WPIAL Baseball Recaps From Tuesday, May 24th

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, May 25, 2016 | 12:36 AM

You’ve read it here before and will read it again. The unkindest loss of the all is the district Semifinals loss. So close and yet so far. Sure, losing in the championship game is rough, but realizing that goal and being part of the pageantry is a lifetime memory. And yes, losing at this stage doesn’t mean season over as you get to play for a berth in the upcoming state playoffs where dreams can be still be realized from the third-seed out of the WPIAL. But don’t sell that to the eight teams on the wrong end of the score today. They ain’t buying it…at least until their next practice. Here are recaps from all eight WPIAL Semifinals games played in great weather conditions on Tuesday.

A special thanks to Don Rebel, Steve Nagler, Bob Gregg, James Dotson and Mike Azadian for their help on these recaps.

WPIAL CLASS AAAA Semifinals:

Plum Mustangs 3 – Hempfield Spartans 0 
At North Allegheny High School, the Plum Mustangs the Number one seed in the WPIAL AAAA Baseball tournament win a low scoring pitchers duel over the Hempfield Spartans 3-0 to move on to the WPIAL final which will be played next Tuesday or Wednesday at Consol Energy Park in Washington.  Both starting pitchers Hempfield’s  Matt Tarabek and Plum’s Zach Nolan were masterful  early in this game. Tarabek only allowed 1 baserunner in the first two innings, while Nolan pitched out of trouble with an assist from his catcher Alex Terrell who picked off a crucial runner in the second inning.  He would also throw out a potential tying run in the 6th inning trying to steal to thwart a Spartan rally. Plum would score first in the bottom of the third as Tommy Zummo singled with one out. Alex Kiriloff would double him in to make it 1-0 Mustangs. It looked like it may stay that way as Tarabek settled down and got to the 6th inning only trailing 1-0. Nolan meanwhile went 4 innings giving up no runs, on 4 hits, striking out 6, and  walking 1. He was replaced by Kiriloff in the 5th inning.  With the score 1-0 Plum the Mustangs got to a tiring Tarabek scoring 2 runs in the bottom of the 6th, all with 2 outs. They strung 4 straight hits together with RBI singles by Justin Sembower, and Jason Maltese to make it 3-0 Mustangs.  The Spartans threatened off of Kiriloff in the 7th  with a walk and an error to put two runners on, but he would get the next three batters to hold on and get the save.  Nolan gets the win, while Kiriloff gets the save pitching 3 innings, striking out 4, walking 1, and giving up no runs. For Plum Zummo went 2 for 3 with a run scored and also making two stellar defensive plays, Kiriloff  goes 2 for 3 with an RBI,  and Nolan 2 for 3 with a run scored to lead Plum on offense.  Hempfield was led by Branson Aukerman on offense as he went 2 for 3 with 2 singles. Tarabek takes the loss going 5 2/3 innings, giving up 3 runs, on 9 hits, striking out 6 and walking none.  The Spartans fall to 16-7 and will play a consolation game next week against Canon-McMillan for the right to play in the PIAA playoffs.  Plum improves to 22-0 and remains the only undefeated baseball team in the WPIAL. They return to the WPIAL final for the first time since 2008. They will face the 14th seeded Norwin Knights. They last won a WPIAL title in 1998 in AAA. They have only given up 11 hits in three games in 21 innings for three shut outs in their three playoff games.

Norwin Knights 8 – Canon-McMillan Big Macs 5 
Norwin’s upset run through the Quad-A baseball playoffs will include a trip to the PIAA tournament thanks to the Knights’ 8-5 win over Canon-McMillan in the WPIAL semifinals.  Norwin, seeded 14th in the bracket, has now beaten #3 Shaler, #6 Latrobe and #7 Canon-McMillan on the way to a berth in next week’s WPIAL Championship Game at CONSOL Energy Park.  The Knights took a 2-0 lead in the first getting back-to-back RBI hits from Nick Amendola (1B) and Ethan Sikora (2B).  The Big Macs cut the margin in half with Tanner Piechnick’s base hit scoring Cam Walker.  Despite only sending six batters to the plate in the second, Norwin scored three times.  Brad Lucas and Ramon Milke singled, chasing CM starter Ian Hess.  Cam Weston walked Jon LoChiatto after the Knights’ catcher couldn’t get a sacrifice bunt down.  Dan Kiester’s high-hopping grounder got over the drawn-in infield, scoring a pair.  Ray Belchick lifted a sacrifice fly to center, giving Norwin (15-7) a 5-1 lead.  Canon-McMillan (14-8) put four hits on the books with just six batters in its half of the second, but had a runner cut down at the plate.  Josh Palma and Nick Serafino singled to open the frame.  After a strikeout, Walker singled to right, Palma scored when the ball was misplayed, and the runners ended up at second and third.  Hess singled to center, scoring Serafino but Walker was thrown out trying to follow.  CM literally stole a run in the fourth.  Serafino singled with one out and moved to second on a groundout.  Walker’s single put runners at the corners.  Walker pulled a delayed steal with LoChiatto throwing through to second.  Serafino came in, just beating the return throw from Lucas.  Norwin loaded the bases with one out in the fifth but could not add to the lead.  Belchick walked to open the inning.  The Big Macs brought on Zach Rohaley to pitch.  Reno Rainey singled, then moved to second on a ground out.  An intentional walk to Sikora loaded the bases.  Rohaley crafted back-to-back K’s to hold the score at 5-4.  In the bottom of the fifth, Piechnick walked.  One out later, Matt Mish doubled him home, tying the game, and took third on the play.  That ended Ryan Murray’s night on the mound.  Chad Coles came on and slammed the door, getting back-to-back strikeouts to end the CM threat.  Rainey led off the Norwin seventh with a single up the middle, his second hit off Rohaley.  Following a groundout, Sikora was intentionally walked again.  Jonathan Pingree’s single loaded the bases.  Pinch-hitter Eric Sico drew a walk on a 3-2 pitch, forcing in the tie-breaking run.  Milke then waited on an 0-2 changeup over the plate, lining it down the line in left, scoring two more, giving the Knights the 8-5 win.  Coles picked up the win in relief, working 2.2 shutout innings, allowing two hit, one walk, striking out four.  Rohaley took the loss, charged with the three seventh inning runs.  The right-hander allowed four hits, walked five and struck out six.

WPIAL CLASS AAA Semifinals:

Chartiers Valley Colts 6 – Mars Fighting Planets 1 
Senior Cole Harew was a one-man wrecking crew for the Chartiers Valley Colts on Tuesday afternoon at the Burkett Sports Complex in Robinson Twp.  Not only did Harew stifle Mars hitters in pitching a complete game victory, but he also collected three hits, knocked in a run and scored a pair of runs in the 6-1 Colts victory.  Harew scattered five hits and gave up an unearned run in getting the Colts to the WPIAL AAA Championship game.  He struck out three Planets on the afternoon.  Harew tripled and scored to lead off the 3rd inning and drove home Dante Panucci with a 2-out single in the 6th inning.  Panucci’s double, in the AB before Harew’s in the 6th inning, plated Zach Philossoph which gave the Colts a 4-1 lead at the time.  Konnor Corchano also had three hits, an RBI and scored a run for the Colts.  Chartiers Valley had a total of 11 hits on the afternoon.  Mars was led offensively by Jack Anderson who had two singles and scored the Planets’ only run.  Chartiers Valley (15-7) advances to play Blackhawk in the WPIAL AAA Championship game next week at Consol Energy Park.  The Mars Planets (14-6) will face Knoch in the AAA Consolation game to determine the second PIAA playoff qualifier.

Blackhawk Cougars 7 – Knoch Knights 2 
The Blackhawk Cougars avenged a 4-3 loss in the quarterfinals of the 2015 WPIAL playoffs by defeating the Knoch Knights on Tuesday night at the Burkett Sports Complex. With the victory, the Cougars advance and will vie for the WPIAL Championship, trying to win their third District title.  The Cougars got a great pitching performance from Mark Engel, his second of the post season, notching his 2nd win in the playoffs.  Engel pitched a complete game, allowing only four hits and the two runs he relinquished were both unearned.  Engel struck out six Knight hitters.  Engel did significant damage as well offensively has he finished 2/3 with a double, a run batted in and a run scored.  Robbie Swinderman scored two runs as well for Blackhawk.  Knoch’s Nick Guercio scored both runs and reached base in two of his three at-bats.  Knights’ starter Alex Stobert didn’t get much support as 5 of the 6 runs that he surrendered were unearned.  Blackhawk (18-4) will now take on Chartiers Valley in the WPIAL AAA Championship game next week at Consol Energy Park.  The Knoch Knights (14-7) will face familiar foe, Mars, in the AAA Consolation game.

WPIAL CLASS AA Semifinals:

Neshannock Lancers 4 – Shenango Wildcats 3 in 8 Innings
In a battle between two local, section rivals, with a trip to the WPIAL Championship Game on the line, seven innings just was not enough. 13-seed Shenango broke out to a 3-0 lead, but the defending champion and top seed Neshannock Lancers battled back to win 4-3 in eight innings. Both teams executed their game plans to perfection. Shenango wanted to strike early against Neshannock ace Frank Fraschetti, who always improves as the game goes on. The Wildcats did just that with a little two-out lightning in the second inning. Hunter Waskin singled, filled by an RBI double by Hayden Guemble and an RBI single by Kyle Campbell. Just like that, Shenango had a 2-0 lead over the Lancers. They stretched that lead the following inning with a little more two-out magic. Freshman Anthony Ryan singled, one of his three hits on the day, and Vinny Turco’s two-out double plated Ryan to make it 3-0 Wildcats.  Neshannock on the other hand wanted to elevate the pitch count of Wildcat hurler Cody Wolthers. The Lancer hitters worked good counts, and forced more pitches from Wolthers through three innings (67) than he threw in the entire first round game against Avonworth (60).  The strategy allowed Neshannock to chip away, starting with a two-out RBI single from Rich Serignese that plated Josh Gray. In the fifth, Gray came up big with some two-out magic of his own. With the bases loaded and two outs, Gray lined a 1-2 pitch back up the middle for a 2-RBI single to tie the game and chase Wolthers (104 pitches) from the contest.  Sophomore Jake Murkel entered and stopped the bleeding for the ‘Cats. Shenango had chances to extend their lead, but left the bases loaded in the fifth and a runner in scoring position in the sixth. In the top of the eighth, Shenango threatened again. Hunter Waskin led off the inning with a walk, was sacrificed to second, but was eventually stranded at third.  Gray led off the bottom half of the eighth with a walk and was sacrificed to second as well. After a walk to Serignese, lefty Kyle Campbell came in to fact left-handed hitting Jason Swope. Swope drove  1-1 pitch to left field, playing Gray and advancing the Lancers to the WPIAL Championship. Gray, Serignese, and Mike Nuzzo each had a pair of hits for Neshannock, while Ryan’s three-hit performance was the only multi-hit night for Shenango. Fraschetti threw all eight innings (113 pitches), striking out 10 and walking three. Neshannock (19-2) will take on a familiar foe in #2 Riverside for the title next week. The Lancers split with Section 5 rival Riverside during the regular season. Neshannock will look to make history as the first Class AA team to repeat as WPIAL Champions since Washington in 97-98. The road does not end for Shenango (11-11), however, as the ‘Cats will battle Keystone Oaks in the Consolation Game with a PIAA berth on the line.

Riverside Panthers 2 – Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles 0 
The Riverside Panthers rode a stellar pitching performance by senior Michael Boswell right into the WPIAL Class AA Championship. Boswell was dominant in pitching his team to a 2-0 victory while striking out ten. Boswell set Keystone Oaks down in order in each of the first four innings and gave up his first hit to the Golden Eagles’ Ryan Roell to lead off the 5th. Keystone Oaks could only scratch out four hits on the day. Golden Eagles’ starter, Nick Riggle, pitched well also, giving up only two 3rd inning runs to the Panthers. In that pivotal 3rd inning, Dylan Speicher led off by drawing a walk. After being sacrificed to 2B, Speicher was driven home by a Jason Dambach double into the right-centerfield gap. Dambach would then score on a fielders choice off of the bat of Austin Dambach. That’s all that Boswell would need. Riverside (19-2) goes for their 20th win of the year in the WPIAL AA Championship game which will be played next week at Consol Energy Park in Washington.

PIAL CLASS A Semifinals:

Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions 9 – Union Scotties 6 
It’s not always easy to knock out a defending champion, just ask Union. The Scotties had the 2015 Class A champs on the ropes early with a five run lead, but could not hold on as Greensburg Central Catholic came back with eight unanswered runs to win 9-6 Tuesday afternoon at the Boyce-Mayview Complex in Upper St. Clair. Union scored three runs in both the second and four innings against GCC starter Jack Liberatore. Tim Sumner singled and Logan Schuller followed with a walk. After a sac bunt moved the runners up, Garrsion Bell drove home Sumner and with tow outs, Schuller scored on an error on third baseman Sam Nowicki. Evan Torsello, who had walked, scored on an RBI single by Cole Gorgacz to make it 3-0 Scotties. After the Centurions scored a run in the bottom of the third on a run scoring single by Neal McDemott that scored Harrison Boyle, Union increased their lead to 6-1 in the top of the fourth when Torsello’s double scored courtesy runner Seth Pinkerton and Toresello scored on Gorcacz infield single that also plated Anthony Bertolino when the ball was throw away. But it was all Centurions after that as they scored four runs in their half of the fourth inning with a key play in that inning coming when with Liberatore at third and Jake Nesser at first with two outs, J.P. Pellis struck out but reached first when the ball bounced off catcher Anthony Ryan and his throw ot first short hopped Schuller leaving everybody safe and Liberate scored. Harrison Boyle delivered an RBI single which was followed by a two run double by McDermott  to pull GCC with one at 6-5 after four. The Centurions took the lead for good and chased Scotties starter Randy DeJohn when Scott Riley walked and Tommy Pellis doubled him to third. Matt Costello came in to pitch and gave up a two run single by Nesser that made it 7-6 Greensburg Central Catholic. A wild pitch scored Nowicki in the sixth inning along with a sac fly by Riley for a couple of big insurance runs for GCC. Liberatore gave up four earned runs on six hits in five innings for the win while McDermott allowed only two hits and struck out four in the final two innings for the save. DeJohn suffered the loss as he was touched for seven runs, only three earned though on eight hits in four plus innings work. Costello and Sumner each pitched an inning of relief for the Scotties, who fall to 13-6 and will face Vincentian Academy in the Class A Consolation game next week. Defending champ Greensburg Central Catholic improves to 15-3 and will face section A-2 rival Serra Catholic in the title game next week, an Eagles team the Centurions beat twice in the regular season. 

Serra Catholic Eagles 4 – Vincentian Academy Royals 1
The second-seed Eagles relied on the outstanding pitching of sophomore Ben Visnesky and a great defense behind him to shut down Vincentian Academy 4-1 Tuesday in a Class A Semifinals game at the Boyce-Mayview Complex in Upper St. Clair on Tuesday. Royals starter Garrett Barto, also a sophomore, walked the bases loaded in the second inning before a single by Ben Bowen plated courtesy runner Neil Hartnett to make it 1-0 Serra after two. The Eagles chased Barto in the second when with one out, singles by Nate Piontka Visnesky and a walk to Ryan Anselmino loaded the bases again. After a force out at home plate looked like the Royals might avoid a big inning, a wild pitch scored courtesy runner Anthony Alexander and a tow run single by Jason Cerniglia made it 4-0 Serra Catholic. The only run of the day for Vincentian came in the fourth when Kyler Fedko singled, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sac fly by Nick Kempa. Visnesky went the distance allowing only one run on five hits against the vaunt Vincentian offense as he walked two and struck out five. The Royals fall to 16-7 and will face Union in the Consolation game next week. Meanwhile, its back to the Finals for Serra Catholic for the third time in school history and the first time since they won back to back gold in 2009 and 2010. The eagles are now 21-2 and will face the team that beat them twice, section rival and defending champion Greensburg Central Catholic.