Riverside Defeats Shenango 7-1, Oliastro Collects 700th Career Victory

Riverside Panthers coach Dan Oliastro collected his 700th career coaching victory as the Panthers defeated Shenango 7-1 on the road Monday afternoon.

Darren McDade finished with four RBIs to lead the Panthers offense and batterymate Christian Lucarelli collected the win on the mound.

McDade smacked a bases clearing double in the third inning to break open the 1-0 contest and walked in the sixth inning to bring home yet another run for Riverside.

Hunter Garvin opened up the scoring in the third inning with an RBI double scoring Bo Fornataro before McDade did his run scoring damage.

Lucarelli combined with relief pitchers Hunter Garvin and Matt Santillo to allow only one run across seven innings of work. The pitchers limited the host Wildcats to only three hits in the contest. Lucarelli struck out 12 across five innings.

Two years ago, Oliastro hit a historical mark – 656 career victories, most in WPIAL History – and hasn’t stopped since. The defending WPIAL and PIAA champion Panthers have now won 30 consecutive games dating back to last season.

The Panthers (4-0 Overall) will next host Shenango in the second game of a home-and-home series Tuesday afternoon at Riverside High School. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.

OK, how’s this for coincidences my crazy mind came up with?

Solar eclipse today …

Riverside baseball coach Dan Oliastro won his 700th game today, in his 56th season. …

The year Oliastro won his first game (1969), Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. pic.twitter.com/WKcEQfXqZd

— Mike White (@mwhiteburgh) April 9, 2024

ELLWOOD CITY FALLS TO NESHANNOCK 6-1

Despite outhitting the Lancers eight to six, the Wolverines were defeated 6-1 on the road Monday.

Neshannock jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage in the first inning, and scored the first six runs of the contest before Ellwood City could scratch out a run in the 7th inning.

Dom Dubellis earned the win for Neshannock, allowing six hits across six scoreless innings. Owen Andres took the loss for Ellwood City, offering 2 1/3 innings while Aaron Lake struck out three batters across his 1 2/3 innings of relief pitching.

Lake collected the only RBI for the Wolverines.

Jordan Keller and Jacob Biskup each collected two hits for Ellwood City (3-3 Overall) who will also wrap up a home-and-home series on Tuesday, hosting the Lancers at 4:30 p.m. at Sanders Field in Ewing Park.