West Allegheny prevails
Errors, hit batters can’t derail Indians’ march to 5A semifinals
West Allegheny’s starting pitcher hit four batters and had only one strikeout in seven innings. The Indians committed three errors and trailed by two runs.
But West Allegheny overcame all of it and defeated Shaler, 6-5, in a WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinal Thursday afternoon at Boyce Maview Park in Upper St. Clair.
Shaler scored three times in the top of the fifth to take a 5-3 lead, but West Allegheny scored three on only one hit to take the lead for good in the bottom of the inning.
Nathan Nolan pitched a complete game for West Allegheny and was able to overcome four hit batters. He helped himself with two of West Allegheny’s seven hits.
It was the second consecutive one-run playoff win for West Allegheny. The Indians, who have played most of the season without three injured starters, will play in Monday’s semifinals.
“It wasn’t a clean game on either team’s part,” West Allegheny coach Bryan Cornell said. “But this team just keeps finding a way to do it.”
Other Class 5A game
Thomas Jefferson 1, Chartiers Valley 0: Wyatt Janosko took care of the offense with a solo shot in the fifth and Brady Haberman pitched a complete- game shutout for the Jaguars (15-6) as No 12 Thomas Jefferson moved into the semifinals with the win over the No. 13 Colts (10-12).
Class 3A
Hopewell 11, Deer Lakes
It didn’t take long for the top-seeded Vikings (15-6) to assert their dominance as they scored five runs and knocked out the Lancers (1012) starting pitcher in the bottom of the first. Lucas Arrington picked up the win on the mound and drove in the final run to enact the mercy rule.
Mohawk 15, Yough 1: The No. 4 Warriors (14-4) made short work of the Cougars (11-7) to set up a date with top-seeded Section 1 rival Hopewell in the semifinals. The two split their regular-season games.
Avonworth 8, East Allegheny 0: The third-seeded Antelopes (15-7) had an easy time with the Section 3 champion Wildcats (12-6).
South Park 7, New Brighton 4: Drew Lasfferty came up a single short of the cycle as he homered, tripled, doubled and knocked in three to lead the Eagles past the Lions (10-10).
Class 2A
Riverside 3, Carmichaels
Sammy Barber scored what turned out to be the game-winning run on a wild pitch in the fourth inning as the No. 5 Panthers (15-5) sneaked past the fourthseeded Mikes (15-2) and into the semifinals.
Burgettstown 6, Shenango 1: Burgettstown scored all six of its runs in the top of the second and held Shenango at arm’s length throughout to earn the Blue Devils their first WPIAL semifinals appearance since 1982.
Serra Catholic 13, Laurel
The undefeated and topseeded Eagles (21-0) had this one well in hand from the start as they easily moved into the semifinals for the seventh consecutive season. Michael Schanck closed out a 3-for-3 day with an RBI single in the bottom of the sixth to put the 10-run rule into effect.
Neshannock 3, Seton LaSalle 1: The seventh-seeded Lancers (16-6) came up with the three-spot in the top of the fourth inning, then shut down the No. 2 Rebels (15-2) over the final four innings for the win.
Class 1A
Union 5, Riverview 1 Tyler Staub pitched a complete game and was 2 for 4 at the plate with a double and an RBI, while Nick Vitale was 2 for 3 and drove in a pair to lead the second-seeded Scotties (10-4) to the win over the Raiders (7-11).
Rochester 2, Sewickley Academy 0: Parker Lyons broke open a scoreless game with a single in the bottom the sixth to help the No. 3 Rams (10-7) sneak past the sixthseeded Panthers (9-6).
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart 6, West Greene 0: Iseia Fields-Schulz is already pitching way beyond his years. The Chargers freshman southpaw tossed a one-hitter and struck out 15 in a complete-game upset win over the No. 4 Pioneers.
Eden Christian Academy 6, Greensburg Central Catholic 0: The Warriors looked like a No. 1 seed should against the No. 8 Centurions (9-8). Caleb Emswiler doubled and drove in two runs and catcher Malachi Manges knocked in a pair to put Eden Christian (16-0) into the semifinals.