McDowell ends Mt. Lebanon’s season
After a disheartening loss to North Allegheny, 1-0, in the WPIAL Class 6A championship baseball game, the Blue Devils suffered an even bigger disappointment. They lost, 1-0, to McDowell (14-8) in the first round of the PIAA playoffs and ended their season.
“We played hard, we played well, and we competed on every single pitch for seven innings,” said Lebo manager Patt McCloskey. “It was just one of those days and unfortunately, it ended our season.”
Jake Hower provided the fatal blow. With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Hower tagged a two-out single to left field to drive in the winning run.
While Graham Keen scattered four hits in the loss for Lebo, Nick Hamilton was clutch on the mound for the Wildcats, pitching out of several jams during a nearly six-inning stint. He reached his pitch limit with two outs and two on in the top of the sixth.
Sawyer Klasnick started the game drilling a double. Hamilton retired the next three batters, stranding the runner at second.
Klasnick also singled later in the game. Nolan Smith had Lebo’s other base hit.
Lebo put two runners on with two outs in the second but a liner to center ended the threat. The Blue Devils also put runners on first and second with two outs in the top of the fourth but Hamilton struck out the final batter. In the fifth the situation was better as Lebo had runners on first and second with no outs. A strikeout, failed double steal and fly out ended the uprising.
In the seventh, Hamilton made a sliding catch in right field to end Lebo’s final at bat.
“We had scoring chances in six of the seven innings, and three of those innings ended with a two-out lineout,” McCloskey said.
“We hit the ball very well all day, but nothing seemed to fall in for us. It was a tough break.”
With the back-to-back 1-0 losses, Lebo wrapped up an 18-6 campaign.
In addition to Shields, the Blue Devils graduate Frank Taugher, Danny Clevenger, Caleb Weidman, Weston Airey, Luca Borris, Joe Wowczuk, Colin McBane, Nate Girod, Jake Tinnemeyer, Klasnick, Smith and Manning.
“I am so proud of this senior class,” McCloskey said. “To win the section, win two playoff games and make it to the WPIAL finals again is pretty amazing what they did.”