Mars stuns No. 2 Plum behind shutout by Kyle Krause in Class 5A playoffs

By: Ted Sarneso
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 6:29 PM

All week, Mars coach Jason Thompson kept up the positive messages for his players.

“Coach had our confidence up all week, and everyone in that dugout felt we were going to win today,” Planets right fielder Zach Rozman said.

Mars starting pitcher Kyle Krause bought into his coach’s message and reinforced it before bed the night before Wednesday’s contest.

“I told myself that I was going to go out and win the game,” Krause said. “It’s all about mindset. If you don’t have that winning mindset, you’re going to lose.”

Krause threw a shutout, and Rozman doubled in the game’s only run in the first inning as No. 15 seed Mars stunned No. 2 seed Plum, 1-0, in the first round of the Class 5A playoffs at Fox Chapel High School.

“We embraced the away team role,” Thompson said. “When you get that first run across the plate in the top of the first, it sort of puts the opposition on their heels. From there, we were able to settle in, play great defense and came away with the win.”

Grady Speigle led the game off with a flyout to center field for the Planets (9-10). Vincent Gottschalk then drew a walk and went to second on a passed ball, which set the table for Rozman.

“I went into the box and I was just trying to battle,” said Rozman. “I was trying to get the ball over the first baseman’s head and into right field and that’s what I did.”

His line-drive double split the right-field gap, and Gottschalk rounded third as Plum right fielder Enzo Mele fired the ball into the infield.

From there, the Planets’ offense could muster only one more hit — a sixth-inning single form Speigle — but with how well Krause pitched, one run was all it took.

The only thing that would have kept Krause from going the distance was a cramp that developed in his right foot during warmups in the bottom of the seventh.

“There was no shot that I was coming off that mound without us winning,” Krause said.

“Absolutely gutsy,” said Thompson of his hurler. “Even fighting through cramps, he just wanted the baseball. He’s a special kid and he really lived up to it today.”

Krause gave up just seven hits, walked one and struck out five as he threw 107 pitches against a Plum team that averaged more than eight runs on the season.

“I felt like the fastball was coming out pretty clean today and the curveball towards the end of the game,” Krause said. “My changeup has been one of my best pitches this season and I’ve been able to throw it in righty-righty matchups, so that was a huge plus”

Added Thompson: “That’s, obviously, a very good Plum team when you look at their record and you look at their hitting and their seeding. Hats off to them.”

The Mustangs (18-3) threatened in the third inning when Brennan Ryan led off with a double, and Tim Ruggerio singled to put runners at the corners. Ruggiero then stole second with Jake Dombkowski up. Dombkowski popped out to short, bringing Dan Macioce to the plate.

In a full count, Macioce drilled a ball to left center that appeared to have found the gap.

“He really barreled that ball up, but it just carried, stayed up, he hit it so hard,” Plum coach Carl Vollmer said. “We didn’t put anything together, and that was the frustrating part.”

The Mustangs threatened again in the sixth inning with runners at the corners with two out, but Connor Wilson went down looking to end a would-be rally.

“We had opportunities, and we clearly didn’t get it done,” Vollmer said. “We had a couple of guys who had some good days, but you need more than a couple of guys. It just wasn’t quite good enough. We simply didn’t come up with the big hit.”

Macioce and Ryan Lafferty finished the day with a pair of singles each, Ruggiero had his single and pinch-hitter Brady Linhart also singled.

“Krause pitched a great game, and coach Andy (Bednar) called a great game,” Vollmer said. “You give them credit. They played well, made the routine play. There weren’t many mistakes. It was a clean game on both sides.”

Plum starter Braden Kemmerer pitched an outstanding game as well. He went seven innings, gave up one run on two hits and struck out one.

“I felt good coming into today,” Kemmerer said. “I went out there and tried to throw strikes. I only gave up the one run, but we just couldn’t put it all together.”

Added Vollmer: “Braden was incredible, as he has been all year. I could tell there were some nerves in the first inning. He hung a breaking ball, but he settled in and was tremendous. He was awesome, worked both sides of the plate and threw pitches for strikes.”

The loss ended Plum’s 11-game winning streak to close the season.

“It’s highly disappointing,” Vollmer said. “You have to give Mars credit. They played very well.”

The Planets advance to the second round Tuesday at a site to be determined. They await the winner of No. 7 seed Peters Township and No. 10 seed Baldwin.

“I know that south section is pretty good, and I grew up in Mon-Valley so I know Baldwin is coming back with a vengeance after the past few years,” Thompson said. “They have a lot to prove, too. No matter who we get, I expect it to be another knock down, drag out fight.”

That seems to be the type of game Mars like to play. Six of their losses this year came by a grand total of eight runss.

“We played in close games nearly every single day,” Thompson said, “and today was just another day at the office.”

Tags: Mars, Plum