Belle Vernon baseball team looks to knock off powerhouse
When Belle Vernon runs onto the field at Washington & Jefferson College today, it will mark the first WPIAL semifinal appearance for all of its players.
As for the Leopards’ opponent, that’s anything but the case.
Belle Vernon (17-4), the No. 7 seed, takes on No. 3 Hopewell (18-3) in a Class AAA semifinal game at 5 p.m. While the Leopards are in the midst of their best season in at least a decade, the Vikings are making their fourth consecutive appearance in the semifinals. The Vikings were champions in 2010.
The Leopards reached the semifinals with a 7-1 quarterfinal victory against No. 2 Mars. Matt Callaway pitched a complete-game four-hitter. As for the Vikings, they edged Greensburg Salem, 2-1, in the quarterfinals. Tim Hughes scored the winning run on a suicide-squeeze bunt by Dave Claypole in the sixth inning.
Belle Vernon, which tied for the Section 2 championship, has won five straight and 9 of 10. Hopewell, the Section 1 runner-up, has won 13 of its last 15 games.
As for the Leopards’ opponent, that’s anything but the case.
Belle Vernon (17-4), the No. 7 seed, takes on No. 3 Hopewell (18-3) in a Class AAA semifinal game at 5 p.m. While the Leopards are in the midst of their best season in at least a decade, the Vikings are making their fourth consecutive appearance in the semifinals. The Vikings were champions in 2010.
The Leopards reached the semifinals with a 7-1 quarterfinal victory against No. 2 Mars. Matt Callaway pitched a complete-game four-hitter. As for the Vikings, they edged Greensburg Salem, 2-1, in the quarterfinals. Tim Hughes scored the winning run on a suicide-squeeze bunt by Dave Claypole in the sixth inning.
Belle Vernon, which tied for the Section 2 championship, has won five straight and 9 of 10. Hopewell, the Section 1 runner-up, has won 13 of its last 15 games.
baseball