Ellwood City Claims WPIAL AA Baseball Title by Winning Backyard Brawl

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 | 6:22 PM

The Ellwood City Wolverines claimed their fifth WPIAL championship with a 9-7 victory over their cross town rival Riverside Panthers at Consol Energy Field on Wednesday afternoon. Sophomore catcher Zach Mathias led the way, going 3 for 3 in the number nine spot in the batting order.

Ellwood City got out to a lead in the top of the first, Matt Germanowski led the game off with a single, was moved to second on a Seth Mley bunt. With two outs, Anthony Carusone singled to left, Germanowski scored, the throw in was cut off by pitcher Rob Hardy, who threw the ball into deep center field trying to get Carusone at second. The senior came all the way around the bases on the error to put Ellwood City up 2-0.
Riverside scored a run in the bottom of the first, Ian Sutherland doubled home Devin Kelosky to make it 2-1.  

The Wolverines pulled away in the second inning, Jared Vetica led off with a walk, Justin Vetica bunted him to second then a ground ball went thru the legs of Blaise McCarty at third, Zach Mathias singled, forcing coach Dan Oliastro to the bullpen early, removing starter Rob Hardy for McCarty. With two outs the floodgates opened, Seth Mley singled to load the bases, Greg Lynn doubled home two runs and Anthony Carusone doubled into the left field corner, bringing home a fifth run in the inning and staking Ellwood City to a 7-1 lead. Oliastro said the Panthers gave the Wolverines too many chances that Ellwood is too good of a team to do that and there is a chance they could meet for a fourth time this season.

But when these teams get together, no lead is safe, the Panthers put up a four spot in the bottom of the third, Riverside loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter. Ian Sutherland hit a weak grounder down the third base line, Carusone charged the ball and looked home, then threw to first but Sutherland beat it out to score a run. Devin Kelosky scored on a wild pitch and McCarty singled home a run. With runners at first and third, the Wolverines had Dylan Jones picked off between first and second, but Matt Morella's throw went into left-center field, allowing McCarty to score and a five run lead became a two run lead at 7-5.

The Panthers scored a run in the fifth, Tyler Falk walked and came home on a Dylan Jones ground out to second. Riverside left the tying run at second when Corey Belonzi fouled out to Zach Mathias behind home plate to end the inning.

Ellwood City took advantage of another error to extend the lead to 9-6. Matt Morella reached on a throwing error by Belonzi at third, Zach Mathias singled home a run and Seth Mley hit a scorching double over the head of left fielder Anthony Meneice to drive home another.

The Panthers had a chance in the bottom of the seventh, after one out the Panthers loaded the bases, Jones grounded into a fielder choice to short to score Falk, Belonzi hit a high pop to shallow right field, second baseman Greg Lynn had to hold to make the catch and the title for Ellwood City.

Head coach Jeff Fotia, in his second tour of duty with the Wolverines, said it was a great feeling to beat their rivals. The Wolverines were knocked out of the playoff race last year on the next to last day of section play with a loss at Riverside that put the Panthers into the playoffs, they went on to win both WPIAL and PIAA titles.

Unfinished business was the theme of this season for Ellwood City, Lynn said the team worked hard all season to get to this point. He added the Wolverines would need to work harder in practice to tighten up their defense.

Ellwood City is now 21-2 on the season, Mley, Lynn and Carusone each had two hits. Lynn and Carusone each drove in two runs. Senior pitcher Christian Kerns picked up the victory, it wasn't easy as the Panthers would not go away, Kerns allowed seven runs on seven hits, he did not strike out a batter.

For Riverside, Hardy took the loss, allowing five runs in just over an inning of work. McCarty pitched the final 5.2 innings. Sutherland and McCarty each had two hits. Jones and Sutherland each drove in two runs. The Panthers fall to 18-6.

Both teams will move on to the PIAA playoffs on Monday. Ellwood City will play the District 5 champion. Riverside meets the District 9 champion.

Ellwood City Wolverines : 2 – 5 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 2 – 0 = 9-11-1  
Riverside Panthers : 1 – 0 – 4 – 0 – 1 – 0 – 0 = 7-7-3
 

Tags: Ellwood City