ROUND-UP: EC Baseball/Softball Teams Rebound With Victories; RHS Defeated By Hopewell

Ellwood City Wolverines baseball and softball teams rebounded from losses earlier in the week as each earned victories on Friday.

Riverside Panthers were dinged early in their loss to Hopewell on Friday.

Wolverines Defeat Laurel Late

After a 2-1 loss to Neshannock on Thursday, the Wolverines baseball team were on the winning side of a one-run game Friday as Ellwood City took a lead late and defeated Laurel 8-7.

The game was tied at six with Ellwood City batting in the bottom of the fifth when pinch hitter Sam Landis drew a walk, scoring one run.

The game featured four lead changes with the Wolverines three-run fifth inning rally putting Ellwood City ahead 7-6.

Both pitching staffs had their hands full, frequently dealing with runners on base in a game that featured eighteen combined walks. Ellwood City collected seven hits and Laurel had seven.

Laurel took an early lead in the second inning. Hunter Kobialka’s sac fly scored one run for Laurel.

Nick Magnifico was the winning pitcher for Ellwood City. The pitcher went two innings, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out two. Owen Andrews threw two innings in relief out of the bullpen. Andrews recorded the last six outs to earn the save for the Wolverines. Alexander Roth started the game and went three innings, allowing three runs on two hits and striking out three.

Bucky Biskup and Ashton Wilson (1 2B) each managed multiple hits for Ellwood City. The Wolverines now 6-7 (5-3) on the season will next travel to Mohawk on Monday for a 4:30 p.m. match-up.

Lady Wolverines Trounce South Park

The Ellwood City softball team now has two losses on its record, both at the hands of section-leading Avonworth. The Wolverines were defeated 8-2 earlier in the week, but responded nicely with a 17-4 mercy-rule victory over South Park on Friday.

On Thursday, Avonworth scored early and often, putting up seven runs in the first two innings and coasted to a 8-2 victory over Ellwood City at Stiefel Park.  The win clinched a section championship for the Antelopes as Ellwood City finishes in second place.

The Wolverines used an eight-run second inning to stretch out to a double digit lead in its road victory on Friday afternoon. Ellwood City piled up four more runs in the third and two more runs in the fourth inning to envoke the mercy rule. The Wolverines pounded out 17 hits in the victory. The long ball played a big part as Paige Wearing (grand slam), Mollie Street, and Keira Rozanski all went yard. For Wearing, it was her first varsity round tripper as well as a grand slam.

All nine starters contributed hits in the five inning victory. Kyla Servick led the offense with three hits. Rozanski, Angie Nardone, Julia Nardone, Aliya Garroway, Ellie Kalantzis, and Street all finished with two hits. Wearing and Katelyn Wehman each had one.

Julia Nardone got the win in the circle as she gave up 4 runs on 4 hits in 5 innings of work. She walked 2 and struck out 5 for her 9th win of the season.

The Lady Wolverines will conclude their section schedule on Monday evening as the Beaver Falls Tigers visit Stiefel Park on Senior Night.

Hopewell Runs Away With Early Lead In Victory Over Panthers

Riverside fell behind early and couldn’t come back in a 12-6 loss to Hopewell on Friday.

Hopewell scored on a single by Eberhardt, a double by Nock, and a home run by Lasala in the first inning to power the eight-run frame.

Despite the loss, the Riverside offense did collect seven hits and earned eleven walks in the high-scoring affair.

The Panthers tallied three runs in the fifth inning to close the gap.

The rally was led by walks by Ashton Schlosser and Evan Burry and by Baron Hardy. On the afternoon, Burry collected two doubles to lead Riverside the offense. Hunter Garvin doubled while Mitch Garvin scored a team-high two runs in the defeat.

Eberhardt pitched Hopewell to victory. Eberhardt allowed four hits and three runs over two and a third innings. Palmeri, Vescio, and Syrko all put in work in relief out of the bullpen, steering their team towards the victory. Hopewell socked two home runs on the day with Lasala four bagger in the first inning and Arlington swatting a long ball as part of a 3-run third inning for the Vikings.

Ronnie Harper took the loss for the Panthers, lasting two-thirds of an inning, allowing five hits and seven runs while striking out one.

Riverside (12-2 overall) next travel to Laurel on Monday for a 4:00 p.m. section match-up.

Ellwood City Junior High Collects A Victory Over Beaver Falls

Ellwood City junior high softball team wrapped up its week on a down note, falling to Shenango and Land Between 2 Rivers after collecting a victory over Beaver Falls on Tuesday.

In its 18-3 three-inning victory over Beaver Falls, eight Lady Wolverines collected hits with C Folino leading the charge with a two-hit effort. K Brown swatted a two-run double to help power the offense. Lucarelli collected the victory on the mound as she did not allow a hit over the three innings. She struck out four batters and walked five.

On Thursday, the junior high softball team lost a wild 17-16 affair. After rallying for four runs in the fifth frame to stake to a 14-9 lead, the Wolverines surrendered a five run sixth inning and three run seventh frame to fall victim to the Wildcats. Amber McQuistion powered the offense with FOUR doubles on the afternoon. She posted six RBIs in the contest and scored three runs for the Wolverines.