May 16, 2016 3 min read

UPPER ST. CLAIR – The wet spot on the shoulder on the jacket of Belle Vernon High School baseball coach Daryl Hixenbaugh told the story.

Moments after his team was eliminated from the WPIAL Class AAA playoffs by Chartiers Valley Monday night, Hixenbaugh met with his seven seniors one last time, and the emotions were all over the faces of the players as their tears ended up on his shoulder.

“We told them that we love them and they are a great bunch of kids,” Hixenbaugh said. “It has been a really, really great bunch of kids to work with.

“For three years these seniors have given me everything they had and they have given the program everything they had and that is all I can ask for.”

BV (16-5) had its leadoff hitter reach base in the first six innings, but not one of them scored in its 6-4 loss.

It did not take the Colts (13-7), who face top-seeded Laurel Highlands in the quarterfinals at a date, site and time to be determined, long to get on the scoreboard in the first inning.

With one out, Dante Panucci singled to left and advanced to second when left fielder Eric Harkins misplayed the ball.

Panucci advanced to third on a single by Cole Horew and scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Joe Sibeto.

In the third, after their first two batters flew out off of Jake Callaway, Horew tripled and scored on a wild pitch.

Three batters later, Konnor Corchado doubled in two more runs to put the Colts ahead, 4-0.

BV cut the lead in half in the top of the fourth when Evan Hannan doubled in Ben Cole and Deven Judy with two outs.

The Colts got the two runs back, one each in the fourth and fifth, but Belle Vernon was not done.

The Leopards scored twice on bases loaded walks in the sixth, and were primed to tie the score, but the Colts brought in Ross Wilkerson to replace Horew on the mound.

Belle Vernon drilled a shot to left field, but Steve Aluazen made a diving catch to end the inning.

“He made a great play,” Hixenbaugh said. “If that ball was five feet to the left or right, we tie the game and maybe take the lead.”

The Leopards went down in order in the seventh to end the game and their season.

“It is sad to see the seniors go, but we will be back,” Hixenbaugh said of the young program.