WPIAL baseball playoffs roundup for May 22, 2019: Shaler beats rival Mars in semifinals

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, May 22, 2019 | 10:40 PM

Shaler advanced to a WPIAL baseball championship for the first time since 2003 with an 8-2 win over Section 2 rival Mars (12-9) in the Class 5A semifinals Wednesday at Pullman Park in Butler.

Nick Rispoli pitched a complete game for the No. 5 Titans (14-7) with eight strikeouts and had a double and a run scored.

Colin Harger went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI. Eight of the nine starters for Shaler reached base.

J.J. Wetherholt was 2 for 3 with a double and an RBI for the No. 8 Fightin’ Planets (12-9), who were down their top two pitchers, Shane Fox and Joey Craska, after both pitched in a 4-3 win in 11 innings over West Allegheny on Tuesday.

Class 6A

Pine-Richland 6, Bethel Park 0 — Matt Schietroma threw a seven-hitter with five strikeouts to lift No. 2 Pine-Richland (17-4) to a WPIAL Class 6A win at Shaler.

Troy LaNeve and Chase Vrabel each had two hits and an RBI for the Rams, who will play No. 1 Penn-Trafford (18-3) in the championship.

Class 2A

Serra Catholic 4, Neshannock 1 — Dom Puzzanchera doubled in the eventual winning run as No. 2 Serra Catholic (20-2) won a WPIAL Class 2A semifinal at North Allegheny.

Alex Glumac and Dom Demoss also had RBIs for the Eagles.

Seton LaSalle 5, Laurel 4 — Trevor O’Donnell smacked a single in the seventh inning to give No. 4 Seton LaSalle (18-2) a WPIAL Class 2A semifinal victory at Burkett Complex.

Brett Wagner had two hits and two RBIs for the Rebels, who will play No. 2 Serra Catholic in the finals.

Will Shaffer knocked in two runs for No. 9 Laurel (12-7).

Class A

California 3, Quigley Catholic 1 — Brody Connor and Fred Conard each had RBIs in the fourth inning as No. 1 California (17-1) captured a WPIAL Class A semifinal win at Washington & Jefferson.

Nate Zemany threw a complete game to earn the win.

California will play No. 3 Union in the championship game.

Union 6, Vincentian Academy 1 — Brayden Porter and Sean Louis each knocked in two runs to lift No. 3 Union (15-3) to a WPIAL Class A semifinal win at Seneca Valley.

Rob King earned the victory.