High School Highlights (May 1)
Vincentian outlasts Springdale, 10-9
When Vincentian took an eight-run lead into the third inning Monday, the Royals never thought they would need to rally to win a crucial game.
Greg MacQueen settled things with four scoreless innings of relief after Springdale's eight-run third had given it the lead, allowing Vincentian to pull even in the section title race with a 10-9 victory.
The Royals (8-5, 8-2) had an early 8-1 lead deteriorate into a 9-8 deficit, but run-scoring singles by Anthony Smaldino in the fifth and Ian Taylor in the sixth boosted Vincentian to a victory.
"We showed what our team is made of," Vincentian coach Eddie Dubis said. "We showed a lot of character. Having a 9-1 lead and losing it, we could have folded."
Evan Gourley had a grand slam in the second for the Royals, who have won eight of 10.
The Dynamos (10-4, 8-2) have lost their past two after winning nine in a row.
Other top baseball games
• Aaron LaPaglia had nine strikeouts in a complete-game victory as Class AAAA No. 2 Bethel Park (14-2, 7-2) defeated first-place Upper St. Clair (13-3, 8-2), 1-0, in Section 3.
• Noah Shannon's single in the seventh provided the winning run as host Freeport (9-5, 6-2) tied Burrell (8-5, 7-1) for first place in Class AA Section 3 with an 8-7 victory.
• Isaac Hertzog had a four-hitter and Brad Appleby went 2 for 3 with an RBI as Greensburg Central Catholic (10-5, 7-2) defeated Brentwood (8-6, 5-4), 3-1, in Class AA Section 4.
• Brian Vales went 3 for 3 with two runs and an RBI to lead Avonworth (10-6, 8-3) to an 8-7 victory at North Catholic (8-5, 6-4) in Class A Section 4.
A slow turn
• A double by Ben Simon drove in Chris Bugajski for the game's only run in the second as host Fox Chapel won for the third time in its past four games, 1-0, against Class AAAA Section 1 first-place Shaler (11-4, 6-3). The Foxes (3-12, 3-7) began the season with 11 consecutive losses.
Stars of the night
• Matt Bakewell went 4 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs to lead Class A No. 1 California (14-0, 9-0) to a 14-4 five-inning victory against visiting Carmichaels (8-8, 7-3) in Section 1.
• Greg Newmann had four RBIs as host Greensburg Salem (9-4, 7-3) beat Mount Pleasant (11-5, 8-3), 10-2, in Class AAA Section 2.
Top softball games
• Marla Thomas hit a 3-run homer in the fifth and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth as Class A No. 5 South Side Beaver (13-3, 8-1) avenged its only Section 5 loss with an 8-7 victory at Shenango (9-5, 9-1). The Rams have won nine in a row.
When Vincentian took an eight-run lead into the third inning Monday, the Royals never thought they would need to rally to win a crucial game.
Greg MacQueen settled things with four scoreless innings of relief after Springdale's eight-run third had given it the lead, allowing Vincentian to pull even in the section title race with a 10-9 victory.
The Royals (8-5, 8-2) had an early 8-1 lead deteriorate into a 9-8 deficit, but run-scoring singles by Anthony Smaldino in the fifth and Ian Taylor in the sixth boosted Vincentian to a victory.
"We showed what our team is made of," Vincentian coach Eddie Dubis said. "We showed a lot of character. Having a 9-1 lead and losing it, we could have folded."
Evan Gourley had a grand slam in the second for the Royals, who have won eight of 10.
The Dynamos (10-4, 8-2) have lost their past two after winning nine in a row.
Other top baseball games
• Aaron LaPaglia had nine strikeouts in a complete-game victory as Class AAAA No. 2 Bethel Park (14-2, 7-2) defeated first-place Upper St. Clair (13-3, 8-2), 1-0, in Section 3.
• Noah Shannon's single in the seventh provided the winning run as host Freeport (9-5, 6-2) tied Burrell (8-5, 7-1) for first place in Class AA Section 3 with an 8-7 victory.
• Isaac Hertzog had a four-hitter and Brad Appleby went 2 for 3 with an RBI as Greensburg Central Catholic (10-5, 7-2) defeated Brentwood (8-6, 5-4), 3-1, in Class AA Section 4.
• Brian Vales went 3 for 3 with two runs and an RBI to lead Avonworth (10-6, 8-3) to an 8-7 victory at North Catholic (8-5, 6-4) in Class A Section 4.
A slow turn
• A double by Ben Simon drove in Chris Bugajski for the game's only run in the second as host Fox Chapel won for the third time in its past four games, 1-0, against Class AAAA Section 1 first-place Shaler (11-4, 6-3). The Foxes (3-12, 3-7) began the season with 11 consecutive losses.
Stars of the night
• Matt Bakewell went 4 for 4 with two RBIs and two runs to lead Class A No. 1 California (14-0, 9-0) to a 14-4 five-inning victory against visiting Carmichaels (8-8, 7-3) in Section 1.
• Greg Newmann had four RBIs as host Greensburg Salem (9-4, 7-3) beat Mount Pleasant (11-5, 8-3), 10-2, in Class AAA Section 2.
Top softball games
• Marla Thomas hit a 3-run homer in the fifth and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth as Class A No. 5 South Side Beaver (13-3, 8-1) avenged its only Section 5 loss with an 8-7 victory at Shenango (9-5, 9-1). The Rams have won nine in a row.
