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Fairview’s Bolla, Fox Combine on Perfect Game in 3A Quarterfinal Win; Meadville, Hickory Walk-Off in Class 4A

Fairview's Aari Fox, Eddie Dolansky, and Colin Bolla. Photo courtesy NWPA Playmakers Baseball

ERIE, Pa. – Colin Bolla did most of the work and Aari Fox finished off a perfect game for Fairview, as it was 21 up and 21 down for the duo in a 2-0 Class 3A quarterfinal win over Franklin.

Bolla recorded 19 of the 21 outs in the perfecto, striking out 16 Franklin batters. Fox came in and recorded the final two outs via strikeout to complete the masterpiece.

Bolla threw 58 of his 79 strikes.

Austin Hawley had an RBI groundout to break a scoreless tie in the fifth and Tyler Benford had an RBI single in the sixth for the Tigers.

Matt Wimer took the loss for Franklin.

               

With the win, Fairview advances to play Mercyhurst Prep in the semifinals.

(7) NORTH EAST 3, (2) TITUSVILLE 0

MEADVILLE, Pa. – Reid Courtwright’s 2-run homer in the seventh backed his 2-hit shutout in a 3-0 win over Titusville.

Courtwright needed just 73 pitches to go the distance, striking out six and walking two.

Jacob Babo also had an RBI double in the fourth inning for North East. Tommy Owens set the tone atop the order, going 3-for-3 with a run scored.

                          

Kam Mong took the loss, allowing one run in 4 ⅓ innings on four hits, striking out four and walking three.

North East advances to play Harbor Creek in the semifinals.

(3) HARBOR CREEK 4, (6) GIRARD 3

ERIE, Pa. – Gio Barbato was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and no one out in the bottom of the seventh, delivering the game-winning run in Harbor Creek’s 4-3 win over Girard.

Three consecutive singles, all on bunts, set the stage for Barbato.

               

Harbor Creek led 3-1 going to the seventh, but Dominic Ferretti’s 2-run single tied the game.

Barbato was credited with the win, allowing two runs in two innings. He came on in relief of Heath Betza, who allowed one run on two hits in five innings, striking out six and walking two.

Preston Lanagan (two runs), Tyler Burick, and Jordan Irwin had two hits apiece for the Huskies.

Will Luxon took the loss, allowing four runs in six innings, allowing nine hits, striking out three and walking one.

James Kibbe also had an RBI for Girard.

(5) MERCYHURST PREP 2, (4) CONNEAUT 1, 9 innings

MEADVILLE, Pa. – Alex Manendo’s RBI double in the top of the ninth proved to be the difference in Mercyhurst Prep’s 2-1, 9-inning win over Conneaut.

Bryce Schueth retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth, backing a brilliant start by Jake Manendo, who went seven innings, allowing one run on four hits, and striking out eight.

Noah Trojanowski was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to get Mercyhurst Prep on the board, and Conneaut answered with Luke Nottingham’s RBI single in the second inning.

            

Wyatt Kornman took the loss, allowing one run in three innings on three hits, striking out three, and walking one. Dawson Thomas started and went six innings, allowing one run on nine hits, striking out nine, and walking one.

CLASS 4A QUARTERFINALS

(1) CATHEDRAL PREP 16, (8) CORRY 1, 3 innings

ERIE, Pa. – Cathedral Prep scored 11 runs in the third inning on its way to a 16-1, 3-inning quarterfinal win over Corry.

Brayden Sprickman hit a solo home run for the Ramblers, with eight of nine starters recording at least one hit.

Nick Jackson was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs, while Andrew Costello was 2-for-3 with three RBIs, Luke Costello was 1-for-2 with three RBIs and Joey Spano Jr. was 2-for-2 with two RBIs and two runs.

Carson Phillips got the win, allowing one run in three innings on three hits, striking out one and walking one.

Ethyn Allen was 1-for-3 witha run scored for Corry. Jon Albers took the loss, allowing 11 runs (10 earned) in 2 ⅔ innings on 11 hits, striking out five and walking three.

Prep advances to play Slippery Rock, a 2-1 winner over General McLane, in the semifinals on Friday.

(2) MEADVILLE 2, (7) GROVE CITY 1

MEADVILLE, Pa. – Jordan Young delivered a walk-off RBI single to lift No. 2 Meadville past No. 7 Grove City, 2-1.

Young brought in Brighton Anderson, who doubled with one out.

Meadville led 1–0 going into the seventh, but Grove City’s Kam Martin’s ball wasn’t fielded cleanly, bringing in Caden Wade, who singled with one out.

The story of the game, apart from the walk-off, was Meadville’s Brady Walker, who pitched six hitless innings, striking out three. Mason Walker allowed an unearned run.

Brady Walker drew a bases-loaded walk in the third to account for the only other run of the game.

Michael Earman pitched six strong innings for Grove City, allowing one run on two hits, striking out nine and walking six. Martin was on the bump in the seventh and took the loss.

Meadville advances to play Harbor Creek, a 3-0 winner over Titusville, in the semifinals.

(3) HICKORY 6, (6) SHARON 5

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Luca Bertolasio played hero, delivering a walk-off solo home run to send Hickory to a 6-5 win over Sharon.

Hickory led 5-1, but Sharon scored four runs in the sixth to tie the game on RBI singles from Mikey Rodriques and Chandler Maurice and a 2-run single off the bat of Derek Douglas.

Johnny Leedham had a 2-run double for Hickory, while Zac Lanshcak was 2-for-3 with an RBI double. Bertolasio finished with three runs scored.

DJ Donatelli was credited with the win, allowing two runs in 1 ⅔ innings, striking out one and allowing two hits and two walks.

Ethan Englomore took the loss, giving up Bertolasio’s home run.

Hayden Scarmak and Mark Cattron had two hits and a run scored each for Hickory, while Rodriques finished with two RBIs.

(4) SLIPPERY ROCK 2, (5) GENERAL MCLANE 1</strong.

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Dylan Gordon’s RBI single in the sixth inning proved to be the difference as Slippery Rock edged General McLane, 2-1.

Gordon brought in Brett Galcik, who tripled to start the frame.

Dominik Zandi brought in the first run of the game for Slippery Rock on an RBI single in the second inning, with GM tying the game on Tyler Chorney’s sole homer in the fifth.

Gordon went six strong innings to get the win, allowing one run on three hits in six innings, striking out five. Sal Mineo pitched a perfect seventh for the save.

Ross Morrow went the distance and was the tough-luck losing pitcher. Morrow allowed six hits and two runs in six innings, striking out three and walking four.

SOFTBALL

CLASS 4A QUARTERFINALS

HICKORY 10, GENERAL MCLANE 7, 10 INNINGS

MEADVILLE, Pa. – Hallie Miller tripled and Mya Jewell homered in the 10th to propel Hickory to a 10-7, 10-inning win over General McLane at Allegheny College.

With Lydia Hallas placed on second to start the inning, Miller hit a leadoff triple to break a 6-6 tie. Miller scored when Kaelyn Fustos reached on an error. Jewell launched the second pitch she saw over the right field fence to make it 10-6.

The Lancers scored twice in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extras. With one out, Makayla Rapela hit a solo home run to left to cut the lead to 6-5. One out later, Catrina Miller and Lilli Mook hit back-to-back doubles to tie it at 6-6. A single by Riley Lorah put the winning run on third base, but Loren Myers got a strikeout to end the threat.

The 2-run shot was Jewell’s second of the game. She had a 2-run homer in the third to put the Hornets ahead 5-3. Jewell had two hits, scored twice, and drove in four.

Fustos had two hits, scored twice, and three RBIs. Miller had three hits, including a double and a triple, scored two runs, and drove in one. Madeline Myers had two hits and scored twice with an RBI.

Loren Myers allowed six runs, five earned, on 14 hits in 10 innings to get the win. She didn’t walk a batter and struck out 10.

Miller had two doubles and a home run among her four hits. She scored three times and drove in a pair.

Rapela, Mook, Lorah, Sydney Clark, and Korrin Kynder each had two hits.

Bailey Cannon took the loss allowing nine runs, three earned, on nine hits with two walks and 12 strikeouts.

Hickory will face No. 2 seed Franklin in the semifinals at 2 p.m. on Thursday at Allegheny College.

CONNEAUT 5, MEADVILLE 1

MEADVILLE, Pa. – Conneaut took advantage of four errors to plate four runs in the first on its way to a 5-1 win over Meadville at Allegheny College.

Kylie Shrock had a double and an RBI for the Eagles. Linda Shepard scored a run and drove in another, and Brooke Wise scored two runs.

Wise got the win giving up one earned run on three hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.

Rylee Kregel hit a solo home run for Meadville. She also took the loss allowing five runs, one earned, on four hits with a walk and eight strikeouts.

Conneaut will take on top-seeded Cathedral Prep at 4 p.m. on Thursday at Penn State-Behrend.

CLASS 3A QUARTERFINALS

(1) FORT LEBOEUF 13, (8) NORTH EAST 3, 5 innings</strong.

ERIE, Pa. – Fort LeBoeuf scored seven runs in the first inning and never looked back in a 13-3, 5-inning win over North East.

Maisy Post doubled and came around to score in the first to give North East an early 2-0 lead, but it was all LeBoeuf after that.

Kendall Stull got things started in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI triple, followed by Lorelei Hildatibdel RBI double and an Ibree Rodgers two-run single. North East followed with a pair of errors allowing three more runs to score.

In the fourth inning, Stull had an RBI double and Sadie Bowers and Kadence Bailey RBI singles.

Stull finished with three hits and also got the win in the circle, striking out nine.

With the win, LeBoeuf, now 20-0, advances to play Corry in the semifinals at 2 p.m. on Thursday at Penn State-Behrend.

JAMESTOWN 12, OIL CITY 1, 5 INNINGS

MEADVILLE, Pa. – Jamestown scored multiple runs in four innings en route to a 12-1, 5-inning win over Oil City at Allegheny College.

Reese Schaller, Brooke Wilkerson, and Claire Jones each drove in a pair. Jones belted a home run, while Schaller, Wilkerson, and Morgan Bercis each had two hits. Schaller and Bercis each scored three times, with Wilkerson and Jones scoring twice.

Miranda Biles got the win allowing one earned run on four hits with a walk and nine strikeouts.

Mara Martinec’s RBI single scored Maddie Wenner for Oil City’s lone run.

Sophia Garmong took the loss allowing 12 runs, eight earned, on nine hits with three walks and six strikeouts.

Jamestown will meet Harbor Creek, a 14-2 winner over Northwestern, in the semifinals on Thursday at Allegheny College with first pitch set for 4 p.m.

HARBOR CREEK 14, NORTHWESTERN 2, 5 INNINGS

ERIE – An 8-run fifth inning lifted Harbor Creek to a 14-2, 5-inning win over Northwestern at Behrend.

The Huskies finished the game with six consecutive hits, including back-to-back doubles to end it.

Addison Lucas, Hannah Smith, and Baileigh Bleil each had three hits. Smith had four RBIs, while Lucas drove in three, and Bleil one. Bleil and Lucas doubled, and Smith had a triple. Brooke Przybylski and Georgia Weber each had two hits, including a double, and two RBIs.

Lucas got the win allowing two earned runs on four hits with three walks and eight strikeouts in five innings.

Nevaeh Kelley had two hits, including a triple, and drove in both Wildcats’ runs. Madison Adams had a hit and scored twice.

Zoey Johnson took the loss allowing 14 runs, 11 earned, on 17 hits with a walk.

Harbor Creek will face Jamestown, a 12-1 winner over Oil City, in the semifinals on Thursday at Allegheny College with first pitch set for 4 p.m.

CORRY 6, FAIRVIEW 3

ERIE – Allison Sawyer and Payton McCray combined to drive in five runs as Corry topped Fairview, 6-3, at Behrend.

McCray hit a 3-run, inside-the-park home run to get the Beavers on the board in the second innings. Sawyer’s 2-run double in the fifth gave Corry a 5-2 lead.

Kaycee Porter, Alyssa Burlew, and Kendyll Chamberlin each had two hits. Porter and Burlew scored twice.

McCray picked up the win, allowing three runs, one earned, on one hit with five walks and six strikeouts.

Taylor Ginkel had Fairview’s lone hit and scored a run.

Bri Price took the loss allowing six earned runs on nine hits with a walk and a strikeout.

Corry will take on Fort LeBoeuf at 2 p.m. on Thursday at Penn State-Behrend.

                       

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