Blackhawk outduels Thomas Jefferson 1-0 in playoff baseball game
(Photo: Blackhawk teammates celebrate their 1-0 WPIAL Class AAA baseball semifinal win over Thomas Jefferson Monday night at North Allegheny. Matt Freed /Post-Gazette.)
"Inning for inning, strikeout for strikeout, pitchers Greg Schneider and Brendan McKay pretty much matched each other. The WPIAL playoff game that had the potential for a classic pitchers duel lived up to its billing.
Through eight innings neither pitcher allowed a run -- and Thomas Jefferson's Schneider didn't allow a hit. But just when it looked like neither pitcher would give in, Schneider's feet gave out -- and Blackhawk won.
Blackhawk defeated Thomas Jefferson, 1-0, in a marvelous WPIAL Class AAA semifinal Monday night at North Allegheny. Blackhawk scored the winning run in the ninth on, of all things, an error by Schneider on a bunt.
Through eight innings, Schneider had a no-hitter, while McKay had allowed only two hits. In the top of the ninth, Blackhawk's No. 9 hitter, Brandon Mansell, led off with a bouncing ball up the middle for a single. Brendan Kearney then laid down a good bunt in front of home plate. Schneider charged and picked up the ball, but just as he threw to first his feet gave out and his throw was high. It sailed into right field and Mansell came all the way around to score.
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