May 3, 2022 7 min read

High school baseball

Hunter Assad went 3-for-3 and drove in four runs as California was assured of a second-place finish in Class 2A Section 1 after defeating Frazier 15-5 in five innings on Tuesday.

The Trojans concluded section play with a 7-3 record and are 7-5 overall.

California was holding a slim 3-2 lead before scoring five runs in the fourth inning and seven in the fifth.

Aidan Lowden had a triple, and Addison Panepinto and Kris Weston each doubled for California. The Trojans stole seven bases, including two by Lowden.

Pitchers Rick Lawson and reliever Caden Powell combined on a three-hitter with seven strikeouts.

• Washington made two early runs stand for a 2-0 victory over Bentworth in a Class 2A Section 1 game.

Wayne Sparks-Gatling allowed one hit and did not walk anyone for Washington (4-6, 5-8). Michael Shallcross and Kyle Bainer each had a double.

Noah Martin struck out eight and did not allow a walk for Bentworth (5-5, 6-6).

• An outstanding defensive play in the eighth inning sealed Jefferson-Morgan’s 9-8 victory over Mapletown in a Class A Section 2 finale.

Mapletown’s Roger Gradek hit a comebacker to the mound with the bases loaded and one out for a 1-2-3 double play that ended the game.

Jefferson-Morgan (5-5, 6-5) tied the game 5-5 with two runs in the top of the seventh and won it with four more in the top of the eighth.

Brenton Barnhart knocked in three runs for the Rockets and A.J. Vanata had four RBI for the Maples (0-10, 3-11).

Landon Stevenson, who went 3-for-5 with three runs, and Jeremiah Mick each hit a double for the Maples, who had four of their 13 hits in the eighth inning. AJ Vanata went 3-for-4 with 2 RBI and Clay Menear scored three times.

Patrick Holaren slapped a double for J-M.

• Parker Lyons had three hits and Cayden Jacobs threw Rochester’s second shutout of Avella in as many days as the Rams won 10-0 in five innings in Class A Section 1.

Rochester (8-2, 9-4) is a half-game behind section leader Union. Avella, which has clinched a playoff berth, fell to 3-7, 4-9.

Jacobs struck out three and did not issue a walk while throwing a three-hitter.

• Davey Timko threw a six-hit complete game and drove in one run as Brownsville edged Charleroi 2-1 in a Class 3A Section 4 game.

Charleroi (4-5, 6-6) took a 1-0 lead in the third, but Brownsville (3-7, 4-7) tied it in the fifth on an RBI single by Timko. An error later in the innings allowed the Falcons to grab the 2-1 lead, which Timko made hold up. Timko did not walk a batter and struck out three.

• Trey Varley has an appropriate name. Varley hit two triples and drove in three runs, leading Bishop canevin to a 15-5 win over Monessen in a five-inning Class A Section 2 game.

Mason Glover doubled, tripled and drove in four, and Aiden Vogelsberger added a double and triple as Bishop Canevin moved to 7-3, both in the section and overall.

Monessen (2-8, 2-11) was held to six hits, including a double by Kody Kuhns.

• Sam Miller and Wes Parker combined on a three-hit shutout Monday night as Peters Township remained atop Class 5A Section 4 with a 5-0 win over Trinity at Peterswood Park.

Miller pitched five innings, allowing only three singles. he did not walk a batter and struck out 12. Parker got the final six outs, three via strikeout.

Jack Lutte had a triple and Jack Kail drove in two runs as Peters Township improved to 8-1 in section and 13-1 overall. Trinity, which is trying to catch Connellsville for the section’s final playoff spot, is 2-7 in the league and 4-11 overall.

High school softball

Carmichaels swept a Class 2A Section 3 doubleheader from California, 10-0 and 16-2, both in five innings Tuesday.

Carmichaels has a record of 6-2 in section and 8-3 overall.

In the 10-0, win, the Mikes’ Sophia Zalar went 4-for-4 with a triple and three RBI. Kaitlyn Waggett also hit a triple and winning pitcher Allie Miller tossed a four-hit shutout.

Waggett had a double in 16-2 Carmichaels victory. She also pitched two scoreless innings. Megan Voithofer drove in four runs, Karissa Rohrer had three RBi and Grace Brown walked three times and scored three runs.

California, which is battling for the final playoff berth from the section, is 4-7 in the league and 5-8 overall.

• Sofia Celaschi fired her second shutout in as many days as Charleroi blanked Washington 14-0 in five innings in Class 2A Section 3.

The second game of the doubleheader was suspended in the third innign with Charleroi leading 6-0.

Celaschi threw a two-hitter, did not walk a batter and struck out 11. She had plenty of offensive support as Charleroi (6-2, 6-5) had 12 hits, including seven that went for extra bases.

Riley Jones and Madalynn Lancy each hit a home run, Mckenna DeUnger smacked a triple, Ella Sypolt hit two doubles, and Rece Eddy and Leena Henderson each contributed a double.

• West Greene’s Payton Gilbert threw her first career shutout, a two-hit blanking of Avella in the Pioneers’ 18-0 win in five innings in Class 2A Section 1.

The win was the ninth straight for section-leading West Greene (8-0, 9-3).

Gilbert struck out five and walked four. She allowed only two singles.

London Whipkey led the Pioneers’ hitters, going 3-for-3 with a triple and four RBI. All of Whipkey’s RBI came in the first two innings, when West Greene forged a 14-0 lead.

Taylor Karvan had two hits, two RBI, two stolen bases and three runs. Katie Lampe walked four times, scored runs and had two RBI.

• Kendall Lemley tossed a two-hitter as Waynesburg blanked winless Brownsville 8-0 in Class 3A Section 3.

Lemley walked one and struck out two as the playoff-bound Raiders improved to 6-3 in section and 8-4 overall.

Waynesburg was held to six hits, all singles. Paige Jones walked twice and scored two runs.

• Olivia Kolowitz struck out a career-high 17 as Belle Vernon defeated Laurel Highlands 13-3 in Class 4A Section 2.

The loss eliminated LH (4-7, 4-8) from playoff contention while Belle Vernon improved to 8-3 in section and 10-5-1 overall.

Kolowitz helped her cause with a double and an RBI. Ashley Joll and Abby Fabin doubled and drove in two, and Lexi Daniels and Maren Metikosh each doubled.

Steelers sign safety

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed free-agent safety Damontae Kazee to a one-year contract.

Kazee spent the 2021 season in Dallas, making 52 tackles and finishing with two interceptions in 17 games, with 15 starts.

The 28-year-old Kazee began his career in Atlanta, playing four seasons for the Falcons from 2017-20. He tied for the NFL lead with seven interceptions in 2018.

Wild Things move

The Wild Things made one roster move Wednesday, releasing pitcher Mac Lardner.

Washington had signed Lardner after Ryan Hennen’s contract was purchased by the Kansas City Royals, leaving an opening in the starting rotation. Lardner spent one year in the St. Louis Cardinals system after being drafted out of Gonzaga University.

The Wild Things currently have 32 players on their roster.