May 1, 2024 3 min read

By Jim Downey

Herald-Standard

CONNELLSVILLE – The Class 5A Section 2 finale between Peters Township and Connellsville had the winner in and the loser out of a WPIAL baseball playoff berth.

Delayed by 24 hours because of rain and sloppy field conditions, the Falcons earned that berth after they strung together five consecutive singles that produced three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning for a 4-2 home victory.

Connellsville improves to 5-5 in the section and 8-9 overall. The Indians finish 4-6 in the section and go to 7-10 overall.

“Everyone knew what was at stake,” said Peters Township coach Rocky Plasio. “They got the timely hits and we didn’t.”

The Indians had a long trip home Tuesday after the rain out and had to turn around the next day to play the key game.

“It was nice not to travel that distance twice,” said Connellsville coach Rob Orndorff. “This group of kids believe in themselves and that makes the difference.

“We were ready to play this game.”

Peters Township scored the first run of the game in the top of the fifth inning when Michael Alspaugh walked with one out and moved to second on Luke Scott’s sacrifice bunt.

Alspaugh then scored on Carter Shanafelt’s single.

The Falcons’ Luke Puskar, batting ninth, opened the bottom of the fifth inning with a sharp line drive that was snared by third baseman Scott.

The next five Falcons singled, almost to the same location.

Jonathan Kelly hustled out an infield single. Grayden Gillott followed with a sharp single to left field. Matt Firestone’s single brought home Kelly with the tying run.

Kace Shearer’s single scored Gillott and Ethan Shultz’s base hit capped the scoring when he drove in Firestone.

Zach Miner stopped the rally with a strikeout and infield ground out.

“They capitalized. They were able to string some hits together,” said Plasio.”Defensively, we didn’t help ourselves as much as we could.

“Their balls found holes.”

Connellsville added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Falcons’ Chase Sankovich slapped a single into right-center field and moved to second on Puskar’s sacrifice bunt.

Kelly smoked a line drive into left field to bring home Sankovich. Kelly made a wide turn and was heading to second, but decided against it and took a tumble. He managed to scramble back to first base before the relay throw.

Kelly was checked by the training staff and remained in the game.

Sean Morrow came on in relief to record the final two outs of the inning. Miner allowed four runs on nine hits with five strikeouts, a walk and a hit batter.

Connellsville starting pitcher Ethan Porreca reached his 100-pitch limit when pinch-hitter Matt Scouvart singled to open the top of the seventh inning. Porreca allowed five hits, walked one, hit two batters and struck out three.

Alspaugh greeted reliever Matt Miller with a sharp double over the third base bag. Scott’s fly ball to center field scored Alspaugh.

Miller settled down and retired the next two batters for the save.

Firestone battled the sun and high sky for the out of Shanafelt’s infield fly ball, and Kelly made a nifty play at second base for the final out.