Apr 30, 2018 14 min read

High school baseball

David Monaco hit a tiebreaking double in the fourth inning and two pitchers held Ringgold scoreless over the final three innings Monday as South Park edged the Section 3-AAAA-leading Rams 5-3.

The loss snapped a six-game winning streak by Ringgold (9-2, 10-2) and increased the playoff chances for South Park (6-5, 11-6).

South Park forged a 3-0 lead before Ringgold battled back and tied the score in the top of the fourth. Monaco’s hit regained the lead for the Eagles and they tacked on an insurance run in the sixth.

Winning pitcher Kevin Vaupel pitched into the seventh inning and had eight strikeouts. Tyler Bywalski got the final two outs.

Four of Ringgold’s eight hits went for extra bases. Losing pitcher Chase Angotti had a double and a triple, and Koby Bubash and Jake Mayer each doubled.

• Three Carmichaels pitchers combined on a three-hitter, Gavin Pratt scored three times and Carmichaels moved closer to the Section 1-AA title with a 6-4 victory at Frazier.

It was the 10th consecutive victory for Carmichaels (10-1, 10-2). The Mikes forged a 5-0 lead by the fifth inning but had to fight off a comeback by Frazier (2-6, 3-7). The Commodores scored two runs in both the fifth and sixth innings to close to within 6-4. Frazier left the bases loaded in the fifth and stranded two in the sixth.

Pratt led Carmichaels’ 10-hit attack, going 2-for-3 from the leadoff spot. Al Cree was 2-for-4 with two RBI and Dylan Wilson had a double.

Carmichaels starter Brad Ruse, Pratt and Nick Mundell combined to strike out 11 Frazier hitters.

• Colby Rockacy had a double and triple, and Keystone Oaks scored nine runs in the third inning en route to an 11-3 victory over visiting McGuffey in Section 3-AAAA.

Joe McCort also doubled for KO, which improved to 5-6 in the section and 6-6 overall. Adam Blacharczyk had a double among the Highlanders’ four hits.

• Junior Destin Weiser hit a three-run homer and combined with Chase Bitz on a six-hitter as Chartiers-Houston defeated host Bentworth 12-0 in a five-inning Section 1-AA game.

Chartiers-Houston (6-4, 7-6) gave its playoff hopes a boost by scoring in each of the first four innings. Weiser’s home run was the big blast for the Bucs. Cam Hanley and Roman Lombardi each contributed a double to C-H’s 12-hit attack.

• Brandon Turcheck threw a four-hitter and Waynesburg used a four-run top of the sixth inning to rally and defeat Mt. Pleasant, 4-1, to tighten the standings in Section 3-AAA.

The win moves Waynesburg to 5-3, both overall and in the section. Mt. Pleasant dipped to 7-3, 7-4. The top four teams in the section are separated by one game in the loss column.

Turcheck struck out four and did not issue a walk. The lone run he allowed was unearned and came in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Pete Billey, who tripled later in the game.

Waynesburg did all its scoring in the pivotal sixth inning with two outs. Kyle Blasco had an RBI single, Kyle Shriver hit a two-run double to give the Raiders the lead and Tyler Switalski had a run-scoring single.

Blasco and Tyley Metheny each had a double for Waynesburg, which had six hits off losing pitcher Joe Shrum.

• Ben Visnesky threw a four-hit complete game and the West Mifflin offense made the most of only three hits as the Titans defeated host Belle Vernon 2-1 in a key Section 3-AAAA game.

Second-place West Mifflin (9-3, 12-4) was able to gain a game on section leader Ringgold. The Titans scratched out single runs in the third and sixth innings against Belle Vernon pitcher Cole Naylor, who gave up three hits and two walks in six innings.

Belle Vernon (6-4, 7-4) trailed 2-0 entering the bottom of the sixth when Jordan Hartman’s two-out double scored Jake Rathway and pulled the Leopards to within 2-1. Visnesky, who struck out nine and did not issue a walk, retired the next four batters he faced to get the complete game.

• Tyler Bedillion went hit two doubles and a home run, Nola Lutz and Ryan Kokoski each went 2-for-3 and South Fayette clinched a playoff berth with a 14-8 victory over Beaver in a Section 2-AAAA game.

Bedillion, who led the Lions with three hits, went deep with a two-run homer in the fifth inning to extend their lead to 9-5. In the following inning, Richie Dell and Lutz hit back-to-back home runs to give South Fayette (9-2, 11-4) a nine-run cushion.

The Lions return to the WPIAL playoffs after missing them a season ago after they collapsed in the second half of the season.

Mike Champ hit a three-run homer for Beaver (4-6, 8-6) in the bottom of the seventh inning.

• Shane Smith was 4-for-4, Cam Schaub went six strong innings and Fort Cherry defeated Section 1-AA foe Burgettstown, 14-3.

Smith’s four-hit day included a double, three RBI and two runs. Alex Nemec and Max Paterni each hit a double for the Rangers. Nemec drove in two runs.

Schaub scattered seven hits and didn’t allow the Blue Devils to score until the fourth inning as Fort Cherry (7-3, 7-3) built a 9-0 lead.

Ryan Lounder doubled and Scott Ferris had a triple for Burgettstown (5-7, 6-8).

• Monessen’s Cory Fleming made the most of the three innings the Greyhounds needed to defeat Mapletown, 15-0, in Section 2-A.

Fleming went 2-for-3, hit a triple and grand slam and drove in six runs to lead Monessen (6-3, 7-5) to its fourth win in five games. The Greyhounds scored 10 runs in the first inning and five more in the second. Nick Baker, Nate Lynch and Marcus Tansmore doubled for Monessen.

Ryan Carter had the lone hit for Mapletown (2-8, 2-10).

• Western Beaver scored 10 runs in the first three innings and went on to defeat Avella in five innings, 13-3, in Section 3-A.

Connor Shank went 2-for-4 with a double, triple and three RBI for the Golden Beavers. Christian Militello went three strong innings on the mound, not surrendering a run and striking out seven. He also hit a double as Western Beaver improved to 5-2 in the section and 5-6 overall. Avella is 0-5 in the section and 1-6 overall.

• Tré Cunningham pitched four scoreless innings and Jeannette jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first inning as the Jayhawks defeated Jefferson-Morgan in six innings, 15-2.

Cunningham had six strikeouts for the section-leading Jayhawks (7-1, 9-1), who have won eight straight. Cunningham also went 3-for-5 with an RBI. Derrick Miller led Jeannette at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two RBI and scored twice.

Devon Stoneking suffered the loss on the mound for Jefferson-Morgan (4-4, 5-4). Stoneking didn’t have much help behind him as the Rockets committed four errors.

• Connor Barrett pitched five scoreless innings as Chartiers Valley defeated Trinity, 3-0, in a Class 5A Section 2 game.

The Colts scored one run in the second and third innings then added an insurance run in the sixth. Konnor Corchado and Jason Orzechowski each had a double for Chartiers Valley (7-3, 7-4).

Trinity (1-7, 1-8) was held to two hits. Jared Watson hit a double for the Hillers.

California defeated Beth-Center, 10-9, in Section 1-AA. Nathan Zemany was the winning pitcher and Brandon Powell had a save for the Trojans (7-4, 7-5).

Beth-Center is 4-5 in the section and 5-6 overall.

• Jackson McCloskey hit a triple and a home run to lead Peters Township over Upper St. Clair, 8-2, in a Section 3-6A game.

McCloskey went 3-for-4 had five RBI for the Indians, including his three-run triple that sparked a six-run first inning for Peters Township (5-5, 8-8). Starter Nolan Thompson only gave up four hits and struck out seven batters over six innings.

Upper St. Clair falls to 6-5 in the section and 12-5 overall.

High school softball

Lauren Burnett hit an inside-the-park grand slam in a nine-run fourth inning as South Fayette defeated Carrick in five innings, 14-3, to end a five-game losing streak in a Class 4A Section 2 game.

Burnett’s home run was part of the seven hits and 12 hitters that reached safely in the fourth for the Lions, whose last win was when they hosted Carrick April 12. Burnett went 2-for-3 with six RBI. Lexi Yates went 4-for-4 with two RBI and scored three times for South Fayette (2-6, 4-9). Madison Potteiger earned the win in the circle, striking out eight batters while giving up only three hits.

Carrick falls to 0-7 in the section and 1-7 overall.

• Ella Brookman and Kaci Alderson each homered to extend Chartiers-Houston’s home-run streak to five games as the Bucs defeated Bentworth, 14-3, in a Section 3-AA game.

The top of the Chartiers-Houston (6-2, 10-2) lineup caused problems again as the first three hitters – Kasey Scears, Jaylese Lombardi and Alderson – combined to go 7-for-10 with four runs and 10 RBI. Scears and Lombardi each hit a double.

Savannah Adams was the lone player for Bentworth (5-3, 9-4) to have a multi-hit game with a pair of singles.

Both teams have clinched playoff berths.

• Kylie Sinn pitched a complete game and Carmichaels hit six doubles to defeat Jefferson-Morgan in six innings, 13-2, in Section 2-A.

Sinn, who struck out nine, led Carmichaels (7-2, 10-4) with a pair of doubles. Madison Ellsworth also hit two doubles, and Maddie Ewart and Shelbee McCann each had a double.

Krista McCartney drove in the only runs for Jefferson-Morgan (2-6, 3-6) with a two-run homer in the fourth inning. The Rockets hurt themselves by committing seven errors.

• Canon-McMillan moved to within a half-game of first-place Baldwin in Class 6A Section 1 by thumping Brashear 15-0 in three innings.

Canon-McMillan (8-2, 9-2) had 14 hits including eight that went for extra bases. Sydney Senay doubled and drove in four runs, Grace Higgins belted a home run and Elika Mowery had two doubles to lead the Big Macs at the plate. MaKenzi Hollie hit a triple, and Katelyn Greaves, Kylah Kubiczki and Abby Allen each had a double.

Brashear remains winless at 0-10 in section and 0-11 overall.

• Emily Vinsky threw a three-hit shutout and McGuffey enhanced its postseason chances with a 13-0 victory over Charleroi in a five-inning game.

The win improves McGuffey to 4-4 in the section. The Highlanders hold the final playoff berth from the section.

Ellie Serna led McGuffey’s 11-hit attack by going 3-for-4 with a double, Brin Hunter belted a home run and Vinsky helped her cause with a double. In the circle, Vinsky struck out eight and issued only one walk.

Taylor Boyd had a double for Charleroi (0-7, 0-8).

• Trinity unleashed a 16-hit attack and rolled to a 13-2 victory over host McKeesport in Class 5A Section 2.

The win is the fourth in a row for Trinity (7-3, 11-5), which is battling both Albert Gallatin and Connellsville for the section title.

Marlaina Bozek went 4-for-5, belted a home run and drove in three runs to lead the high-powered Hillers offense. Payton Barr also was 4-for-5 and had a double and three RBI, Bailey Bell gave Trinity a third hitter who was 4-for-5 and she also had a double. Winning pitcher Kylie Poland had three hits, including a triple and a double. Emma Morgan had a double as six of the Hillers’ hit went for extra bases.

Poland twirled a four-hitter in dealing McKeesport (2-8, 2-9) its third consecutive defeat.

• Sara Chory hit for the cycle, Elisa Clark homered and Mapletown overcame an early five-run deficit to defeat host California 24-12 in a six-inning Section 2-A game.

Chory went 4-for-6 and helped Mapletown (4-4, 6-4) overcome an 8-3 deficit after the first inning. Clark also had four hits including the home run, and Taylor Vanata, McKenzie Cree, Macee Chesney, Briell price and Kylie Shriver each doubled. Madoleen Grim added four singles. Madi Blaker was the winning pitcher.

Marlee Renner had a big game for California (1-9, 1-10) with a home run and a triple. Marley Evans, Kristina Luko and Ashley Gush doubled for the Trojans.

College softball

California clinched a berth in the PSAC tournament by sweeping a doubleheader at Edinboro, 9-1 and 12-4, both in five innings Monday.

• Washington & Jefferson and La Roche split a nonconference doubleheader Monday. W&J won the opener 8-5 and La Roche was a 6-5 winner in the second game.

The split puts the Presidents’ overall record at 13-19 while La Roche is 14-18.

W&J scored five runs in the top of the first inning and then had to hold off a La Roche comeback in the opener. Rachel Johnson was 4-for-5 with a double and scored two runs, and Danielle Kochka was 4-for-4 with a double, to pace the W&J offense. Jamie Smith also doubled to back the winning pitching of Taylor Andres.

La Roche erased a 4-0 deficit, scoring all its runs over the final three innings, to win the second game. Smith was 3-for-4 with a triple and double for W&J.

Pony baseball

Chambers Insurance defeated McGuffey, 8-4, in a Washington Pony baseball game. Owen Baker was the winning pitcher. Emiliano Saldivar provided several solid innings of relief.

WVU signs JC guard

West Virginia University has signed junior college basketball guard Jermaine Haley for next season.

Coach Bob Huggins announced Haley’s signing Monday. The 6-7 Haley will have two years of eligibility remaining.

He averaged 10.2 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game last season at Odessa College in Texas. Haley attended New Mexico State as a freshman and started in 15 games.

RMU’s Burke transferring

Robert Morris guard Dachon Burke is transferring to Nebraska, where he’ll have two seasons of eligibility after sitting out 2018-19.

Nebraska coach Tim Miles on Monday announced the addition of Burke, who picked the Cornhuskers over St. John’s, Pittsburgh and Marquette.

Burke was a second-team All-Northeast Conference pick as a sophomore last season. He averaged a team-best 17.6 points and an NEC-leading 2.1 steals. Burke had a pair of double-doubles and 11 20-point efforts, including a career-high 29 points against LIU Brooklyn.