May 7, 2018 9 min read

High school softball

Kaci Alderson provided the only run for either team as she hit a solo home run in the first inning to lift Chartiers-Houston to a 1-0 win over Monessen in a non-section game.

The homer for Alderson represented the only hit for the typical hard-hitting Bucs. Monessen (11-2) starting pitcher Dana Vatakis struck out 10 in the loss. Maddie Guzzie and Cara Wheeler each had two hits for the Greyhounds.

Chartiers-Houston (13-2) starter Kaitlyn Dittrich scattered eight hits, struck out seven and didn’t allow a run. It’s the first time the Bucs have failed to score at least four runs in any game this season.

• South Park piled on seven hits and scored six runs in the second inning to defeat Canon-McMillan, 15-3, in a non-section game.

The top and bottom of the Eagles’ lineup hurt Canon-McMillan (9-5). The first three hitters for South Park – Jess Dean, Kaitlyn Morrison and Kaitlyn Pavlick – combined to go 7-for-12, scored six runs and had nine RBI. The bottom three for the Eagles also went 7-for-12 and scored eight runs. Pavlick hit a home run for South Park (12-1).

Olivia Ulam was the lone player from Canon-McMillan to have two hits. The Big Macs have lost their last three games and have been outscored in the last two games 26-5.

• South Fayette scored more runs in the first inning than the Lions combined to total in their last nine losses to defeat Burgettstown, 13-2, in a non-section game.

The Lions sent 17 batters to the plate and scored 13 runs in the bottom of the first inning to jump out to an early lead and cruise to an easy victory. They had lost three straight games entering Monday.

Liv Goerdt led South Fayette (5-12) by going 2-for-2 with three RBI and scored twice. Charley Cribben also had a pair of hits to aid starting pitcher Madison Potteiger, who allowed two runs and struck out seven in five innings.

Burgettstown fell to 1-13 overall.

• Carmichaels scored its final 3 runs with two outs in the inning to come away with a 4-2 victory over McGuffey in a non-section game.

The Mikes took control of the game with 2 runs in the second inning to break a 1-1 tie.Megan Walker singled in Mia Ranieri, who got on with a two-out single. Walker went to second on the throw home trying to get Ranieri, then stole third base. Kylie Sinn singled in Walker to make it 3-1.

McGuffey made it 3-2 in the top of the fifth but the Mikes got the run on three straight 2-out singles, the final one by Ranieri.

Emma Holaren had a double for Carmichaels (11-6). Emily Irey had for McGuffey (4-9).

High school baseball

Kyle Steele pitched and hit Trinity to the WPIAL playoffs in a 3-0 win over Section 2-5A foe Montour.

After starting pitcher Logan DeFillippo left with an injury in the second inning, Steele pitched the next 4 1/3 innings to earn the win. He struck out two and walked two en route to giving the Hillers the last playoff spot from Section 2.

At the plate, Steele doubled twice to lead the Trinity (5-7, 5-8) offense. Tanner Hudak and Zack Johnston also contributed with extra-base hits. Hudak tripled, and Johnston hit a two-run home run in the seventh to extend the Hillers’ lead to 3-0.

Camden Zaken pitched a scoreless seventh for the save.

• Monessen starting pitcher Cory Fleming shined with 6
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• scoreless innings as the Greyhounds upset Jeannette, 5-0, for their fourth straight win in Section 2-A.

The dazzling performance from Fleming, which also included a double, held Jeanette (9-2, 11-2) from scoring for the first time this season. The Jayhawks were riding a 10-game winning streak, scoring 134 runs in those games. Fleming struck out eight and allowed only four hits to earn the victory.

The offense for Monessen (9-3, 10-5) was balanced by brothers Antonio and Vincenzo Rhome. Antonio Rhome went 3-for-3 with an RBI. Vincenzo Rhome had a run-scoring single in the third inning. The Greyhounds have won seven of their last eight games.

• It took a week and two gut-wrenching losses but Carmichaels used a dominating 18-0 victory over Burgettstown to clinch the outright Section 1-AA title.

The Mikes jumped all over the Burgettstown (5-9, 6-10) pitching, scoring a pair of runs in the first and five in the second inning. Their biggest inning was an 11-run third when they scored 10 of those runs after having two outs.

Gavin Pratt and Dylan Wilson each had a pair of hits for Carmichaels (11-3, 11-4). The Mikes had 10 hits as a team but were helped by five errors committed by Burgettstown. Matthew Barrish went three strong innings and only gave up one hit.

The section title is the first for Carmichaels since 2013.

• Mason McManus went 3-for-3 with a home run, Ian Edenfield and Chad Petrush each had a pair of hits and three pitchers combined to only allow five hits as Laurel Highlands defeated Belle Vernon, 8-1, in a non-section game.

The solo shot for McManus came in the third inning, adding onto the lead Laurel Highlands (14-1) took in the first inning. That was all the wiggle room the Mustangs’ pitching staff needed. Edenfield, the starter, surrendered only two hits in four innings. Greg Lancaster came in for relief and gave up one run on one hit. Travis Sankovich then pitched a scoreless seventh to secure the victory.

Belle Vernon (12-4) starter Joe Sabolek suffered the loss.

• Chris Seelhorst doubled, singled, drove in a run and scored 3 runs to help Shaler take a 5-0 victory over Ringgold in a non-section game.

Pat Gumto struck out 3 and allowed 6 hits for the Titans (6-9). Hunter Jamison went 2-for-3 and scored a run.

Koby Bubash doubled twice for Ringgold (13-2).

• Payton Conte went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI to pace California to a 6-2 victory over Frazier in a Section 1-AA game.

California (8-5, 8-6) is one-half game behind Fort Cherry for third place.

Rich Stimmell tripled and drove in a run and Payton Conte went 2-for-3 with a run and RBI for California.

Trevor Hayes and George Smallich each had an RBI for Frazier (3-8, 4-9).

• Zach Southern pitched a 3-hit shutout, leading Chartiers-Houston to a 2-0 victory over Beth-Center in a Section 1-AA game.

The Bucs (10-4, 11-7) dealt Beth-Center (7-6, 8-7) a blow to its playoff hopes. B-C needs to beat Fort Cherry (8-4, 8-4) in its section finale and get help from other teams. The Rangers are scheduled to play Frazier today.

Destin Weiser hit a solo home run and Andrew Kowalski doubled for the Bucs.

Pony baseball

Michael Shallcross had 2 hits and 2 RBI to pace Ace Sporting Goods to an 8-6 victory over Washington Hyundai in Washington Pony action.

Jackson Ward had 3 hits and 2 RBI for Washington Hyundai (4-2). Ace Sporting Goods moved to 4-1.

At The Meadows

Phoenix Warrior N went from worst to first in the final quarter to capture Monday’s $18,000 Preferred Handicap Pace at The Meadows.

Looking sharp after his third-place finish in the Whata Baron Series championship at The Meadowlands, Phoenix Warrior N followed the live, three-wide cover of Arthur Pendragon into the final turn and outkicked him for Jim Pantaleano by 2-1/2 lengths in 1:50.4, a tick off his life mark. Early leader Dapper Dude saved show.

Scott Betts trains the 8-year-old Jereme’s Jet-Never Walk Alone gelding, who boosted his career bankroll to $262,413, for Timothy Betts, Nicholas Catalano and Stephen Moss.

Pantaleano piloted four winners on the 13-race card while Brad Provost notched a pair of victories at eye-popping odds – 60-1 with Battle Cruiser, 42-1 with Grand Priority.

Big payoff

for Derby bet

Justify’s win in the 2018 Kentucky Derby capped a $1.2 million payday for a Central Texas woman.

Margaret Reid of Austin was at Retama Park, near San Antonio, watching and wagering the day’s racing Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisiville, Kentucky.

Reid wagered $18 on a Pick 5 bet, picking which horses she thought would win the Derby and the four Churchill Downs races leading up to it.

And she hit each one: Limousine Liberal in the Churchill Downs Stakes, Maraud in the American Turf Stakes, 39-1 longshot Funny Duck in the Pat Day Mile Stakes, 9-1 longshot Yoshida in the Old Forester Turf Classic Stakes, then Justify in the Derby.

High school lacrosse

Ally Klaber scored 4 goals to lead Mt. Lebanon to a 14-13 victory over Peters Township in high school lacrosse action.

Maddie Reisinger scored 3 goals and added an assist, Cora Broaghurst added 3 goals, and Lexi Gibbons contributed 2 goals and 2 assists for Mt. Lebanon.

Mackenzie Lehman scored 4 goals and added an assist and Emily Anderson chipped in with 3 goals for Peters Township. Erin Gummersbach and Mara Rayburg each scored twice. Tia Mussitsch had 3 assists.