SPORTS: Panthers Drop Two To Shenango; Wolverines Defeat Western Beaver; JH Softball Wins

The Panthers boys baseball team met the Shenango Wildcats this week for a crucial home-and-home series to vie for section championship rights. Riverside came up on the short end of both games, falling twice in one-run defeats.

On Monday, Riverside battled the Wildcats into an extra-innings affair before a timely squeeze bunt by Wildcats’ Braden Ziegler in the ninth inning scored the game-winning run for the 2-1 a Shenango victory. Tuesday’s outcome was an identical score, and an identical victor – Shenango, completing its mini sweep of Riverside and clinching a Section 2-2A championship.

Pitching was strong for both teams in the series.

On Monday, three Panther pitchers combined to strike out nine Wildcats but the Riverside offense was thwarted by Shenango starter Tino Campoli. Campoli struck out nine batters over the course of his six two-hit innings on the mound.

Mitch Garvin led the offense attack on Monday with two hits in his four plate appearances. Sammy Barber scored the lone Panthers run in the third inning that put Riverside ahead 1-0 before Shenango was able to tie the game and later earn the victory in extra innings.

On Tuesday, Riverside once again struck first but a late score by the visiting Wildcats resulted in a 2-1 Shenango victory.

More solid pitching was on display as Panther starter Ronnie Harper struck out four Wildcats across his 6.2 innings of four-hit pitching. Harper did not allow an earned run. Zach Herb tossed a complete game five-hitter for Shenango, allowing one earned run and only walking one batter.

Bo Fornataro, Ashton Schlosser, Madden Boehm, Evan Burry, and McDade each collected one hit to lead Riverside.

Shenango and Riverside (13-5 Overall) both finished at 9-3 in Section 2-2A with the Wildcats holding the head-to-head tie-breaker. Each will now look to the WPIAL Playoffs and perhaps a potential third match up.

Two Wolverine Pitchers Work Together To Shut-Out Western Beaver

Ellwood City defeated Western Beaver 14-0 on Monday as two pitchers combined to throw a shutout. Sam Landis got Zeiber to hit into a fielder’s choice to finish off the game.

Ellwood City got on the board in the first inning. Joseph Roth drove in two when Roth singled.

The Wolverines scored six runs in the fourth inning led by walks by Ryan Welsh and Landis, a single by Zach Wiley, and by Carter Lutz.

Willie Nardone was the winning pitcher for Ellwood City. Nardone went three innings, allowing zero runs on zero hits, striking out nine and walking one. Landis threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen.

Ellwood City tallied ten hits on the day. Alexander Roth and Bucky Biskup each collected multiple hits for the Wolverines. Roth led the Wolverines with four stolen bases, as they ran wild on the base paths with 12 stolen bases.

Ellwood City now 6-4 in Section 1-3A (8-9 Overall) on the season will next travel Wednesday @ Blackhawk for 4:00 p.m. first pitch.

Lady Wolverines Junior High Softball Collects Two More Victories

Ellwood City JH Softball team soundly defeated Moniteau and Ambridge this week.

Kennedy Brown and Dakota Hicks combined for a no-hitter on Monday as Ellwood City ousted Moniteau 15-1 in five innings. The duo combined for 10 strikeouts. Offensively, Ellwood City collected 16 hits with Amber McQuistion swatting two doubles as part of her three-hit afternoon. She scored a team-high three runs and drove home two runs.

On Tuesday, in similar fashion, the Wolverines softball team made quick work of visiting Ambridge, winning 15-0 in three innings. Dakota Hicks again shined on the mound, strike out five hitters and allowing only one hit in her three innings on the rubber.

Ellwood City collected 11 hits on Tuesday afternoon with four Wolverines collecting two hits. Centerfielder Alexis Beck smacked a homerun as part of her offensive performance. Beck finished with two hits, a team-high three RBIs and scored three runs. Ava Dausman (1 2B), Hicks, (1 2B, 1 3B), and Kaylee Palombi joined Beck with multiple hits in the victory