High school roundup for June 13, 2022: Neshannock baseball, softball reach state title game
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Monday, June 13, 2022 | 6:50 PM
Neshannock’s Colten Shaffer celebrates his game-tying double against Burgettstown during their PIAA Class 2A state semifinal Monday at North Allegheny.
Neshannock’s Giovanni Valentine watches his walk-off base hit during the ninth inning against Burgettstown in their PIAA Class 2A state semifinal Monday at North Allegheny.
Neshannock’s DeAndre Alberico scores the winning run against Burgettstown during the ninth inning of their PIAA Class 2A state semifinal on Monday.
Neshannock’s Dominic Cubellis celebrates his double during the ninth inning against Burgettstown in their PIAA Class 2A state semifinal on Monday.
Burgettstown third baseman Sam Elich makes a catch in front of the Neshannock dugout during their PIAA Class 2A state semifinal on Monday.
Neshannock pitcher Sebastian Coiro throws against Burgettstown during their PIAA Class 2A state semifinal on Monday.
Neshannock pitcher Sebastian Coiro celebrates a strikeout against Burgettstown during their PIAA Class 2A state semifinal on Monday.
Neshannock’s Giovanni Valentine connects on his walk-off base hit during the ninth inning against Burgettstown in their PIAA Class 2A state semifinal on Monday.
Neshannock players celebrate after defeating Burgettstown, 2-1 in nine innings, in their PIAA Class 2A state semifinal on Monday.
Neshannock’s Giovanni Valentine celebrates with teammates after defeating Burgettstown in their PIAA Class 2A state semifinal on Monday.
Avonworth’s Rylee Gray launches a three-run home run in the sixth inning of a PIAA Class 3A semifinal Monday against Bald Eagle Area at St. Francis (Pa.).
Avonworth’s Rylee Gray is greeted at home plate after hitting a three-run home run against Bald Eagle Area in a PIAA Class 3A semifinal Monday at St. Francis (Pa.).
Giovanni Valentine singled with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning to send Neshannock to a 2-1 victory over Burgettstown on Monday, earning a berth in the PIAA Class 2A championship game.
Grant Melder led off the ninth with a single, Dom Cubellis followed with a double and JR Prossen was intentionally walked to load the bases for Valentine.
The Lancers (20-7) will meet Everett (20-2) in the state finals at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Penn State. Neshannock is one of two schools with both a baseball and softball team playing for a state championship. The other is DuBois Central Catholic.
Burgettstown took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Brodie Kuzior led off with a single and later scored on an RBI groundout by Maddox Gratchen
Neshannock tied the score in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out RBI double by Colten Shaffer.
Sebastian Coiro started and went seven innings for Neshannock, allowing one run on four hits with eight strikeouts. Melder didn’t allow a hit in two innings of relief to earn the win. Burgettstown starter Nathan Klodowski was also effective, giving up one run on four hits with six strikeouts in seven innings.
Bethel Park 8, Donegal 5 – Ray Altmeyer hit the go-ahead single in the top of the seventh inning to lead Bethel Park (20-3) past Donegal (18-9) in the PIAA Class 5A semifinals.
The Black Hawks took a 5-0 lead after the first three innings, Donegal rallied to tie the score 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth, and Bethel Park rallied for three in the seventh to earn a spot in the state finals against Selinsgrove at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Penn State.
David Kessler and winning pitcher Cody Geddes led off the seventh with singles before Altmeyer’s go-ahead single, which was misplayed in the outfield, allowing a second run to score. Altmeyer came in on a Ben Hudson single to make it 8-5.
John Chalus singled and doubled and Evan Holewinski doubled and drove in a pair of runs for Bethel Park.
Andrew Small homered, Landon Robertson singled and doubled, and Coy Allmen doubled and drove in two runs for Donegal.
Softball
Avonworth 9, Bald Eagle Area 2 — Leah Kuban hit a solo home run in the fourth inning to give Avonworth the lead for good and Rylee Gray broke the game open with a three-run homer in the sixth, giving the Antelopes a spot in the Class 3A state championship game.
Alivia Lantzy gave up three hits and struck out eight in a complete-game victory for Avonworth (20-5), which will meet Lewisburg (19-3) in the state finals at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Penn State.
Meghan Fissore singled and doubled, Layne Shinsky doubled, Cassie Heinauer drove in a pair of runs for the ‘Lopes. Kuban reached base four times, adding three walks to her home run.
Marina Shawley hit a two-run home run in the sixth for Bald Eagle Area (18-5).
Avonworth was clinging to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Bald Eagle Area threatened to take the lead. The Golden Eagles had runners on second and third with lead-off hitter Kailey Eckert at the plate with two outs.
But Lantzy struck out Eckert on four pitches to end the threat.
“That was a huge strike out,” Avonworth coach Jenna Muncie said. “That’s a testament to Alivia’s ability to stay calm in those situations and rear back and work pitch to pitch and make sure she’s focusing on the here and the now in what she had to do at that moment.
“Alivia is a special individual. I feel comfortable with the ball in her hands. She’s a workhorse and is ready to go.”
Neshannock 13, Laurel 6 – The Nogay sisters combined to hit for a cycle and drive in six runs, leading Neshannock (25-0) into the Class 2A state championship game.
Neleh Nogay went 3 for 5 with two singles, a double and four RBIs. Aaralyn Nogay went 2 for 5 with a triple, home run and two RBIs.
Down 5-2 after four innings, the Lancers took control with a six-run fifth inning that included Aaralyn Nogay’s inside-the-park homer and a two-run triple by Gabby Quinn.
Quinn and Hunter Newman also had two hits for the Lancers, who beat Laurel four times this season.
For the Spartans (19-5), Autumn Boyd singled, doubled and drove in a pair, Bekah Valenti singled and doubled and Eva Kuth tripled and drove in a run.
Neshannock will meet Conwell-Egan (16-5) at 11 a.m. Friday at Penn State for the PIAA championship.
Seneca Valley 9, Pennsbury 0 – Lexie Hames threw a one-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts as Seneca Valley (16-6) won its 11th straight game, cruising past District 1 runner-up Pennsbury (24-3) and into the Class 6A state championship game.
Seneca Valley took over with a five-run third inning that included a three-run home run by Bella Gross and an RBI double by Mia Ryan. The Raiders tacked on four more runs in the fourth, keyed by a two-run single by Ryan.
Maddie Gross had two hits and Lina Chardella doubled for Seneca Valley, which will meet District 1 champion North Penn or Spring-Ford in the state title game at 4 p.m. Friday at Penn State.
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• WPIAL clinched: Baseball playoff qualifiers through April 25, 2024
• Ace David Shields pitches Mt. Lebanon to sweep of Hempfield, 2-game section lead
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