Wolverines, Panthers Split Cross Sport Rivalry Doubleheader

Ellwood City and Riverside split a cross sport softball/baseball doubleheader on Thursday with the Riverside Panthers baseball team defeating Ellwood City 12-2 while the Wolverines softball team defeat Riverside 19-4 later in the afternoon.

Fifth Inning Outburst Leads Panthers To 12-2 Victory

Riverside defeated Ellwood City 12-2 on Thursday at Riverside High School thanks in part to seven runs in a fifth inning outburst.

Junior Christian Lucarelli hit a grand slam to left field – his second home run of the week – days after leading the Panthers on the mound to its Monday victory over Ellwood City.

An RBI single by Bo Fornataro put Riverside on the board in the bottom of the first with and the Panthers added to their early lead in the bottom of the second inning when Darren McDade homered to left field, scoring two runs, and Hunter Garvin singled, scoring one run.

Ellwood City responded with two runs in the top half of the fourth inning but the Panthers outburst put the game to bed after five innings.

Zack Hare earned the win for Riverside. The starting pitcher gave up two hits and two runs over five innings, striking out 12 and walking three. Will Nardone took the loss for Ellwood City going three and two-thirds innings, surrendering five runs on seven hits, striking out one and walking four.

Joseph Roth drove the middle of the lineup, leading the Wolverines with two runs batted in. The first baseman went 1-for-2 on the day. Joseph Roth and Isaiah Lutz each collected one hit for Ellwood City Varsity Wolverines.

Riverside amassed nine hits in the game. Sean Hayes and Fornataro each collected two hits for the Panthers. Hayes scored four runs.

Ellwood City next plays at home on Tuesday against Quaker Valley. Riverside (3-0 Overall) will travel to Beaver Falls on Tuesday.

Rozanski, Kalantzis Power Wolverines To 19-4 Victory

Keira Rozanski and Ellie Kalantzis each drove in four runs to lead Ellwood City past Riverside 19-4 on Thursday.

Rozanski hit a grand slam to center field in the second inning and added an RBI singled in the fourth inning while Kalantzis swatted three hits.

Riverside was the first to get on the board in the first when an error scored one run.

Ellwood City captured the lead in the bottom of the first after Rylee Prestopine doubled and Kalantzis grounded out, each scoring one run.

Riverside re-captured the lead, 4-2, in the top of the second when Mia Williams singled, scoring one run, and an error scored two runs.

The Wolverines flipped the game on its head in the bottom of the second, scoring nine runs on seven hits to take a commanding 11-4 lead. The biggest blow in the inning was a grand slam to center field by
Rozanski that drove in four.

A single by Kalantzis and an error helped Ellwood City extend their early lead in the third inning.

Ellwood City Wolverines scored five runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Rozanski singled, scoring one run, Rylee Prestopine drew a walk, scoring one run, Sara Schwarz doubled, scoring two runs, and an error scored one run.

Amber McQuistion earned the win for Ellwood City Wolverines. They allowed two hits and four runs (zero earned) over four innings, striking out six and walking none.

Ellwood City collected 13 hits in the game. Sara Schwarz and Dakota Hicks joined the hit parade for the Wolverines, each collecting two hits. Schwarz rattled two doubles. Julia Nardone paced the Wolverines with three walks.

The teams combined for nine errors in the contest.

Ellwood City (4-0 Overall), who has scored 10+ runs in each of its first four games, play at home on Friday against the Hopewell Vikings in their next game.  Riverside will host Aliquippa on Wednesday.