May 21, 2024 3 min read

By The Observer-Reporter

Owen Dumbroski threw a four-hit complete game and top-seeded Serra Catholic defeated Burgettstown 5-1 in the WPIAL Class 2A baseball semifinals at West Mifflin High School on Tuesday.

Burgettstown still has an opportunity to make the PIAA playoffs. The Blue Devils will play a third-place consolation game next week against Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. The winner will advance to the state tournament.

Barely 16 hours after defeating Greensburg Central Catholic in the quarterfinals Monday night, Burgettstown was back on the field and got off to a slow start against Serra (17-1). The Blue Devils fell behind 3-0 in the first inning, which included three walks and a two-run single by Collin Holmes.

Serra tacked on two runs in the fourth.

Burgettstown avoided the shutout by scoring in the seventh when Brodie Kuzior led off with a double and scored as Sam Elich followed with a double.

Dumbroski walked one and struck out three.

Eden Christian 11, Avella 2

Sophomore Noah Emswiler tossed a five-hitter and drove in a pair of runs as second-seeded Eden Christian defeated Avella 11-2 in a Class A semifinal game at Ross Memorial Park.

Avella (11-6) is still in contention for a state playoff berth. The Eagles will play in a third-place consolation game next week against section rival Carmichaels with the winner gaining the WPIAL’s third-place qualifying spot and will face the District 10 champion in the opening round of the PIAA playoffs June 3.

Eden Christian (16-4) led 2-1 before it scored five runs in the fourth inning and three more in the fifth.

Emswiler, Brett Feldman and Brady Hull, the top three hitters in the Eden Christian lineup, combined for six RBI, three runs and three extra-base hits.

Emswiler walked three and struck out seven.

Brian Martos had an RBI triple for Avella, and Chas Rush had two hits and scored a pair of runs.

Bishop Canevin 7, Carmichaels 1

Tyler Maddix struck out eight and defending WPIAL champion Bishop Canevin used a pair of three-run innings to beat Carmichaels 7-1 in the Class A semifinals at Ross Memorial Park.

Fourth-seeded Bishop Canevin (14-4) will play Eden Christian for the WPIAL championship while Carmichaels (13-5) will face section rival Avella in a third-place consolation game that will determine the district’s final qualifier for the PIAA playoffs. The Avella-Carmichaels winner will play the District 10 champion in the first round of the state tournament.

The score was tied 1-1 before Bishop Canevin moved ahead by scoring three runs in the bottom of the third inning. The key hit was a two-out, two-run double by Kellen Andruscik. The Crusaders had six extra-base hits.

Kole Olszewski had a two-run double in the fourth as Bishop Canevin extended its lead to 7-1.

Maddix allowed four hits and one unearned run over 6⅔ innings. He walked four.

Carmichaels scored its run in the third. Robbie Wilson Jones had a single and scored after an error, a walk and a fielder’s choice.