Mount Lebanon encounters Eric McDowell in PIAA baseball playoffs
The Mt. Lebanon Blue Devils (14-9) will take on the Erie McDowell Trojans (19-3) in a PIAA Class AAAA first-round playoff game today at Slippery Rock University.
The Blue Devils are making their first PIAA playoff appearance since 2006, when they advanced to the quarterfinals after winning the WPIAL championship. Mt. Lebanon lost this year’s WPIAL final to Seneca Valley, 5-3, last Wednesday. Trailing 5-1 after six innings, the Blue Devils scored twice in the top of the seventh, but their rally fell two runs short. The loss followed playoff wins against North Allegheny, Norwin and Plum. The Blue Devils are led by senior shortstop Ian Happ.
The Trojans were District 10 champions. They won their seventh game in a row by defeating City League winner Allderdice, 9-2, in a preliminary-round game last Wednesday. Erie McDowell led just 3-2 after five innings, but capitalized on five sixth-inning errors to score six runs on one hit to take a commanding lead. The Trojans also defeated Allderdice in the preliminary round last season before losing to Seneca Valley in the first round. The Trojans boast a strong pitching staff led by Luke Nientimp, Ryan Kaverman and Zack Borsa.
The Mt. Lebanon-Erie McDowell winner will play the Seneca Valley-Altoona winner in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
The Blue Devils are making their first PIAA playoff appearance since 2006, when they advanced to the quarterfinals after winning the WPIAL championship. Mt. Lebanon lost this year’s WPIAL final to Seneca Valley, 5-3, last Wednesday. Trailing 5-1 after six innings, the Blue Devils scored twice in the top of the seventh, but their rally fell two runs short. The loss followed playoff wins against North Allegheny, Norwin and Plum. The Blue Devils are led by senior shortstop Ian Happ.
The Trojans were District 10 champions. They won their seventh game in a row by defeating City League winner Allderdice, 9-2, in a preliminary-round game last Wednesday. Erie McDowell led just 3-2 after five innings, but capitalized on five sixth-inning errors to score six runs on one hit to take a commanding lead. The Trojans also defeated Allderdice in the preliminary round last season before losing to Seneca Valley in the first round. The Trojans boast a strong pitching staff led by Luke Nientimp, Ryan Kaverman and Zack Borsa.
The Mt. Lebanon-Erie McDowell winner will play the Seneca Valley-Altoona winner in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
baseball