Mt. Lebanon says ‘No’ in victory
Junior Linkowski pitches a no-hitter
Mt. Lebanon scored a run in each of the first two innings of its first-round playoff game against Hempfield Tuesday.
That lead helped junior pitcher Mark Linkowski on his way to a no-hitter, and helped the Blue Devils to an eventual 5-0 win.
“By playing with the lead the whole game, Mark was able to attack the strike zone,” Mt. Lebanon coach Pat McClosky said.
Linkowski had thrown four innings in the team’s perfect game against Allderdice on May 2, but this was his first no-hitter. It’s cliche, McClosky said, but Linkowski never tried to do too much in the Hempfield win. He stayed focused and kept the Blue Devils in the game.
“I think he did a great job of just buying into ‘We have a lead. The team is playing great defense. The best opportunity for us to win is to attack the strike zone and let our guys make plays,’” McClosky said. “And he did just a great job of staying focused on that.”
Linkowski registered two strikeouts and two walks. Mt. Lebanon advances and will face Bethel Park Monday. Mt. Lebanon beat Bethel Park, 2-0, April 12 before falling in the rematch May 3, 3-1.
Blackhawk
The Cougars won 18 consecutive games and were the only undefeated team in the WPIAL until losing to Quaker Valley, 2-1, and Mars, 4-3, to close out the season. Blackhawk finished the regular season 18-2 and 13-1 in Class 4A Section 2 and will face Ringgold Monday.
At a time when teams hope to play their best baseball, back-to-back losses are never appreciated. But Blackhawk coach Bob Amalia said the losses could serve as a reminder to the team of what happens when its focus slips.
“If you’re not focused, we could lose any game,” Amalia said. “The playoffs, every one of these teams are good, so if we’re not ready to play, we’re going to get beat. So it was probably a good thing — better then than now.”
Blackhawk still maintained its section title, with the losses doing little more than blemishing the Cougars’ undefeated record. Now, onto the postseason.
“I obviously hate to lose, but sometimes it makes you refocus a little bit,” Amalia said.
Latrobe
After a 5-3 loss to PennTrafford April 13, Latrobe won 10 consecutive games to close out the season. Coach Matt Basciano hopes the team is peaking as it enters the playoffs, but will keep the team’s approach the same as it prepares to face Montour or Thomas Jefferson Tuesday.
“Hopefully now we’re playing our best ball,” Basciano said. “That’s what any team wants heading into the playoffs. But we’re not really going to change anything.”
Latrobe’s senior class will look to go further in the playoffs than in years past. The class missed the playoffs its freshman season before losing to Seneca Valley in the first round of the 2014-15 playoffs. Last season, Latrobe lost to Norwin, the eventual WPIAL champion, in the quarterfinals.
This year, the Wildcats finished 17-2 and 14-0 in Class 5A Section 3, good for a section title. But it’s not enough, Basciano said.
“We wanted to win that section, but there really hasn’t been all that celebration because that goal is set higher,” Basciano said. “We don’t just want to make the playoffs, we don’t just want to win the section, we want to get in the playoffs, make it to that championship game, get to states, win the WPIAL.”
Basciano hopes the team can improve its hitting with runners in scoring position and baserunning heading into the postseason. The Wildcats get a bye week before their first-round playoff game.
“They are so focused and taking that workman-like approach. They’re really working to achieve those higher goals we’ve set for ourselves.”