Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon win openers
Despite inclement weather on April 3, Bethel Park and Mt. Lebanon won their section baseball openers.
While the Black Hawks swept Upper St. Clair, 6-0 and 6-2, in a doubleheader played April 3 at Wild Things Park in Washington, the Blue Devils edged Canon-McMillan, 2-1, at Seymour Field, which is carpeted with an artificial surface.
Santino Diulus hurled the complete game shutout against the Panthers. He scattered seven hits, struck out seven and walked one.
Ryan Petras and Ethan Stanhoff each collected three hits. Petras, who doubled and stole a base, walked in his other plate appearance. Stanhoff drove in two runs.
Eli Rankin doubled and Nolan Wilson had two hits for the Panthers.
In the night cap, Ryan Walsh was credited with the win while Dylan Schumacher recorded a save. Walsh struck out five and allowed three hits in five frames while Schumacher had two Ks during his two-inning stint.
Petras again managed three hits, including a double. Noah LeJeune was the only other duplicate hitter with two safeties.
For the Panthers, Wilson doubled. Carter Stein and Eli Mandler drove in USC’s two runs.
With the wins, BP improved to 3-2-1 overall. The Hawks will resume Section 2, 5A action at South Fayette on April 9. BP then hosts the Lions on April 10 at Purkey Field. The first pitch for both games is set for 4 p.m.
Left fielder Sawyer Klasnick tagged a two-run triple in the second inning to account for Lebo’s tallies.
Other offensive highlights included two hits, a single and a double, from designated hitter Danny Clevenger and three-bagger from third baseman Jake Tinnemeyer.
Graham Keen, Weston Airey and Sam Bochkoris combined for the win on the mound for the Blue Devils, who improved to 4-1 overall.
After the three-game series with the Big Macs (at home on April 4 and away on April 5), Lebo was set to face Central Catholic in another Section 2 series. The Blue Devils travel to Valencia and the No Off Season site to take on the Vikings April 8 and 11. In between on April 9, Lebo hosts Central Catholic at 4:15 p.m. April 9.