Apr 10, 2017 3 min read

MONONGAHELA – It was a game of firsts Monday afternoon at Ken Griffey Sr. Field as Belle Vernon picked up its first Section 3-AAAA win of the season, downing Ringgold, which was playing its first game since a coaching change, 7-4.

It was the first game for Don Roberts, who replaced Jim Coulter as Ringgold’s head coach. Coulter resigned after allegations of hazing and other misconduct arose following a team trip last month to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.

Ringgold postponed two games before hiring Roberts.

“It was awesome to get these guys back on the field after not playing for a while,” he said. “We were a little rusty but we played solid. I have a feeling over the next week that we play a lot better baseball.”

Belle Vernon coach Daryl Hixenbaugh had mixed emotions about the win.

“We are off the snide but I am not happy with our defense, not in the least little bit,” Hixenbaugh said. “No heads in the game, not working what we worked on Saturday, taking pitches down the middle. (Those) things are driving me absolutely insane.”

Belle Vernon (3-3, 1-2) scored in the second inning without a hit. Ringgold pitcher Ryan Varley walked four and the Rams committed a pair of errors.

Varley went three innings, yielding one hit – a first-inning single by Jake Callaway.

Belle Vernon starter Evan Johnston went 2 2/3 innings, giving up one run in the third when Luke Winterbottom drove in Josh Peters with a fielder’s choice. Johnston was replaced by Jake Amatangelo.

The Leopards extended their lead to 5-1 in the fourth and it started with the bottom of their lineup. No. 7 hitter Cole Naylor walked to start the inning. After Derek Frolo reached base on a fielder’s choice, Deven Judy had an infield single. Leadoff hitter Josh Hoffman followed with a single to score Frolo, then Jordan Zilka and Amatangelo had consecutive RBI singles.

Naylor, Frolo and Judy combined to reach base eight times and Judy had a pair of RBI sacrifice flies.

Hoffman reached base with two singles and a pair of walks in five plate appearances.

“He did well but still isn’t where I want him to be as a hitter,” Hixenbaugh said.

Belle Vernon sealed the win in the fifth as Judy had his second sacrifice fly and Hoffman added another run-scoring single.

Ringgold (3-1, 0-1) scored two unearned runs in the seventh off Amatangelo, but he ended the game by getting Dylan Wujcik to ground out to short.

Amatangelo gave up three runs, only one earned, on five hits.

“He did a great job and (Ringgold) did not have many good swings off of him the whole time,” said Hixenbaugh. “Jordan (Zilka) is unbelievable calling the game and our staff has not called a pitch the last two years.”

Roberts said his team will keep working and pushing one another.

“This is a really, really tight group,” he said. “These are great kids who are excellent students. … They are really focused and I wouldn’t trade these kids for anything.”

Zilka had two singles for Belle Vernon and Anthony Pampena had a pair for Ringgold.