Late rally falls short, Belle Vernon eliminated with 5-3 loss
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Belle Vernon had one last late rally left, but the Region 6 champions came up short Monday in a 5-3 loss to Northeastern in an elimination game of the Pennsylvania State American Legion Baseball tournament at North Allegheny.
Belle Vernon scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to draw to 4-3.
Ryan Wilson drove in an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning for Northeastern.
Northeastern scored a run in the top of the first inning on Conner Rippo’s sacrifice fly, but Belle Vernon responded with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning.
Northeastern regained the lead in the top of the second inning on Derek Gross’ RBI double.
Northeastern increased its lead to 4-1 when Wilson singled home two runners.
Quinn Shindler pitched 6.1 innings for the win, allowing no earned runs on four hits with three walks and seven strikeouts. Rippo earned the save.
JB Crovak, Colton Lee, Jaxson Bozek and Kaden Faychak all had one hit each for Belle Vernon.
Belle Vernon rallied with two runs in the top of the seventh inning Sunday to stay alive with a 3-2 over Murrysville.
The victory came a day after Belle Vernon allowed eight runs in the top of the seventh inning in an 8-2 loss to Hughesville.
Cole Matusik started the game-winning rally with an inning-opening walk. He stole second and moved to third on AJ Wardropper’s ground out.
Alex Nash was safe on a fielder’s choice and stole second. Matusik scored on Mason Suss’ ground out. Jake Wessel then drove in the go-ahead run with a double.
Nash allowed a single to start the bottom of the seventh inning, but the game ended on a caught stealing.
Murrysville led 1-0 in the bottom of the first on Nolan Boehm’s run-scoring ground out.
Belle Vernon tied the game in the top of the sixth inning on JB Crovak’s double, but Murrysville regained the lead in the bottom of the inning on Marko Rudek’s RBI single.
Nash went the distance for the victory, allowing two runs on nine hits with two walks and a strikeout.
Belle Vernon was held to four hits. Suss and Faychak singled in addition to the doubles by Wessel and Crovak.
Max Bernadowski led Murrysville with three hits. Josh Hudak and Rudek both finished with two hits.