Chartiers Valley Gallops Past Blackhawk for First Baseball Title

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, May 31, 2016 | 9:45 PM

The Chartiers Valley Colts (16-7) won their first baseball championship in school history with a come-from-behind 4-3 win over the Blackhawk Cougars (18-5) In the WPIAL AAA Championship at Consol Energy Park in Washington, PA.

Cole Horew was the star on the mound for the Colts, pitching all seven innings with seven strikeouts and seven scattered hits, walking none.

Chartiers Valley would threaten in the bottom of the first inning. With one out, Dante Panucci doubled deep to left field. Horew then reached on an error, putting runners at second and third base. A walk to Joe Sibeto loaded the bases. But Blackhawk’s Mark Engel induced Tristen Zimmer into an inning ending double play.

Horew was perfect through the first two innings with a pair of strikeouts, while Engle, the Cougars’ starter, would settle down as well. The Chartiers Valley half of the third inning would see the Colts threaten again with two singles, but Engle would bear down and again get an inning ending double play, as Horew lined out and the Blackhawk defense would double off Eddie Flohr at second base.

Chartiers Valley would break the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning when, with one out, Zach Pilossoph would single. After another out was recorded, Pitt recruit Brady Gulakowski would launch a long home run to right field to give the Colts a 2-0 lead.

With Horew allowing just two hits through the first five innings, it seemed as if the Colts were on their way to the win. But Blackhawk would respond in a big way in the top of the sixth inning. A leadoff single by Tyler Robinson followed by his brother Adam’s single put the first two runners on base. With one out, Michael Turconi would single in a run, cutting the Chartiers Valley lead to 2-1. Then, with two outs, Engle would help his own cause, plating a pair of runs with another single to give the Cougars their first lead at 3-2.

In typical baseball fashion the game would seesaw again, as Chartiers Valley would retake the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. After Horew singled and was sacrificed to second base, Konnor Corchado would triple, scoring Horew to tie the game 3-3. Steve Alauzen would then drive in Corchado with a base hit, giving the Colts a 4-3 lead heading into the seventh inning.

But It would not be easy for Horew in the seventh inning. After retiring the first two batters with ease,  the Robinson brothers would both single. Nick Zuchelli would then force a long at-bat on Horew, with the game on the line. Zuchelli kept the at-bat alive with three different two-strike foul balls, but would take a called third strike to end the game, sending the Colts into a wild celebration on the pitchers mound.

For Chartiers Valley, coach Jim Jaskowoski wins his first WPIAL Championship in two tries in his 11 years at the helm of the Colts. The Colts will next face the winner of the Bellefonte-Holidaysburg District 6 Championship Game in first round PIAA state playoff action.

With the loss, Blackhawk will play the winner of Obama Academy and Punxsutawney in the first round of the PIAA state tournament.

For the Cougars, Engle and both Adam and Tyler Robinson all had two hits to pace the Blackhawk hitting. Only one other Cougar player would get a hit. Engle took the loss on the mound, going the distance and giving up four runs on eight hits, striking out three and walking just one batter in six innings pitched.

Blackhawk Cougars : 0-0-0-0-0-3-0=3-7-2
Chartiers Valley Colts : 0-0-0-0-2-2=4-8-1

Tags: Blackhawk, Chartiers Valley