A closer look at the Belle Vernon-Blackhawk WPIAL Class AAA baseball final
Belle Vernon will look to cap its fantastic WPIAL playoff run tonight when the No. 7 Leopards (18-4) meet No. 1 Blackhawk (20-2) in the Class AAA championship at CONSOL Energy Park at 8 p.m.
The Leopards, who are coached by Dan Palm, were the Section 2 co-champions and began the postseason by defeating Beaver, 4-3, in the first round. They followed that up with a 7-1 win against Mars and a 9-8 victory against Hopewell.
Against Hopewell, the Leopards scored the winning run on a bases-loaded walk. Senior Dean Manown hit two doubles and drove in three runs for the Leopards, who have won six in a row. Four of their past five wins have come by a single run.
The Cougars, who won the Section 1 title, are coached by Bob Amalia. Both of Blackhawkâs playoff wins (against Chartiers Valley and Thomas Jefferson) have come by 1-0 scores.
Against Thomas Jefferson in the semifinals, the Cougars got a marvelous performance from sophomore pitcher Brendan McKay, who pitched a two-hitter and struck out 15 in picking up the win in the nine-inning game. The Cougars have shut out four opponents in a row and have surrendered only three runs in their past seven games.
The Leopards, who are coached by Dan Palm, were the Section 2 co-champions and began the postseason by defeating Beaver, 4-3, in the first round. They followed that up with a 7-1 win against Mars and a 9-8 victory against Hopewell.
Against Hopewell, the Leopards scored the winning run on a bases-loaded walk. Senior Dean Manown hit two doubles and drove in three runs for the Leopards, who have won six in a row. Four of their past five wins have come by a single run.
The Cougars, who won the Section 1 title, are coached by Bob Amalia. Both of Blackhawkâs playoff wins (against Chartiers Valley and Thomas Jefferson) have come by 1-0 scores.
Against Thomas Jefferson in the semifinals, the Cougars got a marvelous performance from sophomore pitcher Brendan McKay, who pitched a two-hitter and struck out 15 in picking up the win in the nine-inning game. The Cougars have shut out four opponents in a row and have surrendered only three runs in their past seven games.
baseball