Pine-Richland puts pressure on Shaler, wins opener of key section series

By: Chris Harlan
Tuesday, April 22, 2025 | 11:48 PM

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The foul poles on Pine-Richland’s baseball field stand 360 feet from home plate — deeper than those at PNC Park — so there’s a lot of outfield grass to cover.

The Rams might call it their home-field advantage.

“The biggest thing is just putting the ball in play and putting pressure on the defense,” said senior catcher Sam Heckert, who had four hits and drove in three runs Tuesday as No. 1 Pine-Richland defeated No. 2 Shaler, 9-1, in a still-undecided race for the section title.

The Rams collected 10 hits, including a few balls that narrowly eluded Shaler’s outfielders.

“We enjoy our field because we get to practice on it every day,” Heckert said. “We’ve got dimensions that you never see – 360 down the line. So (other teams’) outfielders struggle with where to play.”

That was true Tuesday.

Pine-Richland put pressure on Shaler’s defense and surged ahead with six runs in the second inning. A bases-loaded double by senior Anthony Mengine into the right-field corner scored two runs. Heckert followed with a single to left that scored two more.

The Rams had only two hits in the inning, but Shaler starter Dante Deleonibus also walked two batters and hit another. A fly ball by senior Anthony Annichine dropped in right field for another run, one of two errors in the inning.

All combined, the Rams led 6-0.

“I don’t think they hit the ball very hard,” Shaler coach Brian Junker said. “I thought our outfielders were too deep. There was wind. The ball wasn’t carrying. Part of that is on us as coaches. We had our outfielders way too deep and showed too much respect.”

The teams play again Wednesday at Shaler.

Pine-Richland (12-1, 6-1) and Shaler (8-4, 4-1) are essentially tied with one loss apiece in Section 3-5A. Pine-Richland’s loss was to Fox Chapel, 3-2, on April 1.

Whichever teams wins the rematch controls its own destiny.

“We know that we have to take two from (Shaler) to win the section,” Heckert said. “If we take one, then we’re going to need some help.”

Pine-Richland has two other section games remaining against New Castle (4-10, 1-4). Shaler also has two apiece against New Castle and Mars (5-6, 1-5).

“We knew coming in here that we have to split to get the section,” Junker said. “They have to sweep us. We lost the first one. We’re going to try to go get the section (Wednesday).”

Pine-Richland starter Keegan Deihl allowed one run on five hits and three walks over seven innings. The senior struck out two in an efficient 87-pitch complete game.

“He has matured so much since his freshman year,” Pine-Richland coach Kurt Wolfe said. “He doesn’t try to strike everyone out anymore. He makes them hit his pitch and keeps them off balance. He hits spots and pitches to contact.”

Deihl improved to 6-0 with a 1.46 ERA this season.

“He’s a competitor,” Heckert said. “He hasn’t lost a game in his high school career, so we feed off of his energy. You saw it when he struck out the last kid. He’s always screaming. He’s always competing.”

Shaler’s Brendan Fitzgerald singled in the fourth inning and later scored the Titans’ only run on a throwing error.

Deleonibus as Shaler’s starter gave up nine runs – seven earned – on seven hits, four walks and four strikeouts in 3⅓ innings. Salvatore Leo pitched 2⅔ scoreless innings in relief.

Pine-Richland scored three runs in the fourth inning to lead 9-1. Heckert, who went 4 for 4, singled and scored in the fourth. Ben Husted followed with a two-run single.

Mengine and Husted drove in two runs apiece. Mengine and Logan Plummer scored twice.

In all, eight of Pine-Richland’s nine batters reached base.

“We want to make you work,” Wolfe said. “We want to make you think. … We want to try to put as much pressure on that defense as we can.”

Chris Harlan is a TribLive reporter covering sports. He joined the Trib in 2009 after seven years as a reporter at the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at charlan@triblive.com.

Tags: Pine-Richland, Shaler