The WPIAL District 7 Champion Riverside Panthers cruised to a 9-0 opening round victory over Huntingdon in the PIAA 3A playoffs Monday afternoon on its home turf.
Senior Christian Lucarelli tossed a 3-hit complete game for the Panthers. Lucarelli struck out seven batters and allowed only two walks.
The Riverside offense exploded for five runs in the third inning to quickly put the game at bay. John Bowser and Hunter Garvin each picked up RBI singles in the inning while Lucarelli drew a bases loaded walk and a balk and Jackson Barber ground out also envoked runs for the Panthers.
Logan Young, Garvin, Dylan Meyer, and Bowser each collected two hits offensively. Garvin and Zach Hare each scored twice in a sound offensive effort for Riverside. Seven different players scored and six batters collected hits among the 10 hits in the victory.
Riverside (18-2 Overall) advances to face a familiar foe in a Mohawk Warriors team who defeated District 10 Champion Titusville 5-4 in its PIAA opening round game at Slippery Rock University on Monday. The Panthers and Warriors will meet on Thursday at 11:00 a.m. at Seneca Valley High School.
The Panthers swept Mohawk in the regular season with two victories. The Warriors (13-11 Overall) knocked off Ellwood City in the WPIAL quarterfinals before being defeated by eventual WPIAL Class 3A runner-up, Quaker Valley, in the semifinals.
Quaker Valley and South Park also picked up opening round victories over district champions, moving all four WPIAL teams into the PIAA quarterfinals. [VIEW FULL PIAA 3A BRACKET]
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