Back to Back Gold For Neshannock in WPIAL Class A Baseball

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 | 9:08 PM

The Neshannock Lancers claimed their second consecutive WPIAL Class A title with a 5-0 victory over the previously unbeaten California Trojans at Consol Energy Park on Wednesday night. It's the fifth baseball championship for Neshannock and the fourth since Class A was founded in 1999.

Senior pitcher Alex Strittmatter was again superb, going the distance on a five-hitter, he fanned nine, including the final two batters. He also got the job done at the plate, going 2 for 4. Strittmatter was the winning pitcher in last year's title victory over Chartiers-Houston.

It was a pitcher's duel for the first three innings. Each team left two runners on base in the first. California had a chance in the third with runners on first and second with one out, but Strittmatter fanned T.D. Conway and Matt Bakewell, the number three and four batters in the Trojan order to end the inning. Neshannock had their own chance in the bottom of the inning, the Lancers loaded the bases with two outs, but John Conglose grounded to Ron Barron at third for the force.

Cal had another golden opportunity in the top of the fourth, with two outs John Sansone let a grounder go thru the five hole, allowing Jacob Columbus to reach, Gavin Anderson walked and Josh Luko singled to load the bases, but Patrick Tunney hit a hard grounder to Ernie Burkes at third, the sophomore made a strong throw across the infield to retire the side.

The Lancers took advantage of a Trojan error to open the scoring in the bottom of the inning, Anthony Van Eman singled to lead off the inning, after T.D. Conway struck out Alex Welker and Marcus Giangiuli, Ernie Burkes singled and Strittmatter reached on a throwing error on Barron to allow Van Eman to score.

Neshannock added on in the fifth, John Sansone tripled into the left-center gap, he scored on a Ryan Giangiuli single. The Lancers weren't done, scoring three in the sixth, Matt Cioffi scored Ernie Burkes with a single and John Conglose had a two out two run double.

The Lancers won a Class AA title in 1991 and Class A titles in 2002 and 2004, along with the back to back titles. Coach Mike Kirkwood said you never know when you are getting back to the title game and you need to take advantage of it. The Lancers don't play a lot of small ball, Kirkwood said they look to hit every time they get in the box and did a great job of it today.

Strittmatter did not pitch in the semifinal win over OLSH, serving one game for being tossed out of the quarterfinal win over Carmichaels. He said he felt no rust, that everything was working today, no nerves of anxiety about pitching after a long layoff. Van Eman was 2 for 4, Burkes was 2 for 3. Sansone, the WPIAL's leading hitter and Florida State recruit, was 1 for 2 and walked intentionally twice.

Neshannock is now 21-2 on the season with 19 consecutive wins, they will meet District 6 runner up Bishop Guilfoyle in the first round of the PIAA playoffs on Monday. It's the fourth time the Lancers have beaten the Trojans in WPIAL playoff action, including in the semifinals in 2010-11.

With the win, it was also the second baseball title Wednesday for a Lawrence County school with Ellwood City winning the Class AA crown over Riverside. The Wolverines handed the Lancers one of their two losses this season. The Lancers will go back to Class AA for the next two seasons and in a section with Ellwood City and Riverside.

For California, Conway took the loss, he fanned ten. Matt Bakewell went 2 for 3 for the Trojans, now 19-1. California will meet District 6 champion Bishop McCourt on Monday in PIAA play.

California Trojans : 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 = 0-5-2
Neshannock Lancers : 0 – 0 – 0 – 1 – 1 – 3 x = 5-10-1

Tags: California