Apr 11, 2015 5 min read

Taking batting practice beyond the outfield fence, running around the park’s concourse with a baseball glove and soaking in the atmosphere of NCAA Division II baseball games.

Louden Conte spent many hours of his childhood at Consol Energy Park, learning the nuances of the game from his father Mike, California University’s longtime baseball coach, and developing a passion for baseball.

Swinging at baseballs near the outfield video board is far different from facing live pitching on the artificial turf. Louden Conte, California High School’s junior shortstop, feels at home in the North Franklin Township baseball stadium – Cal’s home field during baseball season.

He certainly looked comfortable at the plate Saturday afternoon against Brownsville, going 3-4 with three RBI to lead California to a 15-0, four-inning victory in a non-section game at Consol Energy Park.

Conte, the Trojans’ leadoff hitter, had three singles in his first three at-bats, including a two-run base hit in the second inning, and stole two bases. He scored three runs and converted a picturesque, inning-ending double play in the bottom of the third to keep the Falcons scoreless.

“I’ve been out here a lot and playing is twice as fun with this beautiful turf field,” Conte said. “Most of the time we’ve played here, we’ve won. It’s really nice playing out here.”

The Trojans (6-1) lost key starters at the top of their batting order from last season’s WPIAL title, but they have not skipped a beat. Conte moved to the leadoff spot, sophomore second baseman Johnny DeFranco is hitting second, and senior center fielder Aaron Previsky hits third.

Opponents have not found an answer for the trio. DeFranco, who is 14-for-18 on the season, added two hits against the Falcons with four runs and three RBI. Previsky scored twice and drove in a run.

As effective California was on offense, Brownsville (4-1) was the opposite on defense, converting four errors in the second inning to allow the Trojans to grab a 9-0 lead.

“They put the ball in play all the time. You aren’t going to get a bunch of strikeouts against them, but when the ball is in play, you have to make a play,” Brownsville head coach Skooter Roebuck said. “We threw the ball around like we haven’t played this game before. You can’t give a team like that runs and we gave them runs.”

The Trojans jumped on Brownsville quickly in the top of the first when DeFranco hit an RBI triple to score Conte and sophomore first baseman Nathaniel Luketich had a sacrifice fly that gave Cal a 2-0 lead.

Conte hit a two-run single in the second inning, junior catcher KC Zajicek and senior center fielder Paul Peters drove in runs. The Trojans scored four more runs on four errors in the second to take a 9-0 lead.

California added five more runs for a 14-0 lead in the third inning with Conte, DeFranco and Previsky accounting for four RBI.

“Conte’s tough. He’s just a tough out,” California head coach Nick Damico said. “All he does is get on base. His on-base percentage has to be 800-plus and DeFranco is tough, too. Those two up there with Aaron and Luketich, that’s tough to deal with.”

California reached the 15-run mercy rule on an RBI single by Luketich in the top of the fourth and senior right-handed pitcher Chris Swartz, who earned the complete game shutout after allowing six hits in four innings, closed out the bottom-half to earn the victory.

Conte’s comfort at the top of the order and at Consol Energy Park added up to a statement victory Saturday. It is the same setting in which the Trojans claimed the WPIAL Class A title a season ago. With the growth of a junior shortstop that spent his childhood roaming the ballpark and a supporting cast putting up offensive numbers fit for a video game, the Trojans have their eyes on a repeat.

“Johnny has singled me in so many times, Aaron has done the same for him and it keeps going,” Conte said. “We have a lot of protection in the lineup so they can’t pitch around certain people. We really feel confident.”

Freshman Cam Shaub went 2-for-2 with 2 RBI and drove in the eventual game-winning run as Fort Cherry defeated Chartiers-Houston, 9-5, in a non-section game.

The Rangers (2-1) led 5-3 until the bottom of the fifth when the Bucs tied the game on RBI by Matt Whitfield and Ryan James, who drove in three runs on one hit. Chartiers-Houston (2-2) committed two errors and walked nine batters.

Fort Cherry answered in the sixth inning when Shaub’s two-run single to right field gave the Rangers a 6-5 lead and Alex Babirad’s hard-hit line drive to right field scored Shaub. Babirad came around to score when the right fielder misplayed the ball and made an errant throw as FC led by four runs.

The Bucs only had one hit in the final two innings and left two runners on base.

FC grabbed the lead in the first inning after four consecutive walks and a two-run single by Greg Csonka. Junior Hunter Douglas earned the victory in relief and struck out three.

“I think we can hit. I’m not sure how many strikeouts (Chartiers-Houston) had, but we’ve been able to put the ball in play and I’m pleased with that,” Fort Cherry head coach Bob Sawhill said. “We had timely hits in our other win too. It’s just been difficult not being on the field with this weather.”