MSA Sports Baseball Playoff Recaps for Friday, May 16th

By: Bruce Markey
Saturday, May 17, 2014 | 12:40 AM

We are coming to end of the first week of the district baseball postseason, but the biggest splash thus far came on one of the final games from the First Round. A #16-seed stunned a #1-seed in the Class Quad-A opening round knocking out the first top seed, while AAAA-4, AA-1 and AA-5 were all a perfect 3-0 on Saturday. Here are recaps from the Class AAAA and Class AA First Round games from Friday.

A special thanks to Josh Rowntree, Mark Schaas, Lee Mohn, Sean Meyers, Jess Levo, Mike Azadian, Bob Gregg, Don Rebel, Pete Blais and Sam Hall for their help on these recaps.

WPIAL CLASS AAAA First Round:

Seneca Valley Raiders 10 – Hempfield Spartans 5 
The shocker of the WPIAL baseball tournament so far took place in AAAA with the 16 seed Seneca Valley Raiders knocking off the top seed Hempfield 10-5 at West Mifflin high school Friday afternoon. The Raiders used the long ball, five rbis from Vince Augustine and a tremendous relief appearance from Troy Martin to get the win. Seneca Valley got their first home run of the afternoon in the bottom of the second inning off the bat of senior catcher John Davis who roped a shot to the power alley in left center, untying a 2-2 game and giving the Raiders a 3-2 lead, a lead they would never relinquish. Seneca added four runs in the third inning chasing Hempfield starting pitcher Tyler Tubbs. Augustine picked up a pair of rbis in the inning with a single and MattWagner added a run scoring triple in the frame. An inning later Augustine would put the capper on a huge night with a two-out three run bomb off the scoreboard in straightaway center field and just like that the Raiders had a choke hold 10-2 lead. Branden Schlick Seneca Valley’s starting pitcher battled through two innings allowing a pair of unearned runs on three hits and a walk while striking out two. Troy Martin in relief of Schlick was stellar for Eric Semega’s club going four and a third innings allowing just a single run on two hits, two walks and striking out three. Hempfield got a long ball of their own in the seventh inning when sophomore shortstop Matt Tarabeck launched a three run shot to left field off of Seneca Valley reliever Bryce Schnatterly. But it was too little too late as the Spartans see their 2014 campaign come to a close with a 16-4 mark. The Raiders move into the quarterfinals and will face Shaler tomorrow with a chance to extend their streak of appearances in the championship game to four still on the line. Junior second baseman John Brittner had a big time day at the plate going four-for-four with a stolen base, three runs scored and an rbi. Seneca Valley improves to 7-11 on the season with the win. 

Shaler Titans 10 – Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings 0
Shaler Area’s offense struck early and often, and Titans’ hurler Jake Potock was dominant in a 10-0 mercy-rule victory over Central Catholic in Quad-A first-round play at Woodland Hills High School. Shaler, the ninth-seed, scored three times in the top of the first, as Justin Mazza led off with a walk and stole a base. He scored when Jim Hughes sent a slow roller up the middle that got through the infield of the Vikings. Pat Carlson followed up with another hit for the Titans, and John Bender’s single to right would plate Hughes. A throwing error on the play would then allow Carlson to score, as well. That would be all the offense that Potock needed, as he limited No. 8 Central Catholic to just three hits, while striking out three batters. The Titans added insurance runs in the second and third innings, and their offense exploded for five in the top of the fifth frame. After Hughes was hit by a pitch and Carlson reached on an error, Matt Carter notched an RBI double to center field. Bender would follow up with a single, chasing Vikings’ starter Grant Gustic. Reliever Luke Hills would not fare any better, though, as Sam Ireland blistered a double that plated a pair of runners, and then Alex Ficorelli belted a two-run homer down the left field line. With his team ahead by 10, Potock retired the side in the bottom of the fifth to enact the mercy-rule shutout. Shaler advances to face No. 16 seed Seneca Valley at Fox Chapel High School on Saturday.

Pine-Richland Rams 5 – Peters Township Indians 4
The fourth seeded Pine Richland Rams survived a nail-biter affair against the number 13 Peters Township Indians to advance to the quarterfinals of the WPIAL playoffs. The Rams jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the second inning, and chased the Indians starter, Max Augustein, in the process. Augustein pitched just one and a third innings and gave up three hits and four runs, although only two were earned. Pine Richland’s Nick Roth began the second inning with a one out single. Joey Professori then followed with a walk and Matt Kaminicky singled to load the bases. Sam Gessner then came through with a bases clearing double, although he ended up at third due to a fielding error by Indian centerfielder Frank Jezioro. In thrilling fashion, Gessner then stole home during the next at-bat for the Rams’ fourth run of the inning. Tyler Schmidt came on in relief of Augustein and besides Gessner’s run, managed to get out of the inning without any further damage. That four run lead would be the largest of the day for the Rams as Peters would not go away without a fight. Facing Pine Richland’s Jamie Switalski on the mound, the Indian’s offense would respond quickly to the four run deficit by scoring two runs of their own in the top of the third. Schmidt drew a walk to lead off the inning and Phil Pisarcik then singled. With the two on, Frank Jezioro scored both runners with a two-RBI triple to center field. Then it was the Rams’ turn once again. In the bottom of the fourth Daane Berezo reached on an infield single, stole second base, and advanced to third on a throwing error by catcher, Brett McIntosh. Switalski then RBI’d Berezo home with a single to center field. That would give Pine Richland a 5-2 lead at the time and that run would be their final of the afternoon. For Peters, Tyler Schmidt would again draw a leadoff walk, this time in the top of the fifth, and come around to score on a Frank Jezioro RBI single, putting the Indians within two runs. In the top of the seventh, with their season on the line, Peters would get another run as Pisarcik doubled to leadoff and scored on a Phil Mary single. However, even with Mary representing the tying run, that would be it for the Indians. Switalksi recorded three outs in a row to finish the game and get his team the win. The Rams starter went the distance and gave up the four runs on seven hits with six strikeouts. Pine Richland finished with five runs on seven hits and stranded nine men on base. Pine Richland advances to take on the Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils at West Mifflin High School tomorrow afternoon at 4:00. You can hear that game right here on the MSA Sports Network.

Mount Lebanon Blue Devils 4 – Penn-Trafford Warriors 1 
The 5th seeded Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils took down the number 12 Penn Trafford Warriors, 4-0, in a AAAA first round playoff game. The game featured two top notch starting pitchers who did not fail to impress. Austin Kitchen, the starter for the Blue Devils, pitched a complete game, one-hit, shutout with eight strikeouts. The one hit he gave up was an infield single to Josh Brammell to begin the 2nd inning. Otherwise, Kitchen was nearly perfect. At one point, he had retired 11 batters in a row. Kitchen also had perhaps the most important hit of the day as well, as he provided himself and his teammates with a couple of insurance run in the top of the seventh inning. With the Blue Devils leading 1-0, Kitchen crushed a two-RBI, ground-rule-double over the left-center field wall. That hit scored the second and third runs of the day for the Blue Devils including Zack Bahm who had singled and Robert Klinchok who reached on an error. The pinch runner for Kitchen, Matt Freilino would also come around to score that inning on an RBI groundout from Matt Pesacreta. Mt. Lebanon’s first run came in the fourth inning when a triple from Klinchok scored Dante D’Alessando. Before letting up those three runs in the seventh, Penn Trafford starting pitcher, Tyler Smith was stellar. He had let in just that one run on one hit in the fourth and had struck out 12 batters. However, Smith could not record an out in the final frame and was replaced by Dom Coconcelli after letting in the final three runs on two hits. The Warriors at the plate could not get much going against the dominating Kitchen, however, did manage to piece together a threat in the bottom of the seventh. Jake Morain, Josh Lonero, and Billy Dugan each drew a walk, which loaded the bases and brought the tying run to the plate. However, the Warriors could never find their way onto the score board and would leave the three runners stranded. Mt. Lebanon now moves on to face the Pine Richland Rams tomorrow afternoon. That game is set for 4:00 at West Mifflin High School and you can catch it right here on the MSA Sports Network.

Baldwin Highlanders 2 – North Hills Indians 1 in 9 Innings 
At Burkett Elementary School in Robinson Twp, the second seeded Baldwin Highlanders avoid an upset by beating the North Hills Indians 2-1 in 9 innings to move on to the quarterfinals. Baldwin scored first in the first inning, after two outs Tom McCarthy’s  pop up single down the left field line was followed up by a line drive double to right field by Alex Pantuso. On the play Indian right fielder Andrew Bly nearly made a brilliant diving catch to prevent the run. It was not to be and Baldwin led 1-0. In the 3rd inning the Indians would plate a run. With 1 out Tyler Volz walked and a wild pitch would get him to second base. Tyler Pusateri’s RBI single would tie the game at 1-1. Baldwin would have a chance to win in the 7th but stranded runners on 2nd and 3rd to end the inning. North Hills which stranded 11 men on base for the game, blew a chance to take the lead in the 8th inning. With the bases loaded and one out Josh Kaminski broke for home, he was half way home before he realized the squeeze play was not on, by the time he retreated to 3rd base it was too late, he was thrown out at 3rd base. North Hills would go quietly in the top of the 9th inning. Baldwin would get the winning run when with one out Chris Eisel singled, Zach Murray was hit by a pitch, Christian Hirt walked, then to end the game Nick Bernick drew a bases loaded walk for a 2-1 Baldwin win. For Baldwin Pantuso scattered 5 hits, 1 run, 9 walks, 8 strikeouts, with 4 wild pitches. Only the one walk would hurt him as he pitched out of trouble in every inning. He would not factor in the win as he pitched 8 innings. Bernick got the win going one inning. Chad Meyer took the tough loss going 9 innings, walking 5, striking out 15, and giving up both runs. North Hills finishes the season at 11-8, while Baldwin improves to 13-2 and will face Plum in the 2nd round.

Plum Mustangs 2 – Norwin Knights 1 
Plum used an incredible pitching performance from a pair of sophomores, and scored the game-winner run courtesy of a balk to defeat Norwin 2-1 in Quad-A first-round action at Woodland Hills High School. Mustangs starter Alex Kirilloff yielded only three hits in his five innings, and Zachary Nolan tossed two hitless innings of relief against one of the most potent offenses in Quad-A. Plum, the No. 10 seed, took an early lead when Kiriloff’s single in the first inning plated Michael Maleski, who had reached on an infield hit and advanced two bases on an errant pickoff attempt from Knights’ starter Noah Smith. Seventh-seeded Norwin tied the contest in the top of the second, though, as Kevin Kuhn was hit by a pitch and later scored on a single to right field by Dan Passarello. Plum would regain its lead in the bottom half of the inning, as Zachary Sansonetti walked and moved to third on a single by Brandon Hoener. With runners on the corners, Smith was called for a balk, which brought in the decisive run for Plum. Both offenses went scoreless for the remaining of the contest, and Norwin’s outstanding hitter, JJ Matijevic, did not reach base in his four plate appearances. Smith was the hard-luck loser for Norwin, as he allowed only six hits and struck out seven in the complete game effort. Plum advances to face section foe Baldwin on Saturday at West Mifflin High School.

Canon-McMillan Big Macs 4 – North Allegheny Tigers 2 in 8 Innings 
Trevor Schrecongost singled inside the bag at third, scoring a pair of runs with two out in the top of the eighth, giving #14 Canon-McMillan the latest WPIAL baseball playoff upset, downing #3 North Allegheny, 4-2, in eight innings.  After one out, Jared Beach reached on a two-base error on NA centerfielder Mitch Machi (dropped fly ball).  Tanner Piechnick singled, moving Beach to third, then stole second.  One out later, the Big Macs’ third baseman grounded the ball just inside the bag and just out of the reach of a diving Blake Young.  Canon-McMillan (13-5) opened the scoring in the first when Beach lifted a sacrifice fly that scored Chandler Palyas. North Allegheny took the lead in the bottom of the frame on Machi’s two-out, two-run double on the line in left, plating Luke Zahren and Matt Muslin.  Ryan Hamm then singled to center but Machi’s courtesy runner, Eric Nascone, was thrown out at the plate by Teagan Piechnick, keeping the Tigers’ lead at 2-1.  Beach blasted a leadoff homerun to right, opening the fourth and tying the game.  One inning later, following a leadoff walk, Machi gave way to closer Tyler Saundry who kept the Big Macs off the board until the eighth, retiring 8 straight before Beach’s flyball to right-centerfield.  Meanwhile, North Allegheny (13-8)  missed on multiple chances to regain the lead in regulation, loading the bases with nobody out in sixth, and again with two down in the seventh.  The sixth–inning chance slipped away with a force out at home, a foul pop out near the plate and a grounder to second.  A groundball to third ended the inning in the seventh, setting up bonus baseball.  NA stranded 11 runners in the game, eight in the last four innings, 7 total in scoring position.  Jake Trainor went the distance to get the win for Canon-McMillan, allowing just the two first-inning runs while scattering nine hits, walking four and fanning a pair.  Saundry took the loss, charged with two unearned runs, two hits and a walk, four K’s in four innings of work.  Machi also went four, with two runs, four hits and three walks charged to the University of Buffalo recruit.  Muslin and Hamm each had two singles for the Tigers.  Six different players had hits for the Big Macs, including a double by catcher Buzz Boggio that bounced over the fence, keeping CM from taking the lead four batters after Beach’s homerun.

Moon Tigers 3 – Butler Golden Tornado 2 
The #11 seeded Moon Tigers defeated #6 seeded Butler Friday afternoon 3-2 to move on to the quarterfinals.  After sitting over a week the AAAA baseball playoffs finally started and this game was a great game to watch.  It was a pitcher’s duel between Moon.s Nick Rozzo and Butler’s Wyatt Daugherty.  Moon would finally break the drought getting a  two out RBI single from Ron Yardas in the fourth inning.  Butler would answer in the bottom of the inning when Nick Patten would do the same with 2 outs.  The top of the 6th with two outs Brian Casper put the Tigers ahead with a 360 foot blast but Butler would answer when Cory Wheeler scored on a safety squeeze from third to tie the score.  Moon scored the winning run in the top of the 7th getting an RBI single from Rocco Maue.  Butler threatened in the bottom of the 7th.  With one out Kyle Campbell just missed a home run and reached second with one out.  Courtesy runner Dallas Hays reached third on a wild pitch but relief pitcher Colton Hower struck out Nathan Kibbie and Cory Wheeler popped out to end the game.  Butler ends their season at 12-6 and Moon will now face #14 seed Canon McMillan Saturday night at W&J Field in Washington PA.

WPIAL CLASS AA First Round:

Seton-LaSalle Rebels 14 – Brownsville Falcons 5 
After exchanging blows back and forth early in the contest, the Rebels delivered the knock out punch with 9 combined runs in innings 4, 5 and 6 en route to a 14-5 victory Friday over the Falcons at West Mifflin High School. Each team scored a run in the first inning before Seton-LaSalle scored three runs in the bottom of the second on a Danzell McKinley Lewis bases loaded single, a sac fly by Dave Boehme and a balk. But Brownsville tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the 3rd on a three run homer by Shane Roebuck. The Rebels took the lead for goon in their half of the 3rd when a pair of errors by Falcons pitcher Ryan Novotney put Nico Popa at third base, where he scored on a Carson Rebel ground out. From there, the Seton offense took over with two runs in the 4th, four runs in the 5th and finally three runs in the 6th. Sophomore Andrew Lease had three hits including a pair of doubles and two RBI from the #8 spot in the order while designated hitter Matt Reinmund added two hits, including an RBI triple. In fact, all nine batters in Coach Sean Trainer’s lineup contributed with at least one RBI. After a rough start, Boehme settled down and allowed 3 earned runs and 6 hits with 7 strikeouts and 1 walk in 6 innings. Novotney suffered the loss for Brownsville, as the Falcons finish their season at 13-6. Seton-LaSalle improves to 13-5 but now must face the top-seed Neshannock Lancers Saturday in the Quarterfinals. 

South Side Rams 6 – Shady Side Academy Indians 0
The Rams first playoff game in 14 years was a good one as lefty Dustin Lander tossed a no-hitter as the Rams advanced to Saturday’s quarterfinals. Lander walked 4 and hit a batter, he also drove in a run. South Side scored five runs in the fourth inning. Ethan Conti drew a bases loaded walk, Jared Conti drove in two more with a single thru a drawn-in infield. Lander brought home another with a ground out, then Hunter Beaumont singled home the fifth run as the Rams sent all nine batters to the plate. Lander walked back to back batters in the fifth, walking Morgan Dively and Tim Granato, but the senior got Cam Dively and Chuckie Scales to foul out to end the inning. The Rams added a run in the sixth, Beaumont singled home Jared Conti, the catcher for the Rams led the way with 3 hits. South Side is now 16-2 on the season, Shady Side Academy ends the season at 10-8. Lander said everything was working well today, he felt he had a good mix of his fastball and off speed stuff, including the last five hitters of the game.

Deer Lakes Lancers 6 – Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers 1 
One big inning is all it took for the Lancers to advance again to the WPIAL Quarterfinals with a victory Friday over Chartiers-Houston at Fox Chapel High School. Deer Lakes sent 12 players to the plate in a six-run 3rd inning highlighted by a John Carnprobst two-run single following a bases loaded walk to the Lancers Zach Lubick. Dom Cheira went the distrance for Deer Lakes, allowing one run on four hits and no walks. The 5th-seed Lancers improve to 15-4 and will battle #4-seed South Side Saturday evening at the Burkett Complex in Robinson Township in a Class AA Quarterfinals contest. Meanwhile, Chartiers-Houston’s season comes to an end at 11-6.

Quaker Valley Quakers 4 – Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions 3 
It was a close one. Much closer than the number 2-seeded Quaker Valley Quaker Baseball team would have liked. After a late rally in the 7th inning, the number 15-seeded Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions fell to the Quakers 4-3 in the first round of the WPIAL Section AA playoffs. It could have been nerves, but the Centurions were riddled with errors today, aiding the Quakers’ victory. In the 1st inning, QV’s right-fielder Alex Tanabe reached on error by GCC’s shortstop. He would score on a 2-out double by catcher Ben Utterback. Jack Hendricks would pinch run for Utterback, and score from a single by Adam Pilewicz. In the 2nd, Peyton Russoniello lead-off with a single, and would score from a single by Matt Lacenere. This would be the only earned run charged to GCC’s pitcher, Collin Liberatore. The Quakers would score their final run in the 3rd, after Utterback was hit by a pitch, would make it to 2nd on a wild pitch, then would score on an errant pick-off attempt at first base by Liberatore.The Centurions put one on the board in the 4th, after QV’s starting pitcher Tyler Garbee found trouble finding the strike zone. Junior Nick Roperti reached on a error from QV’s third baseman. Jake Nesser would reach on a 2-out walk, followed by another 2-out walk to Tommy Pellis, and Roperti would score after Garbee walked Cole Reese. Garbee would go on to retire the following 7 batters he faced. Despite his late game success, Garbee had thrown 103 pitches and QV put in their closer, Utterback, for the 7th inning. He struggled, allowing three straight walks to Pellis, Reese and Liberatore, and hitting catcher Ed Kilkeary. Roperti would reach on an RBI fielder’s choice, when third baseman Russoniello chose to take the easy out, by tagging Liberatore. This proved to be the best option, as Utterback settled in and struck out the final two batters that came to the plate.Winning pitcher Garbee pitched 6 innings, gave up 4 hits, 4 walks, 1 run and it was not earned. Utterback got the save. Losing pitcher Liberatore, pitched 6 innings, struck out 4, gave up 5 hits, 1 walk, 4 runs, only one of them earned. The Centurions committed 5 errors and left 10 men on base.

Beaver Bobcats 8 – Washington Little Prexies 4 
Zack Logan’s groundout broke the tie and Lucas Scheidemantel homered to put the game away as defending champion Beaver Area topped Washington, 8-4.  The Bobcats have won 10 in a row after a 1-5 start.  The Little Prexies had won six in a row and 12 of the last 13 entering the tournament.  Beaver never trailed in the game, building leads of 2-0, 3-2, 4-3 and the final.  Washington tied the game each time but couldn’t answer the bell in the final frames.  Winning pitcher Jordan Yates started the scoring, blasting a two-run homerun in the top of the first.  WHS tied it with an rbi single by starter Jonathan Spina and a bases-loaded doubleplay ball to score a second run.  After one out in the Beaver third, Yates walked, stole second and third and scored on Dillon Hinzy’s basehit.  The Little Prexies (14-5) loaded the bases and ultimately tied the game in the fourth, but certainly could have had more.  Jesse Spara singled.  Connor Bedillion was hit by a pitch.  Losing pitcher Lincoln Key lofted a high fly ball to left center that landed at the base of the fence.  Spara, thinking the ball was going to be caught was still at second, with Bedillion right behind him when the ball hit the ground.  By this time, Key was within ten feet of Bedillion but had to retreat to first and settle for a single to load the bases.  Yates was then summoned to take over for starter Jacob Hannan. The reliever threw two pitches to Kurt Adkins that went to the backstop, but Spara stayed put.  Finally, a pitch in the dirt bounced off  catcher Patrick Hanigan’s mask and about 20 feet in the air, Spara scored.  Adkins then walked, reloading the bases.  Jarrell Dates’ slow grounder to short should have scored another run but Bedillion was late coming to the plate and was forced out.  The next two batters, WHS 1/2 hitters, struck out, leaving the bases full. Scheidemantel doubled with one out in the Beaver fifth and, after Key relieved Spina, scored on Lucas Carrol’s grounder to first. Bedillion’s two-out single in the bottom of the inning drove in Spina, tying the game at 4-4.  In the decisive sixth, a walk and a single to left gave Beaver runners at second and third with no one out.  Logan grounded to second, scoring Evan Stay.  Alex Rowse followed with a flyout to deep left, making it 6-4.  Yates walked and Scheidemantel homered, his third extra-base hit of the game. Washington made some noise in the seventh, getting two on with one out, but a comebacker and a groundout ended the game.  The first six batter in the Bobcats’ lineup had at least one rbi, seven of the starting nine contributed hits to the win. Yates held WHS to one run and two hits over the final four innings to get the win.  Key took the loss, charged with the four sixth-inning markers.  Washington had five base-runners erased on the bases–on a double-play grounder, a failed sacrifice force play, a caught stealing, a late attempt to advance on a short passed ball and the force out at home.  The Little Prexies six hits were all singles, two by Key, though one should have been at least an rbi double, perhaps a two-run triple.

Steel Valley Ironmen 1 – Apollo-Ridge Vikings 0 
No. 3 Steel Valley (15-2) received one of the most dominant pitching performances of Junior Brandon Donovan’s career, shutting out No. 14 Apollo-Ridge 1-0 on Friday afternoon at Fox Chapel High School. Donovan, who entered the game with a 4-1 record and a 0.61 ERA was magnificent, striking out 13 batters, walking none and allowing just one hit in the complete game shutout. Donovan also recorded two of the Ironmen’s five hits in the ballgame. But he thrived on the mound, facing the minimum amount of batters in the game, while throwing only 80 pitches. Steel Valley would score the game’s only run in the third inning, as Sean McShane would bloop a one-out triple down the right field line. Apollo-Ridge Right Fielder Dylan Wingard would misplay the ball, seemingly thinking that the ball, which landed about two feet into fair ground, was a foul ball. The miscue would allow McShane to go from first base to third. During the next at-bat, Viking’s starter Austin Laird would throw a wild pitch, allowing McShane to score from third. Laird was terrific on the mound, but took the loss in a complete game, five-hit performance in which he struck out two batters and walked three. Apollo-Ridge (7-8) was making their first playoff appearance in 21 years. First year head coach Joe Rice will lose only three senior starters and return his entire pitching rotation, including Laird. Next up for Steel Valley will be the winner of Freeport and Riverside. That Quarterfinal game, the first for Steel Valley since 2006, will take place tomorrow at 2pm at Woodland Hills High School.

Riverside Panthers 4 – Freeport Yellowjackets 2 
The Riverside Panthers, the number 11 seed in the WPIAL AA baseball playoff bracket upset the 6th seeded Freeport Yellow Jackets by a score of 4-2 at the Burkett Complex in Robinson Twp. Freeport would score first in the opening inning. With one out Kris Keppel walked, Matt Swartz singled then Noah Shannon hit a ground ball to short stop forcing Swartz at second. the throw in the attempt to get the double play was dropped by the 1st baseman and rolled to the dugout fence scoring Kepple from 2nd base for the Freeport 1-0 lead. It would stay 1-0 Jackets until the 4th when Peyton Pacella singled, then Jason Pettner singled. They were sacrificed to 2nd,and with one out Jason Dambach would hit an RBI single.Next up was Freshman Dylan Speicher who put down a squeeze bunt. ” I’m not sure how he hit that ball it was pitched so low, he did a great job” said Riverside head coach Dan Oliastro after the game. The bunt was successful and it was 2-1 Riverdide after 4 innings. It would stay 2-1 until the top of the 7th when the Panthers would plate two more runs. Clay Whitlach walked to open the inning then Vinny Howels singled. Both were sacrificed to 2nd and 3rd respectively. After an intentional walk to Ross Maeitta, Pacella was hit by a pitch for an RBI, then Pettner would  hit a Sac Fly to make the score 4-1. In the bottom of the 7th Freeport would threaten when with two outs Nate Pastorek would double and be brought in by a Hunter fennel RBI single. However the rally would fall short and the Panthers would win 4-2. For Riverside Pettner gets the win going 7 innings, giving up 8 hits, 1 walk, 2 runs and striking out 6. They improve to 12-5 and will play Steel Valley in the 2nd round. For the Yellow Jackets Pastorek takes the tough loss, he went 7 innings giving up all 4 runs on 6 hits, he walked 4 and struck out three while hitting one batter. Freeport ends their season at 11-6