Bethel Park rallies to sweep South Fayette in baseball
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Tyler Sheen leaps for a wild throw as Ray Petras slips safely into second for a stolen base. Petras scored later on a base hit by John Chalus to lead Bethel Park to victory against South Fayette, 8-3. In the game, Petras had three hits, including a double. He scored three runs. For his part, Sheen singled and scored in the sixth inning but that was not enough to offset the six runs the Black Hawks tallied earlier in their half of the frame.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Sebastian Schein brings the heat to the plate during Bethel Park’s 8-3 win against South Fayette. In relief of Evan Holewinski, Schein earned the win on the mound. He pitched one frame before the Black Hawks exploded for six runs in the sixth inning. Santino Diulus and Ryan Schumacher pitched the final two frames in relief of Schein.
Sebastian Schein brings the heat to the plate during Bethel Park's 8-3 win against South Fayette. In relief of Evan Holewinski, Schein earned the win on the mound. He pitched one frame before the Black Hawks exploded for six runs in the sixth inning. Santino Diulus and Ryan Schumacher pitched the final two frames in relief of Schein.
Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac
Tyler Pitzer dives back to the bag before Bethel Park first baseman Nathan Vargo can catch the throw and apply the tag.
Ray Altmeyer makes contact for a base hit during Bethel Park's 8-3 win against South Fayette.
Lucas Lybarger makes contact for a base hit during Bethel Park's six-run sixth in an 8-3 win against South Fayette.
South Fayette's Tyler Pitzer unleashes a pitch during a section game against Bethel Park. Pitzer pitched four frames before yielding to Jake Betz with the game tied, 2-2, but the Black Hawks exploded for six runs in the top of the sixth to score an 8-3 win.
Gianni Magnotti catches up a pop out at second base to end a scoring threat by South Fayette in the first inning. The Lions left two runners on base after scoring a run to tie the game at 1-1. Bethel Park, however, went on to win the game, 8-3.
Bethel Park's Evan Holewinski reaches back and unleashes a pitch to the plate during section action against South Fayette. Holewinski hurled four frames before yielding to Sebastian Schein, who earned the win on the mound when the Black Hawks exploded for six runs in the top of the six and defeated the Lions, 8-3.
In its second critical series of the 2023 scholastic baseball season, Bethel Park (6-3, 4-0) swept South Fayette (7-3, 1-3).
“I am very proud of the effort and intensity that the team was able to maintain throughout the series,” said BP skipper Patrick Zehnder. “South Fayette is such a good team and does so many things well.”
In the first game played on the road at McDonald on April 11, the Black Hawks erupted for six runs in the top of the sixth inning and defeated the Lions, 8-3.
Back-to-back doubles by Nate Vargo and Jason Nuttridge coupled by a two-run double from John Chalus and two-run homer from Evan Holewinski, the Black Hawks scored six times to snap a 2-2 deadlock against the Lions.
Ray Petras doubled and scored on a two-bagger by Holewinski to provide a one-run edge for the Black Hawks, but the Lions evened the score in the bottom of the first frame, 1-1. Anthony Diodata walked before Tyler Pitzer and Shawn Miller tagged back-to-back singles to produce the equalizer.
Petras, who had three hits in the game, again reached base to lead off the third. He swiped second and scored on a base hit by Chalus, but again the Lions responded. On a double by Miller and three consecutive walks issued to Gino Satira, Bryan Misner and Lucas Cooper, SF knotted the game, 2-2.
Holewinski, who had three hits, pitched the first four frames for the Black Hawks. He stuck out six, scattered three hits but walked four before yielding to Sebastian Schein, Santino Diulus and Ryan Schumacher.
Pitzer hurled four frames before yielding to Jake Betz. Miller and Ethan Rose also pitched for the Lions.
“The guys did a great job with their offensive approach against some high level arms from SF. They are starting to figure out what they need to do to be successful offensively, and how to have a team-first approach while also still being able to do damage at the plate,” Zehnder said.
The Black Hawks swept the series when the game returned to their home turf at Purkey Field on April 12.
In BP’s 5-3 win against the Lions, Chalus and Coby Goelz collected two hits each. Goelz, who had a double in the first win, drove in two runs. In addition to Chalus’ RBI single, Holewinski and Jason Nuttridge drove in runs with base hits. Nick Gasper stole two bases.
It again took a team effort on the mound to take down the Lions, who dropped to 1-3 in the section, but are 7-3 overall.
Evan LeJeune tossed three innings, surrendering one hit and striking out three. In his 3 2/3-inning stint, Jack Edner recorded the win. He allowed no runs, struck out three and scattered two hits. Schein recorded the final out for the save.
Again Zehnder was pleased with the outcome as well as the offensive and pitching display, especially since the defense collapsed at times.
“We had been playing great defense and pitching well enough to win all year, so if the offense can continue to improve, that will allow us to become more of a complete team,” Zehnder said.
“We made way too many mistakes in game two, but the players just continue to find ways to win and succeed in the toughest of situations thanks to the senior leadership, camaraderie, and mental toughness.”
Other action
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Upper St. Clair won its first section game, beating Connellsville, 9-2, but the Panthers followed that triumph with a 5-4 loss to the Falcons.
In the win, Braeden Coyle drove in three runs and collected two hits. Peter Janoski earned the win on the mound, striking out six in 5 2/3 innings.
In the loss, John McShane and Ty Lagoni smacked two hits and drove in one run each. Owen Mandler struck out three in 5.2 innings on the mound for the Panthers, who were 6-4 after the split.
Peters Township split decisions with Trinity, evening its section record at 2-2 and overall mark at 4-4.
Steven Laurence belted a two-run homer on a 3-2 count over the left field fence for a 7-5 walk-off victory against the Hillers on April 12. Laurence’s blast scored Luke Scott, who singled. Jack Lutte had three doubles for the Indians and teammate Jack Natili also doubled.
The victory came on the heels of a 7-2 loss for the Indians against the Hillers on April 11.
In Class 6A action, Mt. Lebanon snapped an eight-game losing streak when it whipped Central Catholic, 16-1. The Section 2 triumph came on the heels of a 2-1 loss to the Vikings at Seymour Field on April 11.