High School Highlights (May 3)
Blackhawk scores upset
Blackhawk was able to do something Wednesday that only one other baseball team has done this season.
Beat Hopewell.
Matt Emge hit a three-run double to highlight a four-run sixth inning and help Class AAA No. 2 Blackhawk rally to win at No. 1 Hopewell, 4-1, in Section 1.
The result moved Blackhawk (15-2, 10-2) -- the defending section champion -- into a first-place tie with Hopewell (16-2, 10-2). The Vikings had won 11 in a row, including a 2-0 victory at Blackhawk.
Trailing 1-0, Blackhawk got the bases-loaded hit from Emge, followed by a run-scoring single from Steve O'Hara.
Blackhawk sophomore Brendan McKay improved to 5-1 by pitching a complete-game six-hitter with six strikeouts.
Other top baseball games
• Jason Martin hit two doubles and scored twice in helping Class AAAA No. 3 Seneca Valley (12-3, 8-2) avenge an earlier loss to Shaler (11-5, 6-4) by defeating the host Titans, 5-3, in Section 1.
• Aaron Birch scored the winning run in the eighth to push Peters Township (7-10, 6-4) to a 1-0 win at Class AAAA No. 4 Upper St. Clair (13-4, 8-3) in Section 3. The Indians have played 11 one-run games this season, going 4-7.
• Penn-Trafford (10-7, 7-4) gained a playoff spot after storming back from a 5-2 deficit after six innings to earn a 6-5, eight-inning win against visiting Latrobe (7-10, 5-6) in Class AAAA Section 2. Justin Staso singled in the winning run.
• Dan Jena helped South Park (14-4, 9-3) qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2006 by driving in the winning run in the seventh inning of a 2-1 victory against visiting Montour (11-6, 7-5) in Class AAA Section 3. Winning pitcher Nick Yobbi struck out 10.
• Jake Pilewicz pitched a four-hitter and Luke O'Neill drove in four runs to vault host Quaker Valley (8-4, 6-4) to a 10-0, six-inning win against Class AA Section 1 leader South Fayette (11-6, 10-2).
• Alex Demonte hit a run-scoring single in the sixth to help Class A No. 5 Springdale (12-4, 10-2) remain in first place in Section 4 after a 6-5 triumph against visiting Sewickley Academy (3-8, 3-8).
• Devan Schuller's home run in the ninth allowed visiting Union (11-6, 7-3) to clinch a playoff berth by defeating Rochester (6-10, 6-5), 3-2, in Class A Section 3. Union's Carrington Bell pitched all nine innings and struck out 13.
Softball coach wins 500th
• New Brighton coach Joe Ursida collected his 500th career win when the Lions (10-9, 7-7) defeated host Beaver Falls (6-11, 5-9), 1-0, in Class AA Section 5. Ursida has a record of 500-230 in 34 seasons. Kiersten Manor pitched a one-hitter for New Brighton.
Blackhawk was able to do something Wednesday that only one other baseball team has done this season.
Beat Hopewell.
Matt Emge hit a three-run double to highlight a four-run sixth inning and help Class AAA No. 2 Blackhawk rally to win at No. 1 Hopewell, 4-1, in Section 1.
The result moved Blackhawk (15-2, 10-2) -- the defending section champion -- into a first-place tie with Hopewell (16-2, 10-2). The Vikings had won 11 in a row, including a 2-0 victory at Blackhawk.
Trailing 1-0, Blackhawk got the bases-loaded hit from Emge, followed by a run-scoring single from Steve O'Hara.
Blackhawk sophomore Brendan McKay improved to 5-1 by pitching a complete-game six-hitter with six strikeouts.
Other top baseball games
• Jason Martin hit two doubles and scored twice in helping Class AAAA No. 3 Seneca Valley (12-3, 8-2) avenge an earlier loss to Shaler (11-5, 6-4) by defeating the host Titans, 5-3, in Section 1.
• Aaron Birch scored the winning run in the eighth to push Peters Township (7-10, 6-4) to a 1-0 win at Class AAAA No. 4 Upper St. Clair (13-4, 8-3) in Section 3. The Indians have played 11 one-run games this season, going 4-7.
• Penn-Trafford (10-7, 7-4) gained a playoff spot after storming back from a 5-2 deficit after six innings to earn a 6-5, eight-inning win against visiting Latrobe (7-10, 5-6) in Class AAAA Section 2. Justin Staso singled in the winning run.
• Dan Jena helped South Park (14-4, 9-3) qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2006 by driving in the winning run in the seventh inning of a 2-1 victory against visiting Montour (11-6, 7-5) in Class AAA Section 3. Winning pitcher Nick Yobbi struck out 10.
• Jake Pilewicz pitched a four-hitter and Luke O'Neill drove in four runs to vault host Quaker Valley (8-4, 6-4) to a 10-0, six-inning win against Class AA Section 1 leader South Fayette (11-6, 10-2).
• Alex Demonte hit a run-scoring single in the sixth to help Class A No. 5 Springdale (12-4, 10-2) remain in first place in Section 4 after a 6-5 triumph against visiting Sewickley Academy (3-8, 3-8).
• Devan Schuller's home run in the ninth allowed visiting Union (11-6, 7-3) to clinch a playoff berth by defeating Rochester (6-10, 6-5), 3-2, in Class A Section 3. Union's Carrington Bell pitched all nine innings and struck out 13.
Softball coach wins 500th
• New Brighton coach Joe Ursida collected his 500th career win when the Lions (10-9, 7-7) defeated host Beaver Falls (6-11, 5-9), 1-0, in Class AA Section 5. Ursida has a record of 500-230 in 34 seasons. Kiersten Manor pitched a one-hitter for New Brighton.
