Bethel Park uses big inning to keep ball rolling, beat Franklin Regional

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, May 15, 2025 | 9:12 PM

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Thursday’s playoff game between Bethel Park and Franklin Regional was a matchup between two teams entering the postseason in opposite directions.

The Black Hawks won their final eight games of the regular season, and the Panthers had lost five in a row.

Just when it looked like the momentum in the Class 5A first-round contest was about to turn in the underdog Panthers’ favor, FR’s upset hopes started to wane.

Fourth-seeded Bethel Park blew open a close game with seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning and won 11-1 in six innings.

With the Black Hawks leading 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning, the first three batters reached on two singles and a walk against Franklin Regional starter John Willochell.

The senior lefty then struck out one of BP’s top hitters, Jack Bruckner, to set up a possible inning-ending double play and wrestle momentum the way of the Panthers.

But junior Nick Rillo was hit by a pitch to force home the first run of the inning.

“That was a big swing play,” Bethel Park coach Patrick Zehnder said. “I had every faith Rillo would have a productive at-bat, but we’ll take the free base any way we can get it. Wind goes out of their sails, and we breathe a sigh of relief, and it was go time from there.”

“Go time” included a two-run single by Eric Miehl following the hit batter, a run-producing fielder’s choice by Owen White, a two-run single by Joey Levis and a run-scoring single by Noah LeJeune turning a 2-1 lead into a 9-1 runaway after five innings.

The hit batter wasn’t the first bad break for Franklin Regional.

Pitching ace N.J. Ramchandran could not go because of a sore arm, but Franklin Regional coach Bob Saddler would not use that as an excuse.

“We have guys we feel comfortable moving in and out,” Saddler said. “Jonah (Willochell) gave us a heck of a start. He was mixing pitches in and held them at bay. They strung a good inning together, no doubt about that. They put some bats on the ball and kept that inning going.”

Willochell and Bethel Park starter Dylan Schumacher were dominant early, and the game was scoreless after three innings.

Schumacher retired the first nine batters he faced, striking out seven.

“I think he did a great job,” Saddler said of Schumacher. “He was executing pitches and pitching backwards the first time through the order. We changed a little bit of the approach, and our guys did a great job second time through.”

In fact, the second time through against Schumacher led to the Panthers’ only run of the game.

Chase Lemke doubled and eventually scored on an infield single by Luke Williams.

However, Franklin Regional caught another bad break when Williams tried to steal second and injured his ankle, eventually leaving the game.

Bethel Park took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth inning when Miehl tied the score with a groundout, and Levis delivered a run-scoring double.

Levis, a senior who was 3 for 4 with five RBIs, has a great approach to batting No. 9 in the order.

“I see it as a second leadoff spot, honestly,” Levis said. “I don’t mind the spot at all, and I actually like it because I find I get more fastballs and it’s easier to hit in that spot.”

Levis admits the Black Hawks offense started slowly but credited Willochell and Panthers reliever Nico Fiorovanti for making life tough on the Hawks.

“They were strong with changeups and curveballs,” Levis said. “Willochell is a good kid. His curveball was breaking ridiculously.”

Mike Bruckner singled and walked three times, Rillo singled and was hit by a pitch twice and LeJeune had two hits in a 12-hit attack for the Black Hawks.

Bethel Park improved to 17-4 and will face No. 5 Thomas Jefferson in the quarterfinals Monday.

Franklin Regional ends the season with a 10-9 record and says goodbye to several key seniors, including seven who were in the first-round starting lineup.

“Their work ethic made them special,” Saddler said. “They came to practice with a hard hat on every day. The won a lot of games here, but it’s not the wins I will remember. It’s who they are as people.”

Tags: Bethel Park, Franklin Regional