Kovach, Burgettstown quiet GCC to advance
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By Joe Tuscano
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
McMURRAY – If ever there was a time when Burgettstown’s baseball team needed a strong performance from starting pitcher Eric Kovach, this was the time.
With a difficult Greensburg Central Catholic in the other dugout and the playoffs on the line, Kovach came through. He struck out 13, allowed only three hits and helped Burgettstown take a 3-1 victory from GCC in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Class 2A tournament Monday night at Peterswood Park.
“He was hitting in the 90s over the summer,” said Burgettstown head coach Doug Tunno.
Burgettstown took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Sam Elich that scored Matt Bredel.
Greensburg Central Catholic placed runners on second and third base with one out and Kovach struck out Jackson McMullen and Brody Bothell to end the inning.
Burgettstown stretched the lead to 2-0 after Elich doubled to center field and scored on a single by Wyatt Stevenson.
In the fifth, James Leuice got on via a fielder’s choice and came around to score on an error by the GCC second baseman to make it 3-0.
Greensburg Central Catholic finally broke through with a run in the sixth. An error at shortstop allowed pinch-runner Dave Wachinski to score.
Burgettstown will play top-seeded Serra Catholic today (2 p.m.) in the semifinals at West Mifflin High School.