Pine-Richland receives some of its own lategame dramatics from Jake Maley to defeat Norwin.
The No. 2 team in Class 6A survived a scare Tuesday night but Pine-Richland got the big hit it needed late to advance to the WPIAL semifinals.
The Rams (16-4) had a runner on first base in the bottom of the sixth inning, but Norwin (14-7) turned an inning-ending double play when Pine-Richland’s runner rounded second base on a flyout and went back to first base without retouching second.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Rams had runners on first and second and this time they didn’t make any mistakes as Jake Maley belted a fly ball off the wall in left field for a long walk-off single to give Pine-Richland the 2-1 win. Tommy Beam pitched a complete game to earn the win.
Other Class 6A
Penn-Trafford 7, Upper St. Clair 3: Bobby Layne was 2 for 3 and drove in two runs and Luke Fabac hit a two-run double as the Warriors (17-3) knocked off the Panthers (13-7) at West Mifflin High School.
North Allegheny 4, Butler 2: Anthony Hattrup pitched a complete game for the Tigers (16-5), striking out seven and walking three to fend off an upset bid by the Golden Tornado (7-14) at Fox Chapel High School.
Class 5A
Mars 4, West Allegheny 3: The Planets (12-8) pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the WPIAL playoffs so far, outlasting No. 1 seed West Allegheny (18-3) for a 4-3 win in 11 innings at Burkett Complex.
Franklin Regional 6, South Fayette 5: Andrew Muraco allowed one earned run in five innings of work on the mound and hit a two-run home run to power the Panthers (17-1) past the Lions (12-8) at West Mifflin.
Shaler 2, Gateway 1: Hunter Boyan tossed seven innings of one-run ball, striking out three and walking one to lead the Titans (13-7) past the Gators (13-7) at Fox Chapel.
Laurel Highlands 8, Hampton 5: Nate Zimcosky was 2 for 4 with a double and drove in four runs as the Mustangs (13-6) jumped out to an early lead and never let the Talbots (12-7) climb back into the game at Burkett Complex.
Class 4A
New Castle 1, Greensburg Salem 0: Vince Souckovich scored on a wild pitch in the top of the 11th inning for the Red Hurricanes (109), stunning the top-seeded Lions (14-3) and providing the only run in a game that began Monday but was suspended after 10 innings because of darkness.