Scholastic Notebook – 06/11/2012

By: HSSN Staff
Monday, June 11, 2012 | 10:44 AM

Blackhawk coach Bob Amalia must decide whether or not to bring back standout pitcher Brendan McKay on only three days rest for the PIAA semifinals Monday.

But Blackhawk’s opponent also has an ace who pitched a complete-game Thursday.

Blackhawk (22-2) will meet West York (21-4) in a Class AAA Semifinal 3 p.m. Monday at Hollidaysburg. West York features Kaden Hepler, who will be pitching Division I college baseball next year at Winthrop.

Hepler has been superb this season with a 12-0 record. He has a 0.54 ERA and has struck out 116 in 78 1/3 innings. He has allowed only 46 hits.

Hepler threw 117 pitches in Thursday’s PIAA quarterfinal win against Belle Vernon. He allowed only six hits and struck out 10. The question is whether North Star will try to bring Hepler back on three days rest. He also pitched four innings in last Monday’s PIAA first-round game.

If Hepler doesn’t pitch, West York likely will go with Brandon Kinneman, who is only 5-3 this season. He has 53 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings.

If McKay doesn’t pitch, Blackhawk will start Adam Rousseau, who is 8-0 this season and has an ERA below 1.00.

The First Time

The Riverside baseball team is hoping to win a second consecutive PIAA championship and fourth overall. In the Class AA Semifinals, the Panthers (20-6) will play a North Star team that has never been this far in the postseason.

This is North Star’s first PIAA semifinal appearance. The teams meet Monday at Shaler’s Matulevic Field at 3 p.m.

North Star is expected to use ace pitcher Brantley Rice, who has an 11-0 record and a 1.28 ERA. He pitched a two-hitter against Ellwood City last Monday.

North Star’s pitching has been excellent in the postseason. Sophomore Shane Supanick pitched a one-hitter in the quarterfinals Thursday against Saegertown.

Rice also is one of the top hitters for North Star (19-4), batting above .400.

Poppe Reigns

If Canon-McMillan is to make it to the PIAA Class AAAA softball championship for the first time, the Big Macs will have to beat one of the top pitchers in the state.

Canon-McMillan (18-5) will play Bishop Shanahan (22-3) in the semifinals Monday at Carlisle at 4 p.m. Bishop Shanahan features Katie Poppe, who will pitch next season at Villanova. Poppe had a five-inning perfect game in the first round of the PIAA playoffs. She was the winning pitcher in the quarterfinals Thursday against Hatboro-Horsham and also hit a home run in the game.

Bishop Shanahan’s coach is 79-year-old Ron Savastio.

Two-Pitcher System

Everyone knows who will pitch for the Montour softball team. Kaitlyn Kutchman has been the Spartans’ ace for a few years. But Montour’s opponent in the PIAA Class AAA softball semifinals uses two pitchers regularly.

Big Spring (19-4) will play Montour (19-5) at St. Francis at 4 p.m. Monday, and Big Spring uses two pitchers – Calli Pastor and Taylor Mansfield. In the District 3 consolation game a few weeks ago – when Big Spring had to win to qualify for the PIAA playoffs – Taylor Mansfield got the call and pitched a complete game.

In the first round of the PIAA playoffs last Monday, Pastor pitched a two-hitter. Then in the PIAA quarterfinals Thursday against Fort LeBoeuf, both Pastor and Mansfield pitched.in a 2-1 victory.

So who knows what pitcher will start today against Montour. This is the first year Big Spring has ever participate in the PIAA playoffs.

Big-Hit Blattenberger

Neshannock (22-1) meets Martinsburg Central (19-6) in a PIAA Class AA semifinal this afternoon at 2 p.m. at St. Francis.
Neshannock will face a Martinsburg Central team that has a strong hitter in Kate Blattenberger. She hit two home runs in the quarterfinals Thursday against Deer Lakes and had four hits in the first round last Monday.

Martinsburg Central lost in its district championship to Phillipsburg-Osceola. Neshannock beat Phillipsburg-Osceola, 5-3, in the first round of the PIAA playoffs.

Another Title Game?

Chartiers-Houston could be on its way to a second PIAA championship in three seasons. The Bucs (25-1) play Fannett-Metal (22-3) in a Class A semifinal Monday at noon at St. Francis.

While Char-Houston is a PIAA playoff veteran, Fannett-Metal is a District 5 team in the semifinals for the second time in eight seasons. The other was 2005. Chartiers-Houston is trying to make the championship game for the seventh time. The Bucs lost in the title game in 1987, 1998, 1999, 2003 and 2005.

Fannett-Metal uses two pitchers who have different styles. Jenna Rhodes throws more off-speed pitches while Blaine Lauthers throws harder. Lauthers is 12-3 and pitched the entire quarterfinal game against Elk County Catholic. In the first round of the playoffs, Rhodes started and pitched the first four innings before giving way to Lauthers.

Tags: Blackhawk, Canon-McMillan, Chartiers-Houston