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Blue Devils etch spot in Mt. Lebanon baseball history

By Eleanor Bailey almanac Sports Editor ebailey@thealmanac.Net 6 min read
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Photos: Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Father Judge players race onto the field to celebrate their PIAA championship victory as Mt. Lebanon’s David Shields reacts to the discouraging defeat. After starting the season 0-8, the Blue Devils won 16 of their next 19 games to reach the state finals. However, Lebo dropped a 4-1 decision to the Crusaders despite an eight-strikeout, six-hit performance on the mound by Shields. The sophomore southpaw also had two hits in the game, including a lead-off single in the seventh inning. He is crossing the plate here but the run does not count as Father Judge recorded the final out of the game on a fly out to center field.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Father Judge catcher Anthony Jakeman clutches the baseball after Mt. Lebanon pinch hitter Danile Clevenger strikes out and his teammates in the background celebrate the play that put the Crusaders two outs away of winning their first PIAA baseball championship. Jakeman clubbed a two-run double that highlighted a 4-1 victory over the Blue Devils. The Crusaders tacked on two insurance runs in the top of the seventh on an RBI single from Sean Moore and a wild pitch.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Mt. Lebanon first baseman Tyler Smith (5) applies the tag on Richie Lee for the out on a pick-off play in the third inning.

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Photos: Eleanor Bailey/ The Almanac

Tyler Smith slides safely into home for Mt. Lebanon’s first run as Father Judge catcher Anthony Jakeman awaits the throw. Smith reached base on a fielder’s choice, swiped second and scored on Matt Delvaux’s base hit in the third inning. The run did not hold up as the Crusaders scored two runs in the fifth and seventh on their way to a 4-1 victory against the Blue Devils in the PIAA Class 6A championship contest played June 17 at Penn State.

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Tyler Smith and Nolan Smith celebrate after Mt. Lebanon took a 1-0 lead against Father Judge in the third inning. The run did not hold up as the Crusaders scored twice in the fifth and seventh to beat the Blue Devils, 4-1, and clinch their first PIAA baseball title.

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David Shields fires a fastball to the plate during the PIAA Class 6A championship game. The sophomore southpaw struck out eight and scattered six hits but was saddled with the loss as Mt. Lebanon fell to Father Judge, 4-1, in the final. Shields struck out a record 106 batters this spring and maintained a 0.94 ERA.

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Nate Girod (16), Jake Tinnemeyer (17), and James Tinnemeyer (18) attempt to restrain their emotions after Mt. Lebanon lost its bid for a state championship in baseball. The Blue Devils dropped a 4-1 decision to Father Judge in the PIAA Class 5A final.

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Matt Delvaux (6), Tanner Donati, Tyler Smith (5) and Brock Stacy (22) watch and listen as Father Judge is awarded the PIAA trophy after beating Mt. Lebanon, 4-1, for the Class 6A baseball title.

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Tyler Smith accepts the PIAA Class 6A runner-up trophy along with senior captains Matt Delvaux (6) and Tanner Donati after Mt. Lebanon’s 4-1 loss to Father Judge.

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Mt. Lebanon players Matt Delvaux, Tanner Donati, Tyler Smith and Brock Stacy are somber after receiving the state runner-up trophy after dopping a 4-1 decision to Father Judge in the PIAA Class 6A championship baseball contest.

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Nate Girod and Jake Tinnemeyer examine the silver medals they were awarded for finishing runner-up in the PIAA Class 5A state championship baseball game.

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Eleanor Bailey/The Almanac

Nolan Smith and David Shields try to maintain composure while Father Judge players in the background celebrate after taking the lead against Mt Lebanon in the PIAA championship baseball game.

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Nolan Smith (left) congratulates Tyler Smith after he scored Mt. Lebanon’s first run on a base hit by Matt Delvaux in the PIAA Class 6A baseball final. The 1-0 advantage did not hold up as Father Judge scored two runs in the fifth and seventh innings to score a 4-1 victory.

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Tyler Smith slides into second base safely on a steal play during the PIAA Class 6A championship game.

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Jake Tinnemeyer (17) attempts to apply the tag but Nick Shiffler (2) slips into third base safely during PIAA Class 6A championship action.

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Jake Tinnemeyer (17) attempts to apply the tag but Nick Shiffler (2) slips into third base safely during PIAA Class 6A championship action.

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Jake Tinnemeyer makes contact but lines out during PIAA Class 6A baseball championship action.

Mt. Lebanon began and ended the 2023 baseball season in the same fashion. With a loss. In between, however, history was made.

After starting the spring campaign, 0-8, the Blue Devils won 16 of their next 19 games. They captured a WPIAL title and finished runner-up in the state after falling to Father Judge, 4-1, in the PIAA Class 6A championship contest played June 17 at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park on the Penn State University campus.

Mt. Lebanon manager Patt McCloskey noted the silver medals worn around his players necks and said that he would have loved to have given them gold instead. However the silver lining beyond the loss was golden.

“They set the all-time gold standard for Mt. Lebanon baseball,” McCloskey. “These players will live on forever.”

On May 30, the Blue Devils etched their names in the Lebo record books when they blanked North Allegheny, 4-0, at Wild Things Park in Washington to claim their second straight District VII banner. The Blue Devils also won the 2022 title after a similar slow start (1-4).

“When you consider the history of this program and everyone that has come through here, the great players and the great teams, these guys are the only one win to win two WPIAL titles in a row. For as long as they will keep me around as coach, this team will be referred to as overcoming adversity and winning back-to-back WPIAL championships and making it to the state finals. That’s quite an accomplishment particularly after the 0-8 start.”

After finishing runner-up to Canon-McMillan in Section 2 with a 10-5 mark, the Blue Devils dispatched Seneca Valley, 2-1, Pine-Richland, 3-0, and North Allegheny, 4-0, in the district tournament. Unlike 2022 when they lost their first-round PIAA playoff game, coming off a WPIAL championship, Lebo rolled through the PIAA tournament, picking up victories against Manheim Township, 4-1, Spring-Ford, 5-2, and Cedar Cliff, 7-2, to land in the state finals.

“Sometimes it’s easier if you lay an egg in the first round of states,” McCloskey said with a sigh. “It’s tough to go and battle until the end and get that close. We played well enough to win. We just didn’t get it done.”

Lebo’s seventh-inning rally fell short when Richie Lee caught a liner tagged by Tanner Donati with the bases loaded for the final out of the game. David Shields and Brock Stacy led off with base hits, and after two strikeouts, Weston Airey tagged another single.

“As much as it hurts losing a tight one like this, we thought we had it in the last inning,” McCloskey said. “We felt like things were turning. Tanner did his job; squared up but it did not fall in. Credit them. They were great.”

McCloskey tipped his cap especially to David Rodriguez. A junior, who is committed to St. John’s, Rodriguez reached the 105-pitch limit against Donati but ended up winning his 11th game of the season. Rodriguez, who has a fastball clocked at 90 mph, scattered seven hits and struck out eight.

“He was humming,” McCloskey said. “My hats off to him. He threw a great game on the biggest stage.”

Shields was equal to Rodriguez. He reached 100 pitches after striking out Lee to start the seventh. A southpaw, who is committed to Miami, Shields scattered six hits, struck out eight and walked two.

The Crusaders scored twice in the fifth to erase Lebo’s 1-0 advantage. Declan Foy walked and moved to second on a sacrifice by Lee. After a Brooks Henderson single, Anthony Jakeman drilled a two-run double.

The Crusaders scored two runs after Shields vacated the mound for reliever Ty Smith. Singles by Henderson, who had three hits in the game, and Sean Moore coupled by a walk to Nick Shiffler and a wild pitch contributed to the run production in the seventh.

Lebo scored its lone tally in the third. Ty Smith reached base on a fielder’s choice, swiped second and scored on a single by Matt Delvaux.

Shields and Hamel both had two hits for the Blue Devils, who finished the year at 16-11 overall while Father Judge managed a 25-2 mark in winning its first state title.

“Father Judge was in the state finals for a reason. They beat three District 1 powerhouses to get here,” McCloskey said. “They are good. We have to tip our caps to those folks. They did enough to win.”

The game saw the end of the scholastic careers for 11 Blue Devils including: Donati, a Delaware recruit; Smith, an Auburn recruit; Delvaux, who will play at Mercyhurst; Stacy, Evan Loehr, Owen Mitchel, Peyton Rounsfull, Toby Kennedy, Quinn Scott-Van Deusen, James Tinnemeyer and Daniel Flynn.

“Those seniors provided great leadership,” McCloskey said. “They will be hard to replace.”

The Blue Devils though have a chance to be competitive next year because they return six starters and other vital cogs from this season.

Shields returns as the ace of the staff. He was 5-2 this spring and set a new school record for strikeouts with 107. He maintained a 0.94 ERA.

“David is back and that’s a big piece,” McCloskey concurred. “However, we have a lot to replace on our staff. Matt and Tyler were two of our section series starters and Owen was our top relief pitcher. That’s 100 innings pitched to replace right there. That’s a lot.”

Chase Smith, Nolan Smith, who started at catcher, and Airey return. They all pitched in critical situations out of the bullpen this year. “So, they gained a lot of experience,” McCloskey said.

Offensively, the Blue Devils graduated the top three in their batting order. “It’s going to be really hard to replace Tanner, Tyler and Matt,” said McCloskey, who also noted that Stacy was the team’s top hitter. Stacy started in left field.

Lebo returns three starting infielders in Nate Girod at shortstop, Hamel at second base and Jake Tinnemyer at third base.

“We are really optimistic about them,” McCloskey said. “That’s a big piece returning.”

Lebo also returns two “experienced” and “very good defensive” catchers in Nolan Smith and Maddox Yost.

“These are the greatest kids ever and it’s been an enjoyable season. I thanked my players for that. They set the tone for the future and it’s a bright one for Mt. Lebanon baseball.”

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