Scholastic Notebook – 06/12/2016

By: HSSN Staff
Sunday, June 12, 2016 | 10:06 PM

Remember back two years ago when Blackhawk pitcher Brendan McKay’s scoreless streak was one of the biggest stories ever in WPIAL high school baseball? Well, the scoreless streak of Mike Boswell isn’t close to McKay’s, but Boswell’s also belongs as one of the most impressive in WPIAL history.

Boswell is a 6-foot, 190-pound senior at Riverside who has played a huge role in getting the Panthers to the PIAA Class AA semifinals tomorrow [Monday]. He has not given up a run in four postseason victories and his scoreless streak, going back to the regular season, now stands at 41 innings. McKay’s streak was 72 1/3 innings, which tied for the second-longest in U.S. high school baseball history.

The last run Boswell gave up came in a 2-1 loss to Neshannock April 29. Neshannock scored two runs in the first inning that day. Since that inning, here is what Boswell’s zilch job has looked like:

* 6 innings against Neshannock.

* 7 innings against New Brighton.

* 5 innings against New Brighton.

* 7 innings against Keystone Oaks.

* 9 innings against Neshannock.

* 7 innings against Moniteau.

For the season, Boswell is 9-1 with a 0.51 ERA. He has pitched 68 innings and struck out 95 and walked 18. He has allowed only 25 hits and six runs, including five earned runs.

Overall, Riverside has not allowed a run in six postseason games, which has never been done by a team from the WPIAL. Riverside plays in the PIAA semifinals against Bishop McCort. It is unlikely that Boswell will start because he would have to work on only three days rest. The Moniteau game was Thursday.

WPIAL and the Draft

In case you did not hear: Plum’s Alex Kirilloff was taken in the first round of the MLB draft Thursday night. He was only the fifth WPIAL player ever taken in the first round from high school.

But Kirilloff was the only WPIAL player selected in this year’s draft, which concluded Saturday. However, six former WPIAL players were taken:

* Florida State second baseman John Sansone (Neshannock High School) was taken in the eighth round by the Reds.

* Mercyhurst pitcher Colin McKee (Butler) was taken in the 18^th round by the Astros.

* California, Pa., pitcher Mick Fennell (Butler) was taken in the 22^nd round by the Cardinals.

* Lafayette pitcher David Bednar (Mars) was picked in the 35^th round by the Padres.

* Georgetown pitcher Matt Smith (Seneca Valley) was selected in the 34^th round by the Brewers.

Hempfield Nationally Ranked

The Hempfield softball team’s strong reputation goes much farther than Western Pennsylvania. Hempfield has cracked the national rankings in one publication.

Hempfield is ranked No. 24 in the latest Maxpreps.com national rankings. Hempfield is the WPIAL champion and has made it to the PIAA semifinals. The Spartans are 23-2 and will play Chambersburg tomorrow (Monday).

While the Riverside baseball team has an impressive shutout streak, Hempfield also has a nice little streak going. Hempfield has not allowed a run in the past three postseason games – the WPIAL championship and two PIAA games.

West Greene Gets Offensive

While the Riverside baseball and Hempfield softball teams are big on allowing nothing, West Greene has to be one of the strongest offensive teams to come out of WPIAL softball in a while. The Pioneers won the WPIAL Class A title for the first time in school history and have made it to the WPIAL semifinals. West Greene has played six postseason games (WPIAL and PIAA) and has scored at least 10 runs in four of them. Their lowest offensive output was four in the PIAA quarterfinals. Overall, West Green is averaging 10 runs in the postseason.

Four West Greene starters are hitting above .500 – McKenna Lampe, Madison Renner, Bailey Bennington and Madison Lampe. And as a team, West Greene has 30 home runs.

Bonislawski New Riverview Coach

Matt Bonislawski is a former high school athletic director. Now, he’ll be a head football coach.

Riverview recently Bonislawski as its new football coach. He was Highlands’ athletic director from 2007-13. Bonislawski is a former standout at Highlands who went on to play at the University of Connecticut.

Kitchen Freshman All-American

Former Mt. Lebanon baseball pitcher Austin Kitchen got a pretty big honor recently when he was picked to the Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American team.

Kitchen plays at Coastal Carolina, a team that is playing in an NCAA Super Regional this weekend, with a chance to go to the College World Series. Kitchen is 4-0 with a 3.19 ERA. He had struck out 36 batters in 42 1/3 innings while allowing 28 hits.

Tags: Butler, Hempfield, West Greene