rallied to defeat Muhlenberg, 7-1. Ace pitcher Hugas only pitched three innings and allowed six hits and a run. Hugas went 2 for 4 with two doubles and four RBIs in the win. Luke Jarzynka and Colby McGuire each had an RBI, and Colby Weber got the win in relief for the Titans.

Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.

Tags: Penn-Trafford, Shaler