May 23, 2018 By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 4 min read

Justin Meis is no Harvey Haddix and Bethel Park is not the Pittsburgh Pirates, but four days shy of the 39th anniversary of Haddix’s perfect defeat, Meis and the Hawks experienced the same fate.

Like the Pirates, who fell in the 13th inning, Bethel Park lost 3-1 to North Allegheny in a quarterfinal WPIAL 6A baseball playoff game May 22 at Boyce-Mayview Park in Upper St. Clair.

“Baseball is a mean game,” BP manager Tony Fisher said.

Indeed, Meis struck out a career-high 16 batters and the Tigers struck out 18 times during the seven-inning affair.

“When you strike out your opponent that many times, and don’t win, it is tough to swallow,” said Fisher. “This one hurt.”

The defeat was particularly painful for multiple reasons, the least of which was the fact the Hawks were the No. 2 seed in the tournament. They finished the year 17-4 overall. They were conference champions for the second time in three years. They also pieced together a 14-game winning streak, which ranks second-best in school history. The 1995 club won 21 games in a row.

“We have a lot to be proud of,” Fisher said.

After the loss, Fisher reminded his players of their achievements.

“I told them more important than all the wins was the journey, which can never be taken away.”

But, North Allegheny took away the game that mattered most and prevented the Hawks from making their own history during the 30th anniversary year of the school’s only state championship.

Though Meis struck out the side in the first, the Tigers scored when Luke Trueman singled, swiped second, reached third on a wild pitch and home on a passed ball. Meis struck out 13 over the first four innings, including one batter that reached first after the dropped third strike.

“Justin was masterful,” Fisher said. “All three pitches were on, and he was virtually unhittable.”

Trueman was equally efficient. He struck out six and scattered four hits.

BP, however, hit into two double plays and lined out in a pivotal second stanza. With one out, Meis reached base on an error, moved to third on Magdiel Cotto’s double and scored on a wild pitch. But a strikeout and a liner to first ended the uprising.

Despite a fine relief performance by Corey Fischer, NA scored when it had to in the top of the seventh. Anthony Hattrup led off the inning getting hit by a pitch. C.J. Weller bunted safely and a misplayed ground ball to second by Trueman pushed across the winning run.

BP rallied in the bottom of the frame. With one out, Meis and Brandon Cole singled before Anthony Chiccitt walked to load the bases. The rally ended on a pop out to shortstop.

The loss ended the scholastic careers of six seniors, including Meis, who was 5-1 heading into the game. Meis, who started at shortstop when he wasn’t pitching, will continue his career at Eastern Michigan.

“We will not only miss Justin as a player, but above all we will miss him as a person.” Fisher said. “He’s an outstanding young man, who balances toughness with humor, as well as leading by example, for which he never put his own accolades above that of the team”

Among the other seniors are: second baseman Corey Patterson, outfielder Benjamin Barnot, right fielder Adam Malecki, first baseman Jacob Wozniak and Fischer.

“We really can’t say enough about the seniors,” Fisher said. “They had moxie, work ethic, drive, heart, unselfishness, and a big picture mindset.”

The Hawks, however, do return a strong nucleus of underclassmen: left fielder Anthony Strangis (.359 batting average), DH Antonio Fontanna (11 RBI), all-conference center fielder Sean McGowan (.368 BA), all-section third baseman Kevin Kogler (.365 BA); Chiccitt, Cole and Cotto as well as pitchers Evan Bromley (3-0) and Eric Chalus (4-1 with a 1.44 ERA as a freshman).