The Riverside Panthers held on Thursday afternoon, escaping late inning jams, to defeat Carmichaels 3-2 and advance to the WPIAL Class-2A semifinals.
The Ellwood City Wolverines softball team saw an early lead evaporate quickly as they were defeated by Southmoreland 14-4 in the WPIAL Class-3A quarterfinals.
Riverside Escapes Jams Late, Holds On To Defeat Carmichaels
Both teams were strong on the mound Thursday, but Riverside defeated Carmichaels 3-2 behind a strong performance by starter Ron Harper.
Harper allowed nine hits to Carmichaels and escaped two bases loaded jams late to help Riverside maintain its lead.
Carmichaels scored first but the Panthers responded and knotted the game up at one in the top of the second inning when Mitch Garvin hit a solo homer.
Riverside added another run in the third inning as Bo Fornataro singled on a 1-2 count, scoring one run and its third run in the fourth inning as Sammy Barber, who walked three times in the contest, worked a leadoff walk into a run, scoring on a Carmichaels error.
Harper earned the win for the Panthers on the mound. The southpaw went five and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on nine hits and striking out three. Hunter Garvin threw one and one-third innings in relief out of the bullpen. Garvin recorded the last four outs to earn the save for Riverside.
Garvin, Darren McDade, and Fornataro collected the lone hits for the Riverside offense as the Panthers were held to three hits by Carmichaels pitching. Riverside did manage to work eight walks in the game, putting pressure on the basepaths.
Drake Long took the loss for Carmichaels. The hurler surrendered two runs on two hits over five and a third innings, striking out seven. Trenton Carter started the game for Carmichaels. The bulldog surrendered one run on one hit over one and two-thirds innings.
The 5-seed Panthers will face top seeded Serra Catholic on Monday in the semifinal round of the WPIAL Class-2A Playoffs. [VIEW BRACKET]
Wolverines’ Early Lead Quickly Evaporates In 14-4 Defeat
Ellwood City saw an early 3-1 evaporate quickly as #5 Southmoreland scored nine runs in the top of the fourth inning on its way to a 14-4 victory over the Wolverines.
After the Scotties got on the board first via a solo home run in the top of the first inning, Ellwood City responded with three runs in the bottom half of the frame.
Aliya Garroway doubled and knocked in two runs to put Ellwood City ahead. The Wolverines added a third run with an RBI ground out.
Trailing 3-1 entering the top of the fourth inning, Southmoreland batted around the order, scoring nine times to race ahead.
Ellwood City couldn’t muster more than a single run to respond in the bottom half of the fourth inning and the Scotties pour on two more runs in the ensuing two innings to envoke the 10-run mercy rule.
Offensively, the Wolverines collected four doubles among their nine hits on the evening. Katelyn Wehman (2-3, 1 2b), Garroway (1-3, 1 run, 2 RBI), Keira Rozanski (1-3, 1 RBI), and Julie Nardone each collected doubles
Nardone took the loss for Ellwood City, lasting three innings, allowing six hits while striking out three batters.
Southmoreland had 14 hits in the game. Doppelheur, Grabiak, Charnesky, McCutcheon, and Martin all managed multiple hits for the Scotties.
Southmoreland, which fell to Ellwood City, 4-2, in last year’s Class 3A semifinals, improved to 13-3 on the season and will take on No. 1 Avonworth on Tuesday. Ellwood City finishes the season 11-5 (8-2) on the season. [VIEW BRACKET]
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