Lebo defense backs Linkowski’s pitching efforts
Defense does win championships. Just ask Mt. Lebanon. The Blue Devils made the plays to support another fine pitching performance by Mark Linkowski and posted their second straight playoff shutout to land in the WPIAL 6-A semifinals for baseball.
After Linkowski tossed a no-hitter to upset No. 5 Hempfield, 5-0, the Lebo defense supported him in the quarterfinals. While Linkowski limited Bethel Park to four hits, the Lebo defense turned three double plays and handled 12 ground balls during another shutout win, this time, 6-0, against the Hawks, who were ranked No. 4.
“We knew Mark would do the job. He’s phenomenal. He doesn’t rattle. He’s mentally prepared and so calm. He makes the pitches. We just had to make the plays,” explained Lebo manager Patt McCloskey.
To assure the Blue Devils would make the plays, McCloskey’s assistants drilled the infielders so third baseman Nick Shaub, shortstop Alex Zigarovich, second baseman Ethan Cuccarese and David Abbondanza were fully prepared to turn three pivotal double plays against the Hawks. The first came in the bottom of the initial inning after Ben Barnot socked a double, the first of his two hits. Zigarovich-to-Cuccarese-to Abbondanza ended the threat. They terminated BP’s last gasp when Jonathan Lucchitti singled in the bottom of the seventh. Ryan Meis had the only other single for the Hawks but it came with two outs in the fifth.
“All the credit goes to coaches Jeff Donati, Brandon Whitfield and Dan Caponi. They hit ground balls on the little league field to get us ready for this grass field because we play most of our games on turf,” explained McCloskey. “We knew we had to make plays.”
Likewise, on offense, the infielders made the big plays, particularly in a five-run fifth frame that broke open the game. Shaub led off with a base hit followed singles from centerfielder Nate Bayer and right fielder Matt D’Alesandro. Abbodanza drove in the next run before catcher Nick Callender smashed a two-run single. Pinch runner Cam Kennedy scored on an error after a base hit from left fielder Eric Kraus was mishandled.
Lebo added another run in the top of the sixth. Shaub singled then Bayer walked. After BP turned a double play of its own, Abbondanza drove in the final run with a sacrifice fly to left.
With the victory, Lebo improved to 14-8 overall and advanced to a semifinal showdown with No. 1-ranked Pine-Richland on May 24. The Rams advanced with a 2-0 win against Plum. Their ace, Ryan Okuda tossed a one-hitter, complete with five strikeouts. The Virginia Tech recruit is 7-0 this spring with 60 strikeouts in 48 innings.
“They are very good,” said McCloskey. “They are ranked No. 1 for a reason.”
With the loss, BP finished 13-9 overall. The Hawks had split decisions in section action with the Blue Devils.
Big Macs advance
Canon-McMillan, which ran the table in Section 3, posting a 12-0 record that included, 6-0 and 10-0 wins against Lebo as well as one-run decisions, 1-0 and 5-4, against BP, also advanced to the WPIAL semifinals. The Big Macs did so in similar fashion to Lebo as they road the arm of Zach Rohaley and posted a shutout, 10-0, against Penn-Trafford.
In the contest, also played at the Boyce-Mayview Complex in Upper St. Clair, Canon-Mac exploded for six runs in the third and tacked on two tallies in the fifth and sixth stanzas to end the contest.
After sitting down the first seven batters, Ben Mongelluzzo ran into trouble. He hit Justin Galati, then the Big Macs struck back with six consecutive safeties, including a two-run double by Cam Walker. Cam Weston also produced a run-scoring two-bagger. Nick Serafino and Zach Rohaley tagged run-producing singles. Brandon Rea brought home the other run with a sacrifice fly.
In the fifth, Jordan Castelli socked a two-run single. In the sixth, Nick Drake scored on an error and Greydon Piechnick scored on a double steal to end the game.
Rohaley earned the win on the mound. He hurled 5 1/3 frames, striking out five and facing the minimum of 16 batters before yielding to Drake.
The Big Macs will face North Allegheny in the other 6-A semifinal. The winner advances to the WPIAL championship game set for May 30 or 31 at the Wild Things home park in Washington. Time will be determined.
In other quarterfinal action, Chartiers Valley defeated North Hills, 6-4, at West Mifflin while Our Lady of Sacred Heart dispatched Bishop Canevin, 8-1, at Burkett Complex.
Reed Bruggeman had a home run and double to lead the Colts, who won a WPIAL title last year. CV, which improved to 13-8 overall, will face Latrobe in the semifinals scheduled for May 24.