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Apr 30, 2024 By Rob Burchianti 6 min read

Adam LaCarte homered, singled and scored twice, including the go-ahead run on an error in the top of the 12th inning, as Belle Vernon pulled into a first-place tie with Latrobe by defeating the host Wildcats, 2-1, in a marathon Section 2-AAAA baseball battle on Monday night.

The two were slated to meet again on Tuesday with the section championship on the line.

Cole Matusik pitched a scoreless bottom of the 12th, despite a pair of walks, to earn the win in relief. Jake Gedekoh also had two hits and Lucas Judy contributed an RBI for Belle Vernon (8-1, 12-3).

Judy started the game on the mound for the Leopards and gave up one earned run on four hits in 4 2/3 innings. He was followed by Parker Lind who didn’t allow a hit in firing 6 1/3 scoreless innings with two walks and 15 strikeouts.

The Wildcats (8-1, 13-2), who had their 10-game winning streak snapped, held leads of 1-0 after three innings and 3-2 after five innings but the Leopards pushed across a run in the top of the seventh to tie it and the score remained that way until the 12th.

Luke Nipar-Smith drove in a run and losing pitcher Dominick Cararini allowed two unearned runs on three hits with two walks and nine strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings of relief for Latrobe. The Wildcats were held to just four hits.

Peters Township 4, Connellsville 3 – Nolan DiLucia knocked in a pair of runs as the Indians defeated visiting Connellsville to prevent the Falcons from clinching a playoff spot in Section 1-AAAAA.

The two were scheduled to play again in Connellsville on Tuesday with the winner earning a trip to the postseason. Both teams are 4-5 in the section and 7-9 overall.

Jonathan Kelly singled and scored a run for the Falcons.

Greensburg Salem 11, Brownsville 3 – Tyler Martin drove in three runs with a double and two singles as the Lions defeated the host Falcons in a Section 4-AAA game.

Rylan Johnson had two hits and an RBI for Brownsville (0-11, 0-12).

Yough 6, McGuffey 4 – The Cougars scored three times in the bottom of the sixth inning, including a two-run, tiebreaking single by Tyler Burkett, to beat McGuffey in a Section 4-AAA game.

Yough (5-4, 5-8), which boosted its playoff chances, led 3-2 early before McGuffey (5-4, 5-6) took a 4-3 lead in the fourth on a two-run single by Ryan Keith, one of his three hits in the game.

West Greene 3, Carmichaels 2 – The Pioneers scored all three of their runs in the third inning and pitchers Darren Knight and Lane Allison made sure they were enough for a key Section 1-A win over the visiting Mikes.

The two were scheduled to play again Tuesday in Carmichaels with the winner clinching at least a share of second place while also keeping their section title hopes alive.

Johnny Lampe hit an RBI single in the third inning that gave West Greene (6-3, 9-4) a 2-1 lead and a Carmichaels error on the play allowed another run to score. That proved to be important when Carmichaels (6-3, 9-3) pushed across a run in the seventh on a one-out single by Mason Lapana, who had two RBIs.

Allison, who earned a save, got a strikeout and flyout to end the game as the Mikes stranded the tying run at third base. Winning pitcher Knight gave up two runs in 6 1/3 innings with six strikeouts.

Avella 11, California 2 — Isaiah Bradick went 3-for-3 with a double and seven RBIs, powering Avella to a Section 1-A victory over visiting California.

Winning pitcher Bryce Wright worked into the seventh inning and struck out 14 for the Eagles (8-3, 9-3).

Westley Burchianti contributed a double, two runs, a stolen base and a sacrifice bunt, Chas Rush drove in three runs and Brian Martos had a single and an RBI for Avella.

The Eagles can clinch at least a share of second place and remain alive for the section title with a win at California in the second game of the series set to be played Tuesday.

Chase Chicchitto singled twice and Kaden Weston had a single and an RBI for the Trojans (2-7, 3-11). Logan Hartley took the loss.

Fort Cherry 16, Mapletown 3 – Fort Cherry took advantage of 11 errors in rolling past the host Maples as the Rangers stayed on pace to claim the Section 1-A title.

Fort Cherry (7-2, 9-2) can clinch sole possession of first place with another win over Mapletown (0-9, 2-11) and a two-game sweep of Jefferson-Morgan.

Matt Sieg hit a solo home run and Ben Demascal had a double and four RBIs to lead the Rangers’ 13-hit attack. Winning pitcher Colton Temple allowed three unearned runs and struck out nine.

Mapletown remains winless in the section.

Chartiers-Houston 13, Frazier 3 — Justus Buckingham went 2-for-2 with a double and five RBIs, sparking Chartiers-Houston to a five-inning Section 1-AA win at Frazier.

Winning pitcher Dom Cumer allowed one unearned run over four innings. Luke Camden had a double for the Bucs (7-2, 7-7.

Bentworth 1, Beth-Center 0 — Lucas Burt and Jacob Burt combined on a no-hitter as the host Bearcats edged Beth-Center in a Section 1-AA game.

Lucas Burt went five innings, striking out 11 and walking five. Jacob Burt got the final six outs and struck out four.

Bentworth (3-8, 3-9) scored the game’s only run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Sam Wade’s one-out single scored Lucas Burt.

Three Beth-Center (3-6, 7-8) pitchers held Bentworth to four hits.

Ringgold 12, Albert Gallatin 0 — Tyler Fisher threw a one-hitter and the Rams rolled to a five-inning Section 2-AAAA win at Albert Gallatin.

Fisher walked one and struck out two for Ringgold (4-5, 6-8.

Eddie Frizzell drove in three runs, Alex Kolano and Spencer Behrendt each doubled for the Rams.

Southmoreland 6, Jefferson-Morgan 4 – Jake Govern had two hits and three RBIs and Brenden Geho drew a tiebreaking bases-loaded walk in the fifth inning, sending the Scotties to a non-section win over host Jefferson-Morgan.

The score was tied 4-4 entering the fifth but Geho’s walk and an RBI single by Tyler Kolonosky gave the Scotties a 6-4 lead.

Three Southmoreland pitchers held J-M (6-7) scoreless over the final five innings.

Deakyn Dehoet, Jaymison Robinson and Joey Bair doubled for the Rockets.

Kadin Keefer hit a pair of doubles for the Scotties (3-10).

Elizabeth Forward 12, McKeesport 0 – A.J. Grese had two hits, including a double, and two RBIs as the visiting Warriors beat the Tigers (2-7, 2-12) in a Section 3-AAAA game.

Nathan Grimm added a triple for EF (3-6, 7-7).