Bethel Park outlasts Mechanicsburg
Patrick Zehnder welcomes the break in his routine. An early riser because of his requirements as a mathematics and special education teacher at Bethel Park High School, he burns the midnight oil in June because of his baseball team’s success.
“Getting up at 5 a.m. for school after pulling into the high school at midnight is still something I’m trying to get used to,” Zehnder said happily. “Many of the best memories I have from the past three seasons are from those long bus rides home.”
June 5 was no different than the past eight state playoff games. Bethel Park traveled to Mechanicsburg and defeated the Wildcats, 8-2, in a 10-inning thriller to advance to the PIAA quarterfinals for the third straight year.
“This was a great game between two very good teams,” Zehnder said. “It’s always hard to come off the bus with your A game after a 3 1/2-hour trip, especially when you are playing at your opponent’s home field, but these guys are so polished and prepared that it hasn’t seemed to affect them.
“They have embraced these long trips and it definitely makes for a fun ride home after a win. When the win is as exciting and the game as good as this one was, it is even more fun.”
A six-run 10th inning punctuated by Evan Holewinski’s grand slam highlighted the victory.
With the game tied, 2-2, Jason Nuttridge singled to start the uprising. After bunts by Josh Clunan and Gianni Magnotti were mishandled, Ryan Petras singled. John Chalus walked to load the bases, setting the stage for Holewinski’s heroics.
After six scoreless innings, spearheaded by the pitching of Evan LeJeune (4 1/3 innings, two hits and two strikeouts) and Ryan Walsh (1 2/3 innings, one hit, 3 strikeouts), the Black Hawks forged a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the seventh, Chalus singled and yielded to pinch runner Jack Bruckner, who promptly swiped second base. Holewinski then drilled an RBI double and later scored on a Lucas Lybarger triple.
Defense saved the day for the Black Hawks in the bottom of the inning. Though the Wildcats tied the score, they did not win because Nuttridge threw out a runner at the plate.
“Jason made a great play after cutting off a hard hit ball into the gap,” Zehnder said. “He threw the game-winning run out at home from pretty deep right centerfield.”
Mike Bruckner also provided a strong glove. He made two very good backhand plays at third base through the extra innings.
Sebastian Schein was the winning pitcher. He threw three scoreless innings and recorded two strikeouts. In relief, Santino Diulus pitched a scoreless 10th.
Offensively, Holewinski and Lybarger finished with two hits while Petras had three as well as two stolen bases.
With the win, BP improved to 19-5 overall and moved on to play Monsignor Bonner, the District 12 champion, in the quarterfinals.
The Friars feature Kevin McGonigle. The Auburn recruit is expected to be selected in this summer’s MLB amateur draft. The shortstop had two hits, including a triple, and two walks in a first-round PIAA playoff win against West Chester Rustin, 7-4.